August 2021 | Total Quality Home Builders & Waterfront Properties

As summer winds down, many families will enjoy the last of the season celebrating Labor Day at their favorite swimming hole or hopping in the boat for one last fishing trip. Lake Keowee, one of the more popular lakes in South Carolina, has about 18,500 acres of surface water. Its average depth is 53 feet, and it reaches nearly 300 feet at its deepest point, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Want to swim in Lake Keowee? The depth, size, presence of boats, and other factors make swimming in a lake different from swimming in a pool, and for those who are not strong swimmers, we have some advice to help keep you and your family safe this Labor Day.

First and foremost, if your swimming ability is limited or non-existent and you are planning family time on the lake, always wear a flotation device.

Here are our top 7 tips to ensure your family’s safety on Lake Keowee this Labor Day weekend.

Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket

Putting on a life jacket while boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or swimming can mean the difference between life and death. Furthermore, life jackets must be worn by children under the age of 12 in South Carolina. This means putting the jacket on before the vessel is underway – moving or drifting.

Life jackets are available at Duke Energy access areas and are essential for water safety, especially for children and inexperienced swimmers. Whether swimming or boating, wearing a properly fitting life jacket is essential and can save a life. Life jackets in a variety of sizes are available for temporary use at many recreation access areas. Visitors may check out a life jacket at no charge and then return it to the kiosk when done. Life jacket loaner boards are run on an honor system, and the availability of life jackets will vary.

To ensure your safety on Lake Keowee, there are several Duke Energy Life Jacket locations in the area:

Lake Keowee: South Cove Access Area, High Falls Access Area, Mile Creek Park Access Area
Lake Jocassee: Devil’s Fork State Park

Swim with a buddy

Swim in designated areas only and always with a buddy. Rocks and other underwater hazards can be tricky when you swim outside of a marked swimming area. Always swim with a friend and let others know your location and your expected return time. You and your buddy should take turns being a spotter. Plan for someone to stay on the boat, shore, or dock to watch for any problems that may arise. A throw cushion is mandatory equipment for boats and may be used for swimmers in trouble, so always be aware of its location and keep it in an easily accessible place.

Swim sober

Pay attention to fatigue, health conditions, and alcohol use in members of your group. Exhaustion, impaired skills, and illness can affect your ability to swim safely. Sun, weather, and motion can elevate intoxication and make swimming dangerous, especially in deeper waters.

Drink water to stay hydrated as the sun can reduce your energy and cause cramping, affecting your fun and, more importantly, your safety on Lake Keowee.

Always enter unknown or shallow water feet-first

In general, you should always enter shallow or unknown waters feet first. Unknown waters are when you are unsure of the water depth or if you can’t see what lays beneath the surface. When possible, the wade entry is the best way to enter unknown waters. Wade entry is entering the water at a slow walk. Feel your way forward with your feet until the water is chest deep, then start to swim.

Be aware of currents, waves, and underwater obstructions

Being water competent in natural water requires additional knowledge and skill than swimming in a pool. Whenever you are near a lake, river, stream, or other natural water environments, watch and prepare for:

Fast-moving currents, waves, and rapids, even in shallow water
Hazards, such as dams, underwater obstacles, or rocks and debris
Vegetation, animals, and fish
Drop-offs that can unexpectedly change water depth
Other people’s activities in the same waters, such as boaters and skiers

Watch the weather – be aware of sudden changes in air or water temperature

Watch for changes in the weather, especially in the afternoon. Although you may have checked the weather before your outing, summer storms can pop up suddenly and without warning. Also be aware of lake water levels, temperature, and currents. These can change quickly, making swimming more difficult and unsafe.

Watch for boaters

Be aware of boats and other motorized water vessels during dusk and nighttime hours. Pay particular attention to boats with no lights on, boats pulling skiers and tubes past the legal time in which they are allowed to do so, as well as kayakers who may be barely visible to others.

Follow these tips and be assured of you and your family’s safety on Lake Keowee this Labor Day.

Focus on the Basics

As you start the process of developing your custom home floor plan, think about the features of a new home that are important to you, your family, and your lifestyle. A good floor plan will not only enhance your quality of life but will also lengthen the life of your house. By creating a list of features that are important to you and your family, you can prioritize the features that you want in your new home.

Zero in on the Flow

Custom home floor plans that have a poor flow will affect your long-term comfort and use of the house. Ensure that frequently used rooms are grouped in proximity for ideal functionality. Pay attention to whether it’s easy to move from one part of your home to another and look for barriers that may prevent easy access to different parts of the home. Is the layout confusing or odd? Does the traffic pattern make sense? For example, placing the dining room on the other side of the living room isn’t very functional. The same is true about the proximity of bathrooms to bedrooms. It’s important to compare where you currently live to your new custom home floor plan and think about your likes and dislikes.

Get Creative & Show off Your Style

Have you always wanted a spiral staircase? A decked-out gourmet kitchen? Or how about an above-garage apartment for visiting relatives? Most people who decide to build a custom home have ideas about what their dream home would include. Now is the time to put your imagination to work. Turn your daydreams into a list of features that you want to incorporate into your custom home floor plan. When building a new home, you have the flexibility to peruse styles that are of interest to you but keep in mind that your style choices will also have an impact on the house plan. You want to be prepared for any freedoms or limitations that may come with the style you choose.

Measurements Matter

Square footage may not be the most captivating aspect of developing a custom home floor plan, but it’s certainly one of the most important. Think about the rooms you need – and want – to consider your ideal layout, to get a sense of how much space you need, and where you need it most. You may want an open floor plan, with your kitchen open to the living area. Do you want a large walk-in pantry or an island with seating in the kitchen? When considering the master bedroom’s attached bath, you may want a double vanity, or a separate shower and tub. Speaking of bedrooms, how many is ideal for your family? Creating the right floor plan is essential to enjoying your new home, so it’s best to make sure you have a clear vision of what you want prior to finalizing your plans.

Factoring in Future Needs

Aging in place is a decision many people make, but even if you’re not planning to stay in your new home forever, it might make your house easier to sell if you add aspects of universal design, meaning that it meets the needs of virtually anyone, and it creates flexibility, even as needs and abilities change. Those features may include extra lighting, lever-style door handles, single-handle faucets, no-threshold showers with seating inside, wider doorways and halls, and many more options that can be incorporated in a custom home floor plan.

The best floor plans fit present and future needs. When you’re planning to age-in-place in your home, having the option of adding a master bedroom suite on the first floor of your home makes sense. You may not need that extra space for several years but having that option will be very convenient when the time comes.

Choosing an Experienced Builder

Developing the best floor plan can be a big challenge when building your first custom home. And since your home represents one of the largest investments you will ever make, the selection of a builder is extremely important. Choose the right builder who’s experienced in designing custom homes; they’ll be able to answer your questions and provide you with the expert advice you need to design the home of your dreams.

Are you ready to build your dream home? Contact us today and let’s get started.

Safety on Lake Keowee this Labor Day