Domakihub Install a Pool Safety Net: Anchors, Tension & Daily Use
A step-by-step guide to drilling anchors, tensioning mesh, and building the on/off habit that keeps children safe around your pool.
Reviewed by Domakihub pool pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
A pool safety net is a mesh barrier stretched across the water surface that stops a child or pet from submerging even if they fall through — making it one of the most effective drowning-prevention layers available for Greek villas, holiday rentals, and hotel pools. The video above walks through a professional installation from start to finish; this article breaks the process into five clear steps and answers the questions most property owners ask before they begin. Whether you manage a single family pool or a portfolio of seasonal rentals, getting the anchor layout and tensioning right the first time determines both how secure the net is and how quickly you can remove it for a swim.
Why a Net Rather Than a Fence or Solid Cover?
Fences stop access to the pool deck but leave the water unprotected once someone is poolside. Solid winter covers shed rain and debris but are heavy, slow to remove, and can trap standing water on their surface — itself a drowning risk for toddlers. A mesh safety net sits a few centimetres above the water, drains instantly, and can be unclipped and rolled aside in under two minutes, which is why it suits seasonal rental properties where guests want unobstructed access during the day but owners want protection overnight or between bookings.
Greek villa pools are rarely perfect rectangles. Irregular shapes, raised coping stones, tiled surrounds, and natural-stone decks all affect where anchors can be placed and how much tension the net needs to stay taut. Planning the anchor grid before you pick up a drill is therefore the single most important preparation step.
What You Need Before You Start
A standard installation kit includes the net itself (sized to your pool plus a 30–60 cm overhang on each side), brass or stainless-steel anchor sleeves, a hammer drill with a masonry bit matched to the sleeve diameter, a tensioning tool or D-ring hook, and a rubber mallet. For poolside decks made from natural stone — travertine, marble, or local limestone, all common in Greece — choose anchor sleeves rated for porous stone and pre-test the drilling depth on an inconspicuous spot to avoid cracking.
If your pool has steps, a beach entry, or an attached spa, your supplier should provide a custom net pattern with reinforced edges at those transitions. A net that bridges an awkward corner without extra reinforcement will sag and create a gap large enough to be dangerous.
How to Install a Pool Safety Net: 5 Steps
- 1
Map and Mark Your Anchor Grid
Lay the net flat beside the pool and mark anchor positions around the perimeter, following the manufacturer's spacing guidelines — typically every 90–100 cm. On an irregular poolside deck, shift marks slightly to land on solid coping rather than grout lines or the outer edge of tiles. Use chalk or a pencil; marks on wet stone will wash off before you drill. Double-check that every anchor point has at least 5 cm of solid material beneath it so the sleeve seats fully without cracking the slab.
- 2
Drill and Set the Anchor Sleeves
Using a hammer drill fitted with the correct masonry bit, drill each hole to the depth specified for your sleeve — usually 35–45 mm. Clear dust from the hole with a hand pump or a quick blast of compressed air so the sleeve seats cleanly. Tap each sleeve flush with a rubber mallet; it should sit level with or very slightly below the deck surface so there is no trip hazard when the net is off. On natural-stone decks, use a lower drill speed and let the bit do the work rather than applying heavy downward pressure, which can shear the stone.
- 3
Attach and Spread the Net
Start at one short end of the pool and clip the net's anchor loops onto the sleeves as you unroll it across the water. Work toward the opposite short end first, then secure the long sides. The net should rest on the water surface at this point with no tension applied yet — this lets you verify the coverage is correct and that no edges hang more than a few centimetres short of the coping. If your pool has steps, tuck the corresponding net panel down to the step edge and clip the reinforced border before moving on.
- 4
Tension the Net Evenly
Using the tensioning tool, tighten each anchor connection in a cross pattern — the same logic as torquing wheel bolts — rather than going around the perimeter in sequence. This distributes load evenly and prevents the net from pulling off-centre. A correctly tensioned net should feel firm when you press the centre with your palm: it deflects no more than 5–8 cm under moderate hand pressure and springs back immediately when released. If one section stays slack after tensioning, loosen the adjacent anchors and re-tension that section before locking everything off.
- 5
Practise the Daily On/Off Routine
The safety value of a net is only as good as the habit of using it. Practise unclipping one short end, rolling the net toward the opposite end, and securing the rolled bundle in the storage bag — this should take 90 seconds once familiar. For holiday rental properties, label the storage bag with a simple instruction card so guests can remove and replace the net without calling a caretaker. Re-tension briefly at the start of each season: UV exposure and temperature swings common in Greece cause slight relaxation in the anchor connections over winter.
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FAQ
- Can a pool safety net be installed on a deck made of natural stone or travertine?
- Yes, but the choice of anchor sleeve matters. Use stainless-steel sleeves designed for porous stone, drill at a lower speed to avoid fracturing the material, and always pre-test on a hidden area. Travertine and marble common around Greek villa pools are dense enough to hold a rated net anchor securely when the hole is drilled to the correct depth and kept free of dust before the sleeve is set.
- How often should the anchor sleeves and net be inspected?
- Check anchors and connection loops at the start and end of each swimming season, and after any storm or unusually strong wind event. Look for corrosion on metal parts (salt air accelerates this near the Greek coast), fraying at loop attachment points, and any sleeve that has lifted above the deck surface. Replace individual sleeves rather than waiting until multiple fail — a single loose anchor under load can cause a chain failure across the tensioned net.
- Does a safety net meet Greek or EU requirements for pool barriers?
- Greek law (Presidential Decree 696/1974 and subsequent ministerial circulars, plus EU health and safety guidance for tourist accommodation) requires pools at licensed holiday rentals and hotels to have an approved barrier. A CE-marked mesh safety net with a load rating sufficient to support the weight of a child typically satisfies the barrier requirement, but local authority inspectors vary in their interpretation. Confirm compliance with your regional permit office and keep the net's certification document on site — Domakihub can connect you with a certified pool technician who knows current local enforcement practice.