One of the best ways to spend your summers is with friends and family, next to your sparkling pool. While every weekend doesn’t have to be a planned party, it can be really fun to have a themed celebration. Here are two ideas for a summery good time around the pool.

1. Pirate pool party.
What kid wouldn’t love an excuse to run around shouting, “Arrrr, maytey!” and generally acting like an outlaw? Supply your pirate guests with cheap eye patches and bandanas or felt hats.

What Games to Play: “Board the Float” or “Pirates vs. Royal Navy”

For these two games, you’ll need a supply of pool floats and a noodle for each kid.

How to play “Board the Float”:
Kids form teams of four. Two kids per team stay on “land” and wait to be called into play. The other two get on their float and head into open water. When one team “boards” another team’s float, the team that gets boarded is out, and the kids on the land from the boarding team take the boarded team’s float. The objective is to board as many floats as possible. More floats and more kids make this game more fun!

How to play “Pirates vs. Royal Navy”:
Split the kids into two teams. Give each team noodles—“swords”— and maybe some squirt guns, and explain that the soldiers and pirates are enemies. Watch as things dissolve into chaos.

If you have a diving board, the losing team can walk the plank.

Provide “grog” for kids to drink. Any kind of fruit punch or juice will work, just serve it in a bucket that kids can dunk their cups into. Pirate food is any kind of food that can be eaten somewhat uncivilly, like grilled chicken drumsticks or big watermelon slices, which can be gnawed on and summarily discarded.

Tip: Keep your pool clean by having the little pirates hose off between eating and boarding floats.

2. The Olympics.
Come up with a series of games kids can compete in. Some ideas include: relay races played in teams, diving and jumping contests, lap races and even standard pool games like giant pool hoops basketball or volleyball. Adults or kids can “score” the participants on dives or races. Provide a legal pad and a few magic markers to write scores and hold them up.
The party host can hand out dollar-store medals or small prizes for placing participants at the awards ceremony at the end of the party.

Feed the Olympic competitors healthy finger foods to help fuel their athleticism. Carrot and celery sticks with hummus or dip, grilled chicken bites, fruit salad and frozen yogurt pops are packed with energy and are cool enough for a hot summer day.

Tip: Wrap tiki torches in foil to transform them into official Olympic torches.

Keep an eye out for more pool party ideas from Doheny throughout the summer!

Bathing suit trends these days are much kinder to the rest of us who don’t look like supermodels. Gone are the days when men needed to sport neon Speedos to be considered stylish on the beach (which is as much a relief to the men wearing this universally unflattering swimwear item as it is for those looking at them).

Retro looks are making a comeback in swimwear, especially for women. Look for features such as high-waisted briefs, ruffle-embellished halter tops and shirred one-piece suits, which nod to the 1940s pinup look. (photo courtesy of montrealgazette.com)

More sophisticated, grown-up looking suits for women are making appearances in department stores. These classy and retro bathing suits are perfect for “formal” evening pool parties—think “Mad Men” by the pool. Set the mood with a bit of music by the pool and you’ll be set up for a
fabulous evening.

For men and women, board shorts are a popular choice. Board shorts have their roots in board-related summer sports, like surfing. For surfers, these long shorts serve a purpose: they keep the leg hair of the surfer from getting stuck in the sticky wax that surfers use on their boards to increase grip. The wax can rip the hair off a surfer’s leg, and the
shorts create a barrier and prevent inadvertent leg hair
waxing sessions.

In addition to their utility, they’re also a comfortable choice for men who prefer a longer, more casual fit. Men may choose to wear board shorts as a swimming suit or as a pair of shorts. The water-beading properties of many board shorts make them a good clothing choice for cleaning the pool. (photo courtesy of shop.volcom.com)

As Bermuda shorts have become trendy for women, board shorts offer a looser alternative. Bermuda shorts are nearly knee length, but tend to fit the leg closely. Board shorts are approximately the same length, but fit loosely, which some women prefer. Board shorts can be worn by themselves either as a swimsuit bottom or as shorts, or over a bikini bottom as a cover-up for around the pool.

Surf culture has been a strong influence on the summer-wear industry for several years now. Accessories like Rainbow or Reef flip flops are very popular, along with traditionally surf-related brands like QuikSilver or Roxy.

The biggest trend for anyone, regardless of age, weight or sex, is getting a bathing suit that flatters and fits well. The hottest trend will invariably look awful if it fits poorly, and a very boring swimsuit that flatters the person wearing it can look like a million bucks.

Treading Water
Treading water is not necessarily a swim stroke, but it should be mastered before moving on to learning swim strokes. Treading water helps to keep swimmers afloat when stopping a swim stroke in deep water.  You can also use kickboards to help you tread water and learn swim strokes.

Treading water is the motion of your arms and legs moving at the same time but in an efficient method. Your right arm should push out and away from your body and in a clockwise motion pull back to the chest. Your left arm should be in sync and perform the same motion but in a counter-clockwise direction. Your back should be straight with legs bent, and your legs should be making the same clockwise and counter-clockwise movements.

Breaststroke
After you know the arm movements for treading water, the breaststroke will come easily. This style of swimming allows you to propel yourself forward while keeping your head above the water.

For a fluid breaststroke, you should start in a prayer position with palms together and thumbs up. Keeping your hands together, push your arms forward away from your body. As you stretch your arms straight, release your hands and turn your palms out. Push your arms to your sides and back up to your chest in the starting prayer position. These motions should be done in one fluid action.

Your legs are equally important in swimming the breaststroke. Together with your arms, draw your knees up to your chest and kick your legs out to each side as wide as you can. Bring your legs together, straight back behind you and start the motion over again. The breaststroke looks a lot like a frog swimming- keep this in mind when kicking your legs out and back.

Freestyle Stroke
The most common swimming stroke is the freestyle stroke. It is the most natural to perform of all the different swim strokes and can be performed in a swimming pool or other bodies of water. The freestyle stroke allows you to swim straight on your stomach by kicking your legs and rotating your arms over your head. However, it is important to become comfortable with the breathing technique, as your face will stay submerged for a few strokes.

Body position is important to the freestyle swim. Your back, neck and head should be relaxed and inline with each other in order to reduce any resistance. Reach forward with your right arm and extend it as far as you can. As you place your right palm into the water, your left hand should be in motion reaching up and forward. Your right arm will be pushing through the water as your left arm is stretched out and swinging above your head.
When rotating arms to reach forward, your body will rotate with the arm reaching out of the water. Your body will pivot with each stroke allowing you to push harder through the water and extend your arm further.

While you are rotating, it will feel natural to tilt your head and breathe. You don’t want to take a breath every stroke but find a comfortable pattern and breathe every four strokes or so. Your feet should be kicking in a fluttering manner or a slower smooth pattern.

Backstroke
Swimming the backstroke is the same movements as the freestyle but you’re sunny side up! This is a very comfortable swim stroke and easy to learn.

Make sure your body is straight and inline, and your face looking up skyward. You want to be floating on your back in the water and extend your right arm above your head.

Reach out as far as you can above and behind you. As your right arm enters the water, bend your elbow and draw your arm under, pushing through the water, and back to the surface. Your left arm will follow this same motion but at the opposite time: when your right arm is submerged, your left arm is extended above you. Your legs should be helping you propel your self with your feet butterfly kicking.

Butterfly Stroke
The butterfly stroke is one of the most difficult swim strokes to learn and master. It is a combination of a mermaid kick, where your legs stay together, and a double arm stroke. The butterfly kick and stroke work together as one motion to propel you through the water. Check out this video on Youtube to visually learn the Butterfly stroke.

Exercising in swimming pools doesn’t have to feel like a torturous workout. It can be enjoyable and fun for the family. Water workouts can be done in above ground pools as well as inground pools.

Water is one of the best ways to work out: it provides resistance and supports some of your weight, reducing stress on joints that can cause injury. Exercising in water is a great low-impact way for people who are out of shape or obese to get fit.

The best part about water exercises is that they burn a higher number of calories in a shorter amount of time. Treading water vigorously can burn 11 calories a minute, same as a six-mile-per-hour run.

Tips to get started with your water exercise:

For most water workouts, don’t go deeper than waist high water. This allows your muscles to support more of your weight, giving you a better water workout.

Keep good posture while working out. This allows your lungs to open up and receive more oxygen.

Drink water! You can still get dehydrated in a pool.

Talk with your doctor about starting any exercise routine. If you feel light headed, or strange pains or strains, stop the workout, rest, and call for help.

Swimming Workout #1 – Jogging in Place – Burn up to 17 Calories per minute
In waist high water, jog in place for one to three minute intervals. Start slow and work your way into longer and faster jogging intervals. Do one interval then alternate with a less cardio charged water exercise. If you have troubles feeling stable, use a kickboard straight out in front of you and rest your hands on it.

Swimming Workout #2 – Pool Plank – Strengthen Core and Upper Body
Use pool stairs or a ladder to place both palms on face down. Your body should be mostly underwater and your chin above water, with arms straight as if you are about to do a push up. Hold this position for one to two minutes. For a more intense water workout try the “Stair Star” in the SELF Fitness water exercise video on You Tube.

Swimming Workout #3 – Water Crunches – Strengthen Abdominals
Stand a couple feet away form the pool wall. Squat into the water and start treading water with your arms. Lift legs up and tap toes on the pool coping then bring your knees to your chest and push your toes back to the pool coping. Repeat this motion for 5 reps. Rest and repeat 3 sets.

Swimming Workout #4 – Pool Surfing – Target and Tone all Muscles
*This workout is for deeper water and strictly for people comfortable in the deep end of the pool. Use a swim kickboard and place it under your feet and stand up as if you are surfing on it. Once in a standing position, bend your knees back up and then push the board back down. Repeat this motion for 10 reps.

Swimming Workout #5 – Water Hop – Tone Legs and Abs
Stand on one leg and hop to the right then to the left. Make sure to bend your knees high to target the abdominal muscles. Do 10 repetitions on each leg.

Swimming Workout #6 – Pool Dip – Strengthens Arms and Shoulders
Stand along the pool wall with your belly button facing the wall. Place your palms down on the outside of the pool and jump up, pushing your self up. Allow your self to fall back down and as you tap the your toes on the bottom of the pool, quickly jump and push yourself back up and out of the water. This is like a reversible pushup. You are using the pool edge to do dips in the pool.

Just about every above ground swimming pool uses a pool liner. Above ground pool liners help to seal water in and protect pools. Depending on the gauge and quality of a swimming pool liner, they can last up to 10 years with proper maintenance. Standard pool liners that are stock with most above ground portable pools are blue with a 20-gauge thickness. Replacing a pool liner can be done yourself and you will be amazed by the difference a new swimming pool liner will make to the beauty of your backyard and pool.

Determine what type of pool liner you need
There are four types of above ground pool liners to accommodate the various methods of attachment: overlap, overlap expandable, beaded, and rectangular flat bottom. They come in many colors and patterns. Darker colored pool liners will absorb more sunrays rather than reflecting them, but unfortunately this doesn’t produce a significant amount of heat for pool water- using a solar cover or blanket does. In addition, some people prefer darker colored pool liners because they tend to hide imperfections, dirt, and scratches in the liner.

Pool Liner Types

Overlap pool liners are made for pools that are equipped with a liner clip underneath the top ledge. These pool liners actually come over the edge of your pool and normally don’t have a border. If you have a deeper pool, read the overlap expandable pool liners. Not sure how high your pool walls are? Measure from the top rail to the bottom rail to determine if your above ground pool measures 48″ or 52″ high.

Overlap expandable pool liners are designed to stretch and cover deeper pools with 60” or 72” walls. Overlap expandable liners are not wrinkle free however. Some wrinkling is normal when covering the bottom of deeper above-ground pools.

Easy to install beaded pool liners are designed for pools that are equipped with a bead receiver track underneath the top ledge. Beaded liners usually have a border, and create a closer fit with your above ground pool because they snap into the inside perimeter. If you would like to convert your pool to a receiving track, you can easily do it by ordering a beaded pool liner conversion kit.

Rectangular flat bottom pool liners are specially made to fit Kayak and FantaSea on-ground pools and are just as easy to install as the other pool liners.

High-quality pool liners are designed to withstand the sun’s harsh rays and repeated pool chemical use to last you years to come. Make sure you find a pool liner that is built with quality construction and rugged durability for easy pool maintenance and lasting good looks. With so many pool liner colors and pattern options to choose from, you are sure to find the right look for your particular pool and landscape. Also, you can save money on pool liner replacements by easily installing them yourself. Doheny offers DVD installation instructions to help with the installation process.

We look forward to hearing stories about your pool liner replacements. Any colors or patterns that you liked best, or feedback for people looking to replace their pool liners?

A new coat of pool paint has many benefits for pools including helping to keep walls clean and free of algae, resisting pool stains, and improving the overall appearance of a swimming pool, increasing value.

Before repainting an inground swimming pool, it is important to consider the overall condition of the pool and the time of year. If a pool requires a lot of maintenance, it may be necessary to hire a professional to do the repairs, or if the weather is too humid or moist, then the paint may have a harder time drying.

Preparing the Swimming Pool
Determine what kind of paint or sealant is currently on the pool. There are different types of typical coatings for pools: Rubber-based Paint, Epoxy Paint or Acrylic Paint. If you do not know what type of coating is currently on your pool, simply remove a paint chip from the wall and take it to a pool paint store to be tested.

Rubber-based Paint and Acrylic Paint tends to have a shorter life span than Epoxy Paint, only lasting two to three years, whereas Epoxy Paint will last five to seven years. However, the original coating that was used when the pool was built is most likely the optimal type, so it is best to continue to use the same type of epoxy or coating that is currently on the pool.

Note how many coatings are currently on the pool walls. Once there are more than two or three coats, it is time to sand down the walls and start fresh- if sanding, be sure to polish the entire area before sealing. Finally, before repainting a pool, repair and smooth out the walls by sanding cracks and patching any holes.

Utilize pool equipment to clean and empty the pool of all water and make sure the entire surface is completely dry. Clean out all leaves and debris. Depending on the type of pool paint or coating being used, you may need to thoroughly wash the walls with tri-sodium phosphate or a mixture of muriatic acid and water. Reference the directions of your pool paint or coating for specific instructions.

Calculate Amount of Pool Paint
Make sure to buy the right amount of pool paint or coating. Refer to your pool paint or coating for calculations or use the general Pool Paint Formulas to determine the total square feet:
Rectangular and Oval Pools L x W x 1.65 | multiply Length by Width by 1.65
Lazy “L” Pools  L x W x 1.5 | multiply Length by Width by 1.5
Free Form Pools L x W x 1.6 | multiply Length by Width by 1.6
Roman Style Pools L x W x 1.55 | multiple Length by Width by 1.55

Apply the Pool Paint
Rubber-based Paints are self-priming. Epoxy Paints usually require a primer before applying, especially on bare concrete. It is best to use a paint roller and apply long, even strokes to achieve a smooth surface. Start painting the deep end walls and work your way to the shallow end for an easy exit. The initial state of the pool surface will determine if a second coat is necessary. Starting with a clean, smooth surface should only need one coat. Again, reference the pool paint for specific instructions. Different paints require different curing and drying times. Consult the pool paint or coating for these times.

After the pool paint or coating dries completely, fill with water and balance. Enjoy your beautiful, freshly painted pool!

Swimming pools have been a source of relaxation and recreation since the Romans first built pools in the first century B.C. Simply defined, a swimming pool is a large container of water made for swimming.  They come in all shapes and sizes and are constructed in all areas of the world. Swimming pools are recognized as rectangular and mainly built of concrete, but in some cases design and architecture have been pushed to the limit. Here are seven phenomenal examples of pools that have taken the simple concept of a container of water and expanded upon it to create luxurious swimming pools.

1. The Pool at the Marina Bay Sands Sky Park, Singapore
This engineering feat sits 200 meters, or 656 feet in the sky, and is 492 feet long. Resort guests experience an amazing view of Singapore from the gentle pool water that deceivingly looks like it flows over the edge. Designed by Moshe Safdie, this unique resort pool holds the title of world’s largest outdoor swimming pool at its height.
Img courtesy of http://www.marinabaysands.com

2. San Alfonso del Mar Resort San Antonio, Chile
The world’s largest swimming pool is found at San Alfonso del Mar resort in San Antonio, Chile. This pool is 1,000 meters long. That’s ¾ of a mile! It sits right next to the beautiful South Pacific ocean and covers 19 acres of beach front land. This swimming pool holds 66 million gallons of sea water that is pumped, filtered and treated from the ocean. Chilean company, Crystal Lagoons, completed the pool build in December of 2006 at the cost of nearly two billion dollars.
Img courtesy of http://www.sanalfonso.cl/

3. Fish Home by Guz Architects, Singapore
This beautifully designed swimming pool wraps beneath the home, offering an indoor pool feeling but provides natural breeze in the hot and humid Singapore climate.
Img courtesy of http://www.guzarchitects.com/

4. Tangga House by Guz Architects, Singapore
This amazing swimming pool compliments the architecture of the modern home by silhouetting the shape of it. The walls are made of glass, creating an illusion of a wall of water.
Img courtesy of http://www.guzarchitects.com/

5. The Pool at Grace Santorini Hotel, Greece
This luxurious swimming pool is located at the Grace Santorini Hotel in Santorini, Greece where it overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and Cyclades Islands. The pool water sits flush with the deck creating beautiful, clean lines.

6. The Badeschiff, Germany
This pool is a hot spot for locals and tourists of Berlin, Germany. The Badeschiff is a public pool that floats on the East Harbour section of the River Spree. The waters here are too polluted for people to swim in so the Badeschiff was designed by local artist, Susan Lorenz in 2004 to allow safe, clean water recreation. The floating pool keeps the translucent shells on during the winter season and removes them for the warmers months. It hosts a wooden boardwalk and open-air bar that offers a spectacular view of Berlin.
Img courtesy of http://www.berlinonline.de/guide/schwimmbad/badeschiff/

7. The Neptune Pool at the Hearst Castle San Simone, California
The Neptune pool is one of the most expensive private swimming pools ever built. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan and constructed with marble and serpentine tiles in the 1920’s. It is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and up to 10 feet deep. A unique feature of this swimming pool is that it uses an oil burning heating system.
Img courtesy of http://www.hearstcastle.org/content/pools

Jump on in! Just in time for summer, Doheny has lowered prices on over 500 items plus are offering additional discounts on Pool Liners, Swimming Pool Chlorine, Pumps and Paint.

Get your pool ready without breaking the bank- with a little effort, any pool can look new again.  Over time, pool liners fade, wrinkle or leak; enjoy the vibrancy of a new pool liner from Doheny.

Does your pool or deck surface need refinishing? Doheny’s line of pool coatings and pool deck paint can make everything look new and fresh.  Take advantage of Doheny’s new lower prices and fall in love with your pool again!

Use the coupon code LOWPRICE through May 9th to receive $10 off every Liner and $5 off Zeron paint purchased online at www.doheny.com

Solar Pool Covers are an easy and inexpensive way to heat and retain swimming pool water, all the while lowering energy consumption and cutting pool maintenance costs. Solar Covers can raise pool water temperatures as much as 15 degrees by collecting and trapping the sun’s rays and transferring the heat to the water. Solar pool covers then act as blankets to retain the heat, keeping pool water warmer for longer.

The Difference Between a Pool Cover and a Solar Pool Cover
A conventional pool cover is used to protect pools and reduce evaporation of pool water over long periods of time where the pool is not in use; such as when closing a pool or going on vacation.

A Solar Pool Cover has a much different purpose and is used frequently- it insulates and heats pool water between swims, and helps with pool maintenance by keeping debris out of the pool. This reduces the need to run a pool heater and collectively, Solar Pool Covers lower overall pool care costs.

Solar Pool Covers have a familiar look. They look just like large, thick blankets of bubble wrap. They can be placed and removed by one person and do not require tie-downs, straps, or hooks – they float freely on top of the pool water. The bubble wrap design of the solar cover provides small pockets of air that warm in the sun and easily transfer the heat to the pool water. The cover then retains the heat in the water and insulates the pool.

Amount of Energy Saved by Solar Pool Covers
The California Energy Commission website, consumerenergycenter.org, explains that covering a swimming pool with a Solar Cover can reduce pool heating costs by up to 90% and reduce water evaporation by 70%, saving around a thousand gallons of water a month.

Here’s a breakdown:
Energy is measured in BTUs. It takes one BTU to heat one pound of water one degree. One gallon of water is equivalent to roughly eight pounds of water. That is 8 BTUs for every gallon of pool water heated only one degree. When that water evaporates, it’s wasted energy and wasted money. In addition, reducing the amount of pool water evaporated can help your pool chemicals last longer, therefore reducing pool chemical costs, and leaving your pool with clean, clear water for longer.

Solar Pool Cover Tips
Although Solar Covers are made of heavy-duty, durable resin or vinyl that last several years, they should not be left out in direct sunlight when not in use. This can cause the solar cover to get extremely hot and degrade.

For some people who find placing and removing a solar pool blanket to be bit tough, using a solar pool cover reel can be a helpful tool. They come in automatic and manual crank models. Automatic cover reels are easy to operate but are a little more expensive. Manual cover reels are more affordable but take some arm strength to crank the reel. Both automatic and manual cover reels are available for inground and above-ground swimming pools and are easily installed.
Some pools can be unique in design and therefore difficult to find a perfect shape of Solar Cover. Don’t worry about finding the exact shape of your pool. You can use a rectangular solar cover that spreads over a good portion of your swimming pool. This will still be sufficient for heating and insulating pool water.

Always remember! Solar Covers can be dangerous. Children and pets can fall into the pool and become entangled in the solar cover. Be aware and always completely remove pool covers before swimming in a pool.

Over the years we have heard of and seen many unique, strange, and gross things that have been found in pool filter baskets including:

Dog hair
Pine needles
Palm seedling
Clumps of grass
Clumps of hair
Baseball sized furballs
Sticks and leaves
Gardner Snake!
Remains of a white nylon gasket
Toads
Humming bird
Hair ties
Mud

It is amazing that some of these things can get into pool filters. A sign that your filter may be blocked is having low pressure.

Pool Filter Low Pressure, High Anxiety
Don’t panic if pool filter pressure drops low and fast. If a pool filter comes down with a case of hypotension, it could be a quick fix of removing objects that are blocking the pool pump’s skimmer, suction line, impeller, or basket. The problem will usually be found between the suction inlet and the pump housing.

If nothing is found to be blocking the filter or pump, then it is possible that the pump needs new bearings or a gasket, or the pool water level is too low. In this case, it is best to have a pool professional take a look at it.

What unique or gross objects have you found in your pool pump or filter? Post them here!