Leave the glassware inside and use acrylic or melamine when serving drinks to your guests outside. Check out our top picks for outdoor drinkware.

Hot tub covers are made of marine-grade vinyl that is durable. Although the cover material is durable, after years of use or if you accidentally cut the vinyl, the cover will need repairing. Moisture also can get inside the cover and saturate the foam core, so repairing the vinyl is recommended. Rep

Shock is used to treat swimming pools with an extra high dosage of chlorine meant to clear cloudy pool water or kill early algae growth. The amount of shock to add to a swimming pool directly corresponds to the number of gallons of water your swimming pool holds. Shocks comes in two different forms.

Algae control is one of the more recent uses for barley straw. It has been found to control the growth of algae in bodies of water both small and large and has the benefit of being a natural control method. Although barley straw had been found to be successful in controlling algae, it is not without

A sauna installation is easier than most people think. New infrared sauna kits frequently can be installed the same day they are delivered. Traditional sauna installation is also relatively easy it you consider purchasing a barrel sauna for your home or cabin.

Re-furbishing your swimming pool can be a great DIY project, but it does have its draw backs. Depending on how large your pool is, the extent of the damage, and the cost of repairs, taking on the task of fixing your pool can be a long and tedious task, one that is time consuming, and frustrating.

When adding a backyard pool, homeowners have many options in terms of building materials. Concrete and vinyl-lined are two of the more common types of in-ground pools and are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes. However, many homeowners opt for a concrete pool over a lined model because of

Small children, attracted by the lure of a swimming pool, are at risk when the area is not properly obstructed from unauthorized entry. Swimming pool fence standards are also enforced as a means of protecting the elderly from accidents.

A small pool provides a refreshing retreat in a limited space.pool image by Yuri Osadchi from Fotolia.comSmall swimming pools provide a relaxing and refreshing escape in areas with limited space. The key to small swimming pools is to use a simple design that maximizes the available space....

A hot tub can be a great luxury addition to your house. First-time buyers will need to do a lot of research about different hot tub varieties before buying one. They can choose to install the hot tub outside the house or place it inside. An indoor hot tub is ideal for those living in apartments whil

As summer takes hold for many of us this time of the year, a number of homeowners look to add a bit of fun to their backyards, whether that means a garden, some landscaping adornment to improve the appearance of the yard, or maybe a deck. However, many are also thinking of adding pools to the proper

Bulk modulus is a measure of a substance's resistance to compression. This equation can be applied to both solids and liquids. Bulk modulus can help determine how far hydraulic fluid will compress in a hydraulic lift or rubber mats will deform when used. Knowing how far material will deform is criti

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 69 percent of the children who become victims of swimming pool accidents were not expected to be at or near the pool at the time.

Just imagine yourself swimming together with different kinds of debris, dirt and bacteria, very disgusting, right? Swimming pools need to be kept clean at all times to assure the safety of the health of their users and to ensure that there are no contaminated bacteria flowing in there. (Sometimes, w

Pool maintenance is difficult and takes a lot of time each week. For proper maintenance, pool cleaning should be done about twice a week, for two to three hours at a time. This is difficult for almost anyone to manage, and sometimes there is just not enough time to devote this much energy to the tas

Pool liners come in variety of sizes to suit your specific pool size and depth. Pool liners are necessary to provide a waterproof layer between your pool frame and the water inside the pool. Pools can use either a beaded or unbeaded liner. Both kinds of liners have distinct assembly requirements tha

Water fountains can enhance the character of your landscape. The soothing sounds of flowing water and the decorative elements often included in water fountain designs can add a whimsical charm to your patio or garden. One way to make a rustic-style water fountain is with a faucet and a bucket. Chann

Recreational swimming pools didn't become popular until the mid 19th century. Modern Olympic Games (which began in 1896) included many competitions that signaled the popularity of swimming pools, which eventually prompted Oxford to build the first public swimming pool 1939.

When you shock a pool you do not stick an electrical probe into the water to send a few thousand volts of electricity through the water. You add heavy amounts of concentrated chlorine to kill unwanted bacteria and algae. When you go to a pool supply store and purchase pool shock you will quickly und

There are a number of different swimming pool sanitizing systems available in the marketplace. Each system is dependent on the same pool chemistry basics of balancing the alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness. Once these three properties are set within their ideal ranges, these systems work most effec