Coastal home pool fence: caring for the hardware in salt air
Salt air is hard on metal. A glass pool fence near the coast needs hardware that suits it, and regular checks.
What salt air does to pool fence hardware
Glass is not affected by salt, but the metal that holds it is: spigots, clamps, hinges and latches. Coastal air can leave deposits, marks and corrosion on metal parts, which can make a hinge stiff or a latch unreliable. A gate that does not close and latch properly is a safety problem, so the hardware is worth looking after.
What to ask your supplier
- What is the hardware made of, and what finish does it have?
- Is it suited to coastal conditions, and how do they know?
- What cleaning and maintenance do they recommend, and how often?
- What does the warranty cover on the hardware?
Do not rely on a single word like "stainless", because grades and finishes differ. Ask for the specifics in writing.
Checking the hardware
- Rinse the hardware with fresh water regularly to remove salt deposits, and wipe it dry.
- Look for rust, pitting or marks around spigots, clamps and hinges.
- Open and close the gate several times and check it closes and latches by itself.
- Look for loose fixings, and check no panel has shifted. The QBCC notes panels can shift or drop when the ground moves.
The QBCC also says glass panels should show no signs of fracture and the gap under the barrier should be 100mm or less. See the glass pool fence requirements.
Building near the coast
If you are building a coastal home, raise the hardware question at design stage. CKS Projects, builders of coastal beach houses in the Illawarra, lists coastal homes among its work in NSW, where pool rules differ from Queensland, so check the rules where you are building.
Common questions
Does salt air damage a glass pool fence?
Not the glass, but it can corrode the metal hardware that holds it, such as spigots, clamps, hinges and latches.
How often should I check pool fence hardware near the coast?
Rinse it regularly and look it over often. Check that the gate closes and latches by itself every time you use it.
What should I ask my pool fence supplier about hardware?
Ask what the hardware is made of, what finish it has, whether it suits coastal conditions, and what the warranty covers, and get the answers in writing.
General information only. This is practical advice, not a compliance check. A licensed pool safety inspector decides whether your pool passes.