Wall-Mounted Pool Enclosure Options for Pools by the House

If your pool sits right next to the house, on a terrace or alongside a garden wall, a standard freestanding enclosure can feel like a bit of a compromise. There's often an awkward strip between the enclosure and the building that never quite stays dry. A wall-mounted pool enclosure solves that by using the wall itself as one side of the structure.

In this guide, we'll look at how wall-mounted, lean-to and wall-top designs work, which of our made-to-measure enclosures suit a pool by the house, and why the wall has to be surveyed before anything is made.

What Is a Wall-Mounted Pool Enclosure?

A wall-mounted pool enclosure attaches to an existing house wall or garden wall rather than standing entirely on its own. The wall forms one side of the structure, and the enclosure runs out from it over the pool.

On a telescopic design, the segments still slide open and closed in the usual way. The difference is where the tracks go. Instead of two tracks on the ground either side of the pool, one track is fixed to the wall and the other runs along the poolside.

The result looks less like something plonked in front of the house and more like part of it. No gap, no visual disconnect, just one tidy structure.

What Are Your Options for a Pool by the House?

There's more than one way to enclose a pool that sits close to a building. Here are the main designs we can offer.

The Style: A Track Mounted Directly on Your Wall

The Style wall-mounted enclosure is built precisely for pools beside a house or garden wall. Its upper track attaches directly to the wall, with the lower track on the poolside.

Because the track runs along the wall, the Style covers not just the pool but the whole area between the pool and the building. Your terrace, poolside furniture and paving stay dry and sheltered too.

• Full-height, walk-in enclosure with a rounded, arched profile
• Dual-track system: upper track on the wall, lower track on the poolside
• Clear or smoke polycarbonate with UV protection
• Motorised opening available
• At the time of writing, guide prices start from £47,973 (5.5 x 10 m) and £62,036 (6.5 x 12 m)

The Ravena: Straight on One Side, Arched on the Other

The Ravena high enclosure takes a slightly different approach. It isn't fixed to the wall. Instead, it stands on its own tracks with vertical walls on one side and arched segments on the other, so it can sit neatly against a house, wall or fence without wasted space.

It's the most popular enclosure we stock, and it's easy to see why. You get generous headroom, room to walk around three sides of the pool, and a design that works well where there's a boundary alongside the water.

• Full-height, walk-in enclosure
• Dual-track system for stability and smooth operation
• Compact or twin-wall polycarbonate, in clear or smoke
• Motorised opening available
• At the time of writing, guide prices start from £40,516 (6 x 10 m) and £57,926 (7 x 12 m)

Lean-To Designs

A lean-to enclosure rests against the house or wall and runs out over the pool, much like a lean-to conservatory. It's a good fit where you want the enclosure to feel like a natural extension of the building. Because every enclosure is made to measure, we'll design the shape around your wall, your pool and the space in between.

Designs With the Track on Top of a Wall or Frame

Another option is to have the enclosure's track sit on top of a wall or a frame, such as a pergola or similar structure, rather than fixed to its face. That can be a neat way to make use of an existing garden wall, or to tie the enclosure in with a pergola-style frame around your terrace. As with any wall-supported design, the wall or frame has to be suitable, which brings us to the most important part.

Why Does the Wall Need Surveying?

With a freestanding enclosure, the tracks sit on the ground. With a wall-mounted pool enclosure, part of the structure is supported by your wall (or frame), so that wall has to be up to the job.

That's why the site survey matters so much here. As well as taking precise measurements, our team assesses the wall, the installation area and any structural considerations before anything is manufactured. We'd rather find a problem at the survey than after your enclosure has been made.

It also helps to think about what's already on the wall. Before the survey, make a note of:

• Doors and windows that open onto the pool area
• Gutters, downpipes and drainage
• Outside lights, vents, taps and cables
• Any render, cladding or repairs the wall might need
• Planting, trellis or fixings you'd want to keep or move

None of these rule a wall-mounted design out, but they all need to be planned around. The same goes for a pergola or frame: we'll need to check it's suitable before designing an enclosure to sit on it.

Do You Need Planning Permission for a Wall-Mounted Enclosure?

It depends on your property and the design, so we won't try to boil it down to a single rule here. Where an enclosure attaches to or sits right beside your house, it's especially worth checking the planning position before you order.

Our guide to UK planning permission rules for pool enclosures explains the main points, and your local planning authority can confirm what applies to you.

What Are the Benefits of a Wall-Mounted Pool Enclosure?

No awkward gap. The enclosure meets the wall, so there's no damp strip between the structure and the building.

A sheltered terrace, not just a covered pool. With a design like the Style, the area between the pool and the house is covered too, so you can sit out whatever the weather is doing.

It looks like it belongs. A wall-mounted design ties in with the architecture of your home rather than standing apart from it.

Room to use the space. Both the Style and the Ravena are full-height enclosures, so you can swim, lounge and move around inside.

Still retractable. On sunny days, slide the segments back and enjoy the pool in the open air.

Is There Anything Else to Consider?

A few practical points are worth thinking about early.

Where will the segments park? A telescopic enclosure stacks its segments at one end when open, so check there's room for them to slide back beyond the pool.

Ventilation near the house. A closed enclosure holds warm, moist air, and with a wall-mounted design that air sits against your house wall. Slide a segment open on warm days to let fresh air through. Our enclosures use anti-drip polycarbonate, which reduces drips, though no polycarbonate can be completely drip-free, especially in winter.

How will you move around? Think about how you'll get between the house, the terrace and the pool, and whether a door from the house will open straight into the enclosure. It's worth sketching your everyday routes before the survey so we can design around them.

Ground on the poolside. The poolside track needs ground that's flat and able to take the weight. Enclosures can be installed on decking, and the track can be recessed if needed, as long as the channel is prepared before delivery.

Which Option Is Right for You?

• Choose the Style if your pool is right against the house or a garden wall and you want the terrace covered too.
• Choose the Ravena if you'd prefer a freestanding enclosure that sits neatly beside a wall, fence or building.
• Ask about a lean-to or wall-top design if you want the enclosure to feel like an extension of the house, or you have a wall or pergola-style frame you'd like to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can any wall support a wall-mounted pool enclosure?

Not necessarily. The wall has to be suitable, which is why our site survey assesses the wall and any structural considerations before your enclosure is made.

What's the difference between wall-mounted and lean-to?

Both use the building as one side. On a wall-mounted telescopic design like the Style, the upper track fixes to the wall so the segments can slide. A lean-to rests against the wall and runs out over the pool.

Can the track sit on top of a garden wall or pergola?

Yes, that's another option we can look at, as long as the wall or frame is suitable. We'll assess it at the site survey.

Is a wall-mounted enclosure still retractable?

Yes. The Style's segments retract fully for open-air swimming on sunny days, and motorised opening is available.

Ready to Enclose Your Pool by the House?

Get in touch with your pool's size, a few photos of the wall and the space around it, or call us free on 0800 8611 679. We'll talk you through the options and arrange your site survey.