Hear from Our Customers
You get a real pool. Full stop. Your kids don’t care if it’s above ground or in-ground—they care that it’s there, that it’s cool on a hot Georgia afternoon, and that their friends want to come over.
You’re looking at around $4,000 instead of $65,000. That’s not a typo. Above ground pools cost roughly 16 times less than in-ground options, and in McWhorter’s climate, you’ll use it just as much. Installation takes 2-3 days instead of months of construction chaos. Your landscaping stays intact. Your driveway doesn’t get torn up by heavy equipment.
And here’s what most people don’t realize until later: maintenance is simpler. Fewer gallons mean less chemicals, less energy, and less time spent balancing pH levels when you’d rather be floating. The elevated design also gives you better control over who’s getting in—a real consideration when you’ve got young kids or when the neighborhood children start showing up unannounced.
This isn’t about settling. It’s about getting what you actually need without paying for things you don’t.
Deep Waters Pools started in 2014, but our hands-on pool construction experience goes back over 30 years. We’ve built custom in-ground cement pools across South Georgia, and we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t when it comes to pool ownership in this climate.
McWhorter families have different priorities than people in other parts of the country. You want quality work, but you’re not trying to build a resort in your backyard. You want something reliable that your family will actually use during Georgia’s long, hot summers—and you want it done right the first time.
We’re licensed, bonded, and insured. We work with brands like Doughboy and Carvin because they last. And we’re local enough that if something needs attention, we’re not three states away or out of business next season.
First, we come out and look at your yard. Not every spot works, and it’s better to know that up front. We’ll talk about size, placement, sun exposure, and access. This takes about an hour, and you’ll leave with a clear picture of what’s possible.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we handle the site prep. That means leveling the ground, laying the base, and making sure drainage won’t be an issue down the road. This is the part that matters most for longevity—if the foundation isn’t right, nothing else will be.
Then we install the pool itself. Walls go up, liner goes in, and we get everything plumbed and ready. For most above ground installations in McWhorter, you’re looking at 2-3 days from start to finish. We test everything before we leave, walk you through the basics of operation and maintenance, and make sure you know how to reach us if questions come up.
After that, it’s yours. We’re available for service, repairs, and seasonal maintenance, but the day-to-day stuff is straightforward enough that most people handle it themselves.
Ready to get started?
You’re getting the full setup—not a kit dropped in your driveway with a “good luck” note. We handle site evaluation, ground prep, and leveling. We install the pool structure, liner, and all necessary plumbing and filtration equipment. Everything gets tested before we consider the job done.
We also walk you through the startup process. That means showing you how to balance chemicals, how to run your pump and filter, and what to watch for in the first few weeks. We’re not trying to create dependency—we want you to feel confident managing your own pool.
In McWhorter and the surrounding Douglas County area, above ground pools make sense for a lot of reasons. The soil here can be tricky for in-ground installations, and the cost difference is significant. With 41% of residential pools nationwide being above ground, you’re in good company. These aren’t temporary solutions—a well-maintained above ground pool lasts 7-15 years, and many of our customers get even more life out of them.
We also offer custom pool covers for safety, which matters when you’ve got kids or pets. Georgia sees around 379 annual pool-related deaths for children under 15, with 75% of those involving kids under 5. An elevated pool with controlled access and a quality cover gives you more peace of mind.
Most above ground pool installations take 2-3 days from start to finish. That includes site prep, leveling, pool assembly, and getting all your equipment up and running.
The timeline can stretch a bit if we run into ground issues—tree roots, rocks, or drainage problems that need addressing. But compared to in-ground pools, which can take months and involve heavy excavation, you’re looking at a weekend project instead of a summer-long disruption.
You won’t be swimming the same day we start, but you also won’t be staring at a construction zone in your backyard for weeks on end. We schedule installations when weather permits, test everything before we leave, and make sure you understand how to operate your new pool before we pack up.
Above ground pools typically run around $4,000 for a quality installation. In-ground pools in Georgia start around $40,000 and can easily hit $100,000 depending on size and features. That’s not a small gap—you’re saving $60,000 or more.
The ongoing costs are lower too. Above ground pools hold less water, so you’re using fewer chemicals and less energy to heat and filter. Repairs tend to be simpler and cheaper because everything is accessible. If you need to replace a liner in five years, you’re looking at a fraction of what in-ground resurfacing costs.
For most McWhorter families, the question isn’t whether above ground pools are “good enough”—it’s whether spending 16 times more for an in-ground option actually makes sense for how you’ll use it. If you want a pool for your kids to enjoy during summer without taking out a second mortgage, above ground is the smarter play.
Above ground pools actually offer some safety advantages over in-ground options. The elevated design means kids can’t just wander in—they need to use a ladder, which you can remove or lock when the pool isn’t in use.
That said, no pool is completely safe without supervision and proper precautions. We recommend pool covers, locked ladder access, and teaching your kids to swim as early as possible. In Georgia, 75% of child drowning victims are under age 5, and most incidents happen when supervision lapses for just a few minutes.
The key is treating your above ground pool with the same respect you’d give an in-ground one. Establish rules, enforce them consistently, and never assume older kids are watching younger ones closely enough. We can install safety covers and discuss placement options that give you better sightlines from inside your house.
You’re looking at about 30 minutes a week during swim season for basic maintenance. That includes skimming debris, checking chemical levels, and cleaning the filter. It’s not complicated, but it does need to happen regularly.
Every few weeks, you’ll vacuum the bottom and brush the walls. Once a month or so, you’ll need to backwash or clean your filter more thoroughly. At the start and end of the season, there’s more involved work—opening the pool in spring and winterizing it in fall.
The smaller water volume in above ground pools actually makes chemical management easier. You’re not dumping massive amounts of chlorine or trying to balance 20,000 gallons. Most people get the hang of it quickly, and we walk you through everything during installation. If you’d rather not handle it yourself, we offer maintenance services, but plenty of McWhorter customers prefer the hands-on approach once they realize it’s manageable.
Yes, and that’s one of the biggest advantages over in-ground pools. If you move, you can disassemble your above ground pool and take it with you or sell it separately. You’re not leaving a $50,000 investment behind.
The process isn’t simple—you’ll need help, and some components like the liner might not survive the move—but it’s doable. Many people who relocate within Georgia choose to reinstall their pool at the new property, especially if it’s only a few years old.
This flexibility matters in McWhorter, where families sometimes move within Douglas County or to nearby areas for work or schools. You’re not locked into a permanent landscape alteration. If your needs change, your pool can change with them. That’s a level of adaptability you simply don’t get with in-ground construction.
We work primarily with Doughboy and Carvin pools. Both brands have proven track records for durability and performance in Georgia’s climate, and we’ve installed enough of them to know how they hold up over time.
Doughboy pools are known for their steel construction and longevity. Carvin offers good options for families looking for reliable quality without unnecessary extras. We’re not interested in selling you the cheapest pool available or the most expensive—we focus on what actually lasts.
The brand matters less than the installation. A premium pool installed poorly will give you problems. A mid-range pool installed correctly will serve you well for years. We’ve been in the pool construction business long enough to know that the foundation, leveling, and proper setup make the biggest difference in how your pool performs. That’s where our 30+ years of experience comes into play.
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