I have installed above-ground swimming pools in St Cloud for four decades. When I started installing pools, St Cloud was a lot smaller and simpler.
Since the late 1980s, when I installed my first pools in St. Cloud, a lot has changed. Then, there were only houses north of 192 between it and East Lake Toho, and then on the other side down Canoe Creek Rd as far as “The Manor”.
Working out of Orlando, A job in St. Cloud back then was considered “way out” of town. It was just an old redneck community east of Kissimmee with only a water tower and the famous Koffee Kup Kafe (which is now just called “The Cup”).
Now with a population of somewhere north of sixty-five thousand residents, “The Cloud” now extends with homes all the way to Narcoossee and has almost completely filled in the Old Canoe Creek corridor.
ABOVE GROUND POOLS IN ST CLOUD
During the entire time of my pool installing career, I have always had installations of above-ground pools in St. Cloud. Even during the years when business wasn’t great, I would get install jobs in “The Cloud”.
5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ST CLOUD
1 Groundwater/moisture
Most areas are pretty good in terms of the ground being nice and dry. I have had some issues in “The Manor” area, but that was usually when I was going semi-inground for the installation.
If you are considering putting your above-ground pool partially in the ground, think about how wet your yard gets from a big rainstorm. If you get any standing water at all that hangs around for more than a few hours, then you may not be able to sink your pool much.
2 Earth type
Most of Central Florida is sand-based, but if you live in a neighborhood, the developer may have brought in some harder earth to raise the area some.
Some newer neighborhoods in St. Cloud had some earth with a lot of hard clay trucked in. With those, the earth may be hard to work with in terms of making a nice flat pool bottom.
Any older areas of St. Cloud almost always have nice, easy to work with sand-based earth.
3 Earth Grade
Most of all St. Cloud is very flat. This is good for installing an AG pool.
When you look at where you want your pool and it’s fairly flat, then that is better and easier. A swimming pool has to be level, so if the yard has a slope, then the ground will have to be leveled.
4 Yard size
Older homes in St Cloud are on big enough lots to fit a decent-sized above-ground pool in the yard. And most of the newer homes have enough room too.
The original residential area of St Cloud, which is between 192 and East Lake Tohopekaliga has average-sized yards. The Manor has big lots ranging from one to five acres, so any size pool is good there.
Newer neighborhoods can have very small lots, so check your yard and measure before committing to a pool size.
5 Yard Access
If you are planning on having your above-ground pool installed professionally, then consider the access to where you want the pool.
Some installers only have a sod cutter machine to help prepare the earth, but others (like myself) have skid/steer machines. These bigger machines require bigger than standard walk-through gates for access.
My machine is very small at only 48” wide, but will not go through a standard gate.
If you have an older home in St Cloud, then chances are you have a wood fence. Typically, a section of wood fence can be taken down for wider access.
Newer neighborhoods often use vinyl fences. Vinyl fences are much more difficult to remove sections of. So, if you have a vinyl fence, check the width of your gates for machine access.
POOL STORES IN ST CLOUD
For about 20 years, This pool store has been great for above-ground pools. They sold them, serviced them, and repaired them in the past.
This guy, James, owned this Pinch-a-Penny franchise for a really long time and he was a good guy. I have heard that he sold this store, so I’m not sure how good and trusting the new owner is, but that store has been great for many years.
CONSIDERING ME FOR YOUR POOL INSTALLATION?
Here is my install price page
WANT TO HAVE A HOLE DUG FOR YOUR ABOVE GROUND POOL?
Here is my price page for digging a hole