Building a pool fence, need advice for a lock.

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My first child is getting pretty proficient in her walker now so I need to get a pool fence up ASAP. What brand/type of gate latch would you recommend? The fence will be meeting code (as we might be renting this house out in a few years) so I want it to be the self locking type. I will be adding self closing spring hinges to the gate door as well.Thanks!- mattPrecision TIG 225MillerMatic 250Powermax 35XPPowermax 65TM 4X4 w/ water tableLagun FTV1Monarch 10EEJD2 M3 with hydro conversion
Reply:Around here all the gate latches for pools have to be at least 5' from the ground so small kids can't reach them. However pool fence heights vary by township. Some it's only 4' high, other places it's 5 or 6 foot. I personally think the 5' latch on a 3' or 4' fence looks down right stupid.Also the fence can't be "claimable". The neighbor down the street learned that the hard way when he installed his 6' privacy fence with the "nice" side in. That left all the 2x's on the outside and the township inspector flagged him on the fact someone can climb the 2x's to get over the fence. He had to go around and either put plywood on the fence to cover the 2x's ( uhhhh UGLY!) or put up pickets on the back side..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ill be the one to say it, be careful and follow city code and talk to your insurance agent. On some things you have to be certified to install . Usually there is no problems till somebody gets hurt. Hope people in Austin are not lawsuit happy like they are in Corpus Christi.
Reply:Renting out the house is a "what if" idea... Almost all of the codes are common sense so I see no harm in, at a minimum, meeting them. The safety of my kids is the most important issue. I've seen the locks with the lift up on a pole.. And I've also seen the videos of kids lifting the latch with a kid's shovel or other stick-like-object, so I'm going to stay away from those... I'm looking more towards the HD knob/latch that you see on the hotel pool gates. I'm thinking worst case I can weld up a few plates and mount a standard door-knob, but I'm not finding any that lock every time no-matter-what. It seems the only ones that do that are the electronic code models but those all start in the 100$ range.I got the ugly 2x4's on my side of the fence so I'm good on that issue and I'm currently adding two side fences so no windows are inside the "pool area" (a Texas code issue) so the only outstanding issue is the gate/fence that goes between the back patio and pool area.  FYI the gate/fence is going to made from some 8 foot tall metal security gates that I got for scrap price... I'm going to cut it down to 5' and re-weld the top bars.  Because I'm already cutting and welding it's a non-issue to weld up a box or plates to mount the latch/lock.Thanks!Precision TIG 225MillerMatic 250Powermax 35XPPowermax 65TM 4X4 w/ water tableLagun FTV1Monarch 10EEJD2 M3 with hydro conversion
Reply:Also, in California anyway, there's a self-closing feature that has to be included so the gate closes and latches unassisted.
Reply:A lot of regulations by me regarding this.  The gate has to open out wards and not inwards, there has to be a auto closing spring on the door and the locks are magnetic with a know that has to be pulled vertically upward to release.   My locks are over 4 ft off the ground.  Purchase a professionally made gate lock by all means.  You don't want to blame yourself if tragedy ever occurs.If you're interested, I'll snap a pic of mine this weekend and post it.
Reply:As far as codes go this is what Texas is telling me (Austin city just says to refer to texas): 1. Gate must be 4 foot 4 inches minimum2. Gate must open inward, so that if gate is push against (as if going towards pool) the gate will not open/will set lock if it didn't set originally3. Lock must be 54 inches from ground (so i'm just going to make whole gate 54 inches from ground)4. A ball 4 inches in diameter cannot fit through the upright bars anywhere on fence nor anywhere else (under, on the side where it meets the wall etc...)I'm definitely looking for a nice professional lock, no hobbled together bar-stock and springs (at least not for this application  ). I could get away with a normal bathroom/bedroom doorknob but i'm worried about the wife or I forgetting to twist the lock on the outside one day and leaving the gate unlocked. So to remove that whole issue i'd rather have one that sets the lock no-matter-what. The only workable solution i can see right now is one of those electronic push button locks as i can set the locking function to hit a few seconds after the correct code is entered and the gate is opened. But you can still disable the lock from the other side so it's not a perfect solution either...Precision TIG 225MillerMatic 250Powermax 35XPPowermax 65TM 4X4 w/ water tableLagun FTV1Monarch 10EEJD2 M3 with hydro conversion
Reply:I'd look at a mechanical push button combo lockThere are several brands, see several locksmiths to see the different brandsNo electronics, no failure due to weatherThey can be $, but they are good commercial quality locks
Reply:I have found the cheaper Home Depot/ lowes combination locks to be almost as durable as the one above. I was only getting a year or less out of the one in the picture in commercial marina environments. The one above is $400+. King metals has all the weld able lock boxes and locks you will need. Study their catalog and you will get a lot of ideas.Last edited by blackbart; 09-04-2014 at 10:51 AM.
Reply:Go to large apartment complexes and see what they are using.
Reply:morning industries, makes a quality mechanical push button lock.  I used their MP-300.  Nice quality knob.  Check pool fencing codes.  There is also a provision for distance between the horizontal rail.
Reply:don't forget to build in a tazer  ,you'll love watching the neighbor hood kids flopping around !
Reply:http://www.hardwaresource.com/hinges...h+Gate+Latcheshttp://www.hooverfence.com/woodfence/magna.htmLast edited by Meltedmetal; 09-04-2014 at 05:51 PM.