You’re excited! You’ve decided to create your own backyard oasis — and increase your home’s value in the process. That decision was the first and most important step, to be sure. But you’ll have a few more steps to take before your dreams can actually materialize. Consider that the more thought you put into your […]
Swimming Pools
Planning Your Indoor Swimming Pool, Part 1
Despite the beauty of alfresco entertainment, outdoor pools have a noteworthy downside: depending on your local climate, they can often be used only a fraction of the year. So what’s the solution to this admittedly frustrating dilemma? An indoor swimming pool, of course! It’s a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside […]
Help! A Bad Storm Is Coming. What About My Pool?
It’s been a super hot summer so far, and the hurricanes and tropical storms have already begun! We’re hearing from our pool-loving readers those age-old panicky questions: Is there any way to protect my pool? What can I do to make it storm proof? I need tips, and I need them fast – how can […]
Fun & Fabulous Poolside Wedding Ideas, Part 2
Hosting your wedding ceremony or reception beside the pool gives you a dramatic backdrop for all sorts of incredible photo ops. You can choose to use the pool simply as an elaborate part of the scenery, or even, for an informal wedding, as part of a location for guests to relax, unwind, don their swimsuits, […]
Be in the Know About Protecting Your Pool During a Storm
Like all aspects of your home and property, protecting your pool is part of being a responsible homeowner. Unlike other assets, though, sometimes it’s hard to know what you can do to protect your pool from the harsh elements. Of course, proper pool maintenance is a significant part of the equation, but that’s not the […]
Swimming Pool Options: Natural Swimming Pools, Part 3
Many homeowners love their streamlined, conventional, chlorinated backyard swimming pools. While it doesn’t look natural at all, it does look sleek and clean and relaxing! Those pool owners are prepared to perform – or pay for a pool service to perform – routine maintenance and purchase and stock the chemicals needed to keep it up […]
Be in the Know About Algae Growth, Part 2
Algae comes in many forms – well, 3 main ones to be precise. And in any shape and color, they’ll be unwanted guests at your next pool party or even at your family’s next evening at home or staycation. In Part 1, we looked at basic preventive maintenance, which will reduce the incidents of algae […]
Backyard Inground Swimming Pool: Is It Worth the Investment?
In the pursuit of leisure and accessibility, creating space in your backyard for an inground swimming pool can be a promising investment. Presuming you live in a warm – or at least mild – climate that is pool-friendly, let’s briefly examine why more homeowners should consider incorporating an inground pool in their backyard improvement planning. […]
How to Keep Children Safe Around the Pool, Part 5
In our final article in this series (see Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4), we’ll consider some more practical rules you can teach kids to help ensure that they stay safe in and around the pool. Keep Away from Filters and Drains Drains or filters, especially in older pools, can pose a drowning risk due […]
Be in the Know About Pet-Friendly Pool Tips
Did you know that there are approximately 10 million swimming pools in the U.S.? Have you ever stopped to consider why this amenity is increasingly valued by today’s homeowners? It’s actually not anything new. In fact, the allure of pools of water for recreational purposes goes back decades, centuries, and even millennia! From purification rituals […]
Making Your Backyard Pool Disability Accessible, Part 2
Whether it’s sliding down a water slide, diving off the diving board, or simply plunging into the refreshing water from the pool’s edge, people without disabilities have a whole host of options for entering their pools. This isn’t the case, however, for the millions of people living with disabilities. Many of them simply have no […]
3 Options for Pool Heating
One of the most significant additions you can make to your new in-ground swimming pool comes in the form of swimming pool heating. Not only will it extend the swimming season, but it will also increase your comfort and thereby extend the length of daily swimming sessions during the main swimming season. Amid many options […]
Three Options for Heating Your Swimming Pool
Swimming pool heating is one of the most important improvements you can make to a new in-ground pool. Not only will it lengthen your reasonably doable swimming season, but it will also make you more comfortable, allowing you to swim for longer each day throughout the primary swimming season. Today, among the many possibilities available, […]
Great Game Ideas for Family Fun in the Pool, Part 3
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on fancy vacation outings in faraway places to create some awesome memories with your family. You can have plenty of fun with your kids or grandchildren right in your own backyard pool (see Parts 1 & 2). Here are some more great games to try with […]
How To Avoid Getting Swimmer’s Skin
Now that you understand what causes swimmer’s hair and how to prevent it in the future, let’s backtrack and give you some tips on how to cope if your hair is already showing signs of damage. Then we’ll take a look at what we’ll term “swimmer’s skin.” (Yeah, I’m pretty sure we just made that […]