Above it all: Less expensive pools make a splash

Provided

Alton Wiggins and Lisa Hutto wanted something that would allow them to entertain family and friends easily. They settled on an above-ground pool and constructed it themselves.

Alton Wiggins and Lisa Hutto of West Ashley were in the market for some backyard fun. The two wanted an easy way to entertain family and friends.

They considered getting another boat but figured they could entertain more people with a pool.

The budget-conscious couple decided to take a look at an above-ground pool that would cost them one-fifth of what an in-ground one would. So they put on their swimwear and headed for Leisure Depot in North Charleston, where they jumped into a few pools and swam, sort of trying them on for size.

They bought a 15-by-30-foot oblong pool that stands 4 feet high and holds 10,000 gallons of water, Wiggins says. The pool's slightly corrugated galvanized steel wall, tasteful liner pattern and $4,000 price tag, including accessories such as a ladder, pool cover, pump and filter, attracted them. They could have spent another $1,500 to get the pool installed but didn't.

"Once we realized how much it was going to cost to have them install it, we thought, 'Well, how hard could this be?' and decided to install it ourselves," Hutto says.

First they hired three men experienced in excavation to remove the grass and a foot of dirt to prepare for the foundation.

Then they took the plunge, so to speak.

They read and reread the instructions but never really thought they were in over their heads. A good friend, Rick Diamond, worked alongside them.

"We were greatly challenged but knew we would get it if we kept working on it," Hutto says.

Both Wiggins and Hutto say they are glad they constructed the pool themselves and would do it again.

"It's made us a lot more attractive," Hutto half jokes. "Now everybody wants to be our friend."

Above-ground choice

There are advantages to having an above-ground pool, says Sally Hendricks, a manager at Leisure Depot.

Homeowners can enjoy one for years, then take it down when they don't want it anymore.

"You throw down some grass seed and you have your yard back," Hendricks says.

That's one thing that makes it attractive to many homeowners, she says.

Another is that when they try to sell the home, those who don't want a pool might still buy the property.

The pools can last from 10 to 30 years if maintained properly, Hendricks says. Most homeowners clean the filter once a week, balance the water and then use sanitizer to control bacteria.

Those thinking of purchasing pools should be aware that local governments and homeowners associations may have rules governing them, Hendricks says.

Pool rules

Though the pool isn't permanent, building one is considered construction, says Lee Cave, building official for the town of Mount Pleasant. Installing one requires a building permit whether a pool company or homeowner does the work.

"Those kinds of things sometimes are hard to regulate because we don't know they are going in," Cave says.

It's not uncommon for home- owners to be unaware that a permit is required. The cost of the permit is based on the cost of construction, so it varies.

In Mount Pleasant, pools, including above- and in-ground pools that are intended for swimming are allowed by the regulations, but they must have barriers that are at least 4 feet high with openings no wider than 4 inches.

Cave says homeowners interested in knowing what the regulatory requirements would be before they purchase a pool or who are interested in getting a permit to construct a pool should call his office at 884-5184.

Restrictions

Pools, including above-ground pools, usually are addressed in a community's covenants and restrictions, says Julie Eargle, community manager for Dorchester Real Estate Services in St. George.

"A lot of my communities specifically say no above-ground pools," says Eargle, who manages Arbor Walk and eight other communities. "We have had people in some communities ask to put in above-ground pools and they have been denied. We don't object to on-ground kiddie pools that are 6 or 8 inches high. But there may be a stricter board in a community that does object to those."

She suggests those interested in having a pool read a community's covenants before they buy a home there. Swimming pools, Eargle says, usually are prohibited.

Pool safety tips

The YMCA recommends several precautionary measures to ensure safety around water, including these:

• Proper fencing and gates around pools.
• Sturdy pool coverings.
• Install alarms on doors and windows that lead to the pool.
• Have rescue equipment mounted by the pool.
• Proper parental or adult supervision at all times. Always be within arm's reach of a child who isn't an experienced swimmer.
• When there are several adults present and children are swimming, designate an "on-duty" adult to ensure supervision at all times.
• Stress the importance of never swimming alone.
• Get swim safety lessons for all children who will be exposed to water.
• Let someone know when you are going to swim.
• Never swim in a pool if you cannot see the bottom.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705.