Outdoor living design with a glass pool fence: views and sightlines

Glass keeps the view open. Good outdoor design protects it, and keeps footholds away from the fence.

Why owners choose glass

A glass pool fence keeps the pool visible from the house, the deck and the garden, and it keeps the outdoor area feeling open. That is the main reason many owners choose it over solid or tubular fencing.

Plan the view from the main living areas

Decide which rooms and outdoor areas should look onto the pool, then keep those sightlines clear. Plan where tall plants, screens and furniture go so they do not block the view across the glass. On the pool side, keep seating a sensible distance from the fence so people are not leaning on it.

Keep footholds off the outside

The QBCC says there should be no accessible ledge greater than 10mm on the outside of the barrier. In an outdoor design, planter edges, benches, stepping stones and low walls beside the fence can all become footholds. Keep them away from the outside of the barrier, and see the glass pool fence requirements.

Levels, decks and the fence

Decks and paving change the finished ground level. The QBCC measures the minimum 1200mm fence height from finished ground level, and says the gap under the barrier should be 100mm or less, so settle the deck and paving levels before the fence is set out.

Visualise it before you build

A 3D view helps you see the sightlines before anything is built. Francis Design, which also offers 3D visualisation, is an example of a design practice that produces them in NSW, where approval rules differ from Queensland, so check the rules where you are building.

Common questions