If you've got your heart set on using glass to fence around your pool, you might have idyllic visions of how much a clear fence will make your pool area look clean, stylish and full of sparkle. Throw a few kids into the mix, however, and your glass may lose a bit of its shine once it has to contend with grubby fingerprints, sticky lolly marks and the general mess kids seem to leave behind them whenever they touch anything.  

You probably don't have the time—or the desire—to be out by the pool cleaning your glass every time it meets one of your kids, and you may even be thinking that a glass pool fence isn't right for you. You can, however, get the best of both worlds if you treat your glass pool fencing right.

Treated Glass Reduces Your Cleaning Load

Regular pool glass may not be a match for small, greasy fingers, dirty hand prints and the dust and debris that kids may kick up when they're having fun in and around your pool; however, treated glass may be a better option. For example, if you use a coated glass in your pool fencing, you may find that the glass is easier and quicker to clean and that it looks better even when your kids have had their hands all over it.

Typically, this kind of pool glass has had a coating applied to it that repels water, oil and dirt, making it harder for stuff to stick to the glass and make it look cloudy or dirty. This kind of coating may also reduce the time it takes you to clean your glass—you're not likely to have to scrub away at greasy or stubborn marks that your kids have left behind whenever they've touched the glass. A simple rinse with soapy water every now and then should keep your glass looking like new.

Tip: Bear in mind that your kids aren't the only things that can make your glass look dirty over time. Water and chlorine that get splashed on the glass can leave marks or streaks and, if you live by the coast, salt stains may be a problem. Coated glass could add a layer of protection against these kinds of glass-staining issues as well.

If you're in the process of choosing a new pool fence, your fencing contractor may be able to sell you glass that has already been treated with a repellent coating. If you already have glass fencing that hasn't been treated in the past, a fencing specialist may offer a coating service that could put your glass in a better position to deal with your kids and their sticky hands.