—Smart planning tips BEFORE you try getting your pet into the pool

Note: National Dog Week is coming up: September 18-24.

If you own a backyard pool and a dog, one of the most important things you can do for your pet’s safety is teaching him how to swim. Helping your dog learn this skill and to exit the water will help protect him. 

Toward that goal, make the instruction process as fun and gentle as possible for your four-legged friend. What dog owners sometimes overlook is some planning steps before actually attempting to lead a pet into the pool.

Ways to minimize chlorine’s impact on your body and other smart solutions

Although chlorine is highly effective for disinfecting swimming pool water, it comes with a price: This chemical can be harsh on your eyes, hair, skin, nails, and even your lungs.

Depending on your age, certain skin conditions, the amount of time you spend in the water, and how well the pool chemicals are balanced, chlorine’s effects can be particularly irritating or downright harmful to your skin.

Visualize your entire new backyard resort—before it’s built

Imagine seeing your fully completed swimming pool, deck, and landscaping in your backyard—without turning over a single shovel of dirt.

You can. Powerful 3-D technology makes it easier than ever to envision your new outdoor space and to more effectively plan out this rewarding, but complex home improvement project.

Understanding the benefits of two-speed and variable-speed models

If the pump on your swimming pool is due for a replacement, making the move to a two-speed or variable-speed model will cut energy costs and may provide other benefits as well.

—Check out great options for your spa façade and water overflow into your pool

With its rather unappealing name and highly utilitarian purpose, you might be surprised that the dam wall on a spa can serve as a beautiful focal point of your new inground swimming pool.

Key reasons why interior finish can develop stains, etching, and other issues

—Understanding which popular shape best suits your overall pool design goals

—Part 2 in a 2-part series

In Part 1, we listed key factors to consider before zeroing in on your preferred pool shapes, including how elements of some can factor into construction costs. 

Now, let’s take a look at some common pool shapes; one by one, we outline some of the advantages that certain ones have over others.