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AROUND THE HOUSE
PBA answers questions about above-ground pools, energy efficiency, basement bedrooms and 'call before you dig' rules

Q. I am considering buying a small pool with a filter system to set up in my yard during the summer. Does a small pool need to meet any building requirements? Do I need a building permit?

A. Today, temporary back-yard pools are affordable and easy to set up. However, some consumers overlook safety requirements that protect their family and their liability.

Under the Uniform Construction Code, pools deeper than two feet must be surrounded by a barrier, usually a fence. This fence must stand four feet high, either on the ground surrounding the pool or attached to the pool structure. Openings in a chain-link fence, a lattice fence, or between vertical slats in a fence must be 1.75 inches or smaller. Above ground pools must also have a locking fence or removable ladder.

In addition, power cords for pool filters must be connected to ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets to protect from accidental electrocution.

After you have gathered prices for the pool, fence and electric work, check with your city, township or borough office. Municipalities often require building permits for projects based on the total project cost. Your municipality may also require an inspection.

Q. What can I do to make my older home more energy efficient?

A. Here are some of our top recommendations:
• Install maximum insulation.
• Install high-efficiency windows that exceed the energy code.
• Seal all exterior penetrations.
• Purchase only Energy Star-rated appliances.
• Install only low-flow water fixtures.
• Upgrade to an Energy Star-rated water heater.
• Purchase the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford.

To take advantage of their efficiency, these improvements, especially the windows, must be installed properly.

Check with your tax adviser or visit www.irs.gov to find out about tax advantages for energy efficient improvements.

Q. I am preparing to sell my home, an early 1960s ranch house with a finished basement. Two rooms in the basement are finished as bedrooms, the first has a full-sized window about three feet off the floor that overlooks the patio. The other room has a small window five feet off the floor. May I count these rooms as bedrooms when I sell the house?

A. Many older homes in Pennsylvania have finished basements that do not meet today’s requirements for emergency exits. In some cases, remodelors may have complied with building codes. The “bedrooms” may have passed building inspections as they were finished. However, without knowing this history, it’s better to advertise without counting basement bedrooms that don’t meet today’s standards.

While thousands of Pennsylvania homeowners converted bedrooms before Pennsylvania adopted the Uniform Construction Code, builders suggest using the code to decide which rooms may safely be used as bedrooms. 

Under Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code, the room with the larger window may be considered a bedroom if the portion that opens is larger than 5.7 square feet and the window sill is no more than 44 inches from the floor.

The window must be at least 8 percent the area of the room’s floor space for light and its opening must be at least 4 percent of the room’s area for ventilation.

Q. I am hiring a contractor to clear an area behind my house using earth-moving equipment, to pour concrete for a shed. Do I need to call anyone, even if I think there are no buried wires or pipes?

A. No, the contractor – not the homeowner – must contact PA One Call by dialing 811. All projects using power excavating equipment require contractors to contact PA One Call three to 10 days prior to starting the project. If you are digging by hand, you are not required to call under state law.

Homeowners planning to dig with mechanical equipment may use the PA One Call service for free, and contractors pay $50 a year for unlimited use. When you call, plan to answer questions about the site of the dig, the intended depth and the type of project that you planned. You should mark the proposed dig site in white. Utilities will mark their lines using standard colors:
• Red: electric lines, lighting cables and conduits
• Yellow: Gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous materials
• Orange: Communication, alarm or signal cables and conduits
• Blue: Clean (potable) water
• Green: Wastewater/sewer lines
• Purple: Treated wastewater or irrigation pipes

Pennsylvania Builders Association provides this column as a public service. Readers should consult with a professional before undertaking home improvements. Visit PBA online at PaBuilders.org. Send questions to Around the House, PBA, 600 N. 12th St., Lemoyne, PA 17043, or to aroundthehouse@pabuilders.org.

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