Starting at
8x11 koi pond with waterfall
from $13,200
Pond Builder for Lake Wylie, Tega Cay and York County
Lake Wylie straddles two states. Belmont sits on its northern end, so for us the lake is the neighborhood, and we work both the North Carolina shore and the York County, South Carolina side: Lake Wylie itself, Tega Cay, Clover and the communities in between.
- Belmont based, at the north end of Lake Wylie
- Master Certified Aquascape Contractor since 2009
- BBB A+
- State licensed and insured
- Financing available
One lake, two states
Lake Wylie is a Catawba River reservoir, older than Lake Norman, with a shoreline that runs through Gaston and Mecklenburg counties in North Carolina and York County in South Carolina. The South Carolina side has grown quickly, with lake communities and planned neighborhoods around the unincorporated Lake Wylie area and in Tega Cay.
For homeowners, the state line mostly changes paperwork, not the work. The soil is the same red clay, the trees drop the same leaves, and the winters bring the same occasional hard freeze. A pond built in Clover is built the way we build one in Belmont.
What does change from one side of the lake to the other is the type of lot, and that is what drives the design.
Three kinds of Lake Wylie properties
Planned lake communities. Much of the newer housing around Lake Wylie and Tega Cay sits in planned neighborhoods with HOAs and architectural review. Yards are often moderate in size, with the house set close to the back property line. Compact koi ponds, pondless waterfalls and fountains fit well.
Lakefront and lake-view lots. These often slope toward the water and are built around the view. A water feature here is usually placed so it frames the lake rather than competing with it, and grading has to send runoff around it. We build in the yard, not on the shoreline.
Rural and acreage properties toward Clover. West of the lake, lots get bigger and more open. That opens the door to larger koi ponds with streams, big boulder work and, on the right site, a natural swim pond.
Process
A goldfish pond rebuild in Clover, SC
Sid Welch built his own backyard pond in Clover in 2006. Eighteen years later it was leaking and wearing out. He had talked with Brian years earlier about a rebuild, and when the leaks got bad he called back.
We replaced it with a 9x11 goldfish pond with a multi-level waterfall, a wetland filtration system hidden under the landscape, a skimmer and an Oase adjustable pump. The supplier had some very large stone that season, which made placing it in a pond of that size a puzzle, and the big boulders now define the whole space. Native plantings and butterfly bushes went in around the edges, and the pond is lit at night.
Read the full story: a goldfish pond with heart in Clover, South Carolina.
Comparison
Rebuilds versus repairs
Lake Wylie has plenty of ponds that are fifteen or twenty years old, many of them DIY or built by a general landscaper. When the owner calls us, the question is usually whether to patch it or start again.
Our rough rule of thumb:
- Repair when the liner is sound and the problems are in the stream, the edges or the equipment. Replacing a skimmer, resetting a waterfall or fixing a low edge can bring an older pond back for a fraction of a rebuild.
- Rebuild when the liner is failing in several places, there was never underlayment, or the pond was too shallow from the start. In this climate fish need at least 2 feet of depth to winter safely.
The Clover pond was a rebuild. The Belmont koi pond and waterfall revival, at the north end of the lake, was something in between: we kept the location but enlarged the pond, added underlayment and replaced the skimmer. Our pond repair and renovation page walks through the decision.
The swim
Swim ponds on the York County side
The South Carolina side of the lake has larger lots in places, and some of our clients there are interested in natural swim ponds. We have built swim ponds in York County , and “The Resort,” our swim pond in Belmont, shows what one of our builds includes: varied depths, a wetland filtration zone (sometimes called a regeneration zone), multiple waterfalls and decks.
Swim ponds are priced to the site. The build cost generally overlaps the range of a quality gunite pool. Learn more on our swim pond page.
Pricing
Starting prices for Lake Wylie projects
The same published prices on both sides of the state line, with electrical extra and financing available.
Starting at
10x12 pond with 2 ft waterfall and 5 ft stream
from $23,000
Starting at
Small pondless waterfall (6 ft, 2 drops)
from $9,000
Starting at
Rippled or scalloped urn fountain, small
from $8,400
Starting at
Pond maintenance, The Basics
from $1,980 a year
Starting at
Swim ponds priced to the site
Repairs and rebuilds are priced after a site visit. Every package is listed on our pricing page.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. York County is one of the three counties we serve. We work in Lake Wylie, Tega Cay, Clover and nearby communities, and our Belmont shop is at the north end of the same lake. A goldfish pond rebuild in Clover is one of our documented projects.
In most cases, yes, but your HOA decides. Many lake communities require architectural approval for backyard changes. We can provide a layout, dimensions and product details for your submission. Check your covenants before we design, since some communities limit size, placement or lighting.
It depends on the liner and the depth. If the liner is sound and the trouble is in the stream or equipment, a repair usually makes sense. If there is no underlayment, the liner is failing in several spots, or the pond is shallower than 2 feet, a rebuild is often the better investment. We tell you which after we look.
The same as anywhere we work. Our packaged ponds start at $9,195 for a 6x8 pond with a waterfall and $13,200 for an 8x11. A 10x12 pond with a 2-foot waterfall and 5-foot stream starts at $23,000. Electrical is not included, and financing is available.
Get started
Start a Lake Wylie project
North Carolina or South Carolina, lakefront or a few streets back, tell us about the property and we'll tell you what makes sense.