Tag Archives: toronto pools

It’s All Fun and Pool Games

Posted on July 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The kids are out for summer…time to get outside! Nothing beats jumping in the pool, and we have some great ideas to keep them entertained in the pool for hours!

Climb a Mountain

AquaClimb® is a modular rock climbing wall system for your swimming pool! The panels can be turned  in four different orientations to change the level of ease and difficulty. The height of the wall is restricted by the depth of the pool.

Texas Hold ‘Em

Bringing your favorite game into the cool of the pool! Aces are high and the water is wild!  Play poker, Go Fish, 21…all bets are off when it comes to this floatable card table!

Take a Dip, Take a Dunk

Cool off with a game of H-O-R-S-E…team up and keep score. Or host a slam dunk contest. This swimming pool basketball hoop makes your backyard the hottest place in the neighborhood to cool off!

Spike It!

Lots of action-packed fun begins when you bring a volleyball net to your pool! Easily mounts on your pool deck.

Solid Slap Shot

Stay cool during a heated game of tabletop ping pong. The floating table keeps the fun in the water!

Keep your backyard the centerpiece for fun and entertainment this summer, but please remember children MUST be supervised at all times in the pool, and remove all pool toys so that they won’t be a distraction to young children and keep the pool securely locked. And lastly, HAVE FUN!

http://poolfyi.com/profiles/blogs/it-s-all-fun-and-pool-games

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Features, Pool Equipment & Accessories, Pool Polls (Facebook)

Tagged , , , ,

Water Features Can Sooth and Excite

Posted on July 11, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Water features continue to be one of the most popular design trends for swimming pools. Whether you are looking to add a dramatic centerpiece, architectural accents or the excitement of moving water, the right water feature will influence the ambiance of your entire backyard. For many, including a water feature can be the final piece to the puzzle in designing the ultimate backyard paradise.

Your choices are only limited by your imagination and personal tastes, so research what’s available, find inspiration by looking at online photo galleries and speak with local pool and landscape design professionals.

Popular Water Features Include:

  • Waterfalls – Falling water adds beauty and tranquility to any poolscape. Waterfall designs are nearly unlimited. A water feature like the Pentair MagicFalls® can produce waterfalls right from your pool walls with rain, sheet or curtain effects.  Waterfalls can also be produced by having a multi-level pool or they can be built right into the landscape and include additional components like rocks to perfectly match your poolscape design.
  • Fountains – No longer just for large luxurious pools, fountains can be a beautiful backdrop for your poolscape or a fun feature to splash and play in.
  • Laminars – These graceful arcs of water are so smooth, they look glass-like.  The water enters the pool with a gentle splash. A light source can be added to create a breathtaking evening light show.
  • Deck Jets – These elegant streams of arching water can transform any pool into a soothing fountain. Deck jets work well in combinations to create unique designs of arching water and are usually fully adjustable.
  • Cascades – A gentle wall of water splashes into your pool for a soothing effect that also adds class and style. Cascades are available in a number of sizes and can be used side-by-side to cover longer distances.
  • Scuppers and Wall Accents – Usually appearing in surrounding walls, scuppers are another feature that provides a splash of water into your pool. Available in nearly any shape…including shells, lion heads, rosettes, sconces and fleur-de-lis, they can be used to compliment other water features or stand alone.
  • Water Bowls – Available in many sizes, water bowls can accentuate your landscape and pool with a soothing water spillway.
  • Vanishing Edges – A visual effect of water extending off into the distance is a truly luxurious feature. Your pool edge will appear to simply vanish against the horizon.

http://poolfyi.com/profiles/blogs/water-features-can-sooth-and-excite

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Design, Features, Planning, Pool Equipment & Accessories

Tagged , , , ,

The Six Keys to Basic Spa Care

Posted on July 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Preventing problems before they occur will give you more enjoyment from your sparkling clear spa – not to mention the perfect environment for relaxing with family and friends.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Hot Tubs, Pool Equipment & Accessories, Pool Safety, Service

Tagged , , , ,

Happy Canada Day from our family to yours!

Posted on July 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

 

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , ,

Research shows what you eat, drink may help protect you from the sun

Posted on June 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

PHOENIX — Sunscreen isn’t the only thing you need when it comes to fighting off harmful ultraviolet rays. More research is showing that what you eat could be another tool in protecting your skin from the inside and out.

“Getting upwards of 20 to 30 grams of soy protein in a day is what’s recommended to give you some of the sun-protected benefits,” said Bashas’ registered dietitian Barbara Ruhs. “Canned tomatoes and canned tomato paste is also a very rich source.”

Items like soy milk and tomatoes are just a few products that Ruhs said can be considered edible sunscreens.

“The pigments that give so many plants, fruits and vegetables this colorful appearance also offer some sun protection,” Ruhs said.

She said other skin-fighting foods include carrots, berries, apples and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach.

“They help to absorb some of the damaging ultraviolet radiation or they act like an air bag,” Ruhs said. “So they help to prevent further damage once you have been exposed.”

But recent research shows, what you drink could also be a big benefit.

“There was a recent study in 2000 that looked at people living in southern Arizona who were tea drinkers,” Ruhs said. “And they had a lower incidence of cancer risk just because they were drinking two to three cups of green tea per day.”

Whether it’s drinking green tea or eating healthy foods, Ruhs said your diet is just one more tool.

“We’re not saying don’t wear sunscreen,” Ruhs continued. “We want you to wear sun-protective gear. However, eating a healthy diet is just an added protective beneficial thing that you can do.”

Ruhs article on skin-fighting foods will be featured in the Environmental Nutrition August newsletter.

For more information log on to http://www.bashas.com and go to the healthy living section and click on Eat Smart. You can also email Ruhs at eatsmart@bashas.com.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Pool Safety

Tagged , , ,

How well do you know your pool? Question of the Day!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Pool Polls (Facebook), Service

Tagged , , ,

Drowning Prevention

Posted on May 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Pool Safety

Tagged , , ,

Designing Spaces Master Pools Guild Interview with Ed Gibbs of Gib-San Pools

Posted on May 23, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Looking to get started on your dream backyards this summer? This episode of designing spaces interviews Ed Gibbs, owner and operator of Gib-San Pools Ltd.  Ed gives some excellent tips on what to consider when selecting a design for a new pool and how to select a pool builder you can trust.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in construction, Design, Landscape, Planning, Pool Equipment & Accessories

Tagged , , , ,

Gib-San Pool of the Month, May 2012 – Festival Tower Project

Posted on May 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

If a condominium could be compared to a film, Festival Tower would sweep the Oscars!

Festival Tower is no ordinary building.  It is an instant landmark on the Toronto skyline.  When architect Bruce Kuwabara was designing Festival Tower, he incorporated a number of design elements to reinforce its iconic status, “Let’s face it.  There are a lot of condominium towers going up around this city.  This one has to be special.”

On the outside, the building soars from its limestone-clad base into a tower sheathed in clear and sandblasted glass and crowned by an illuminated glass top that serves as a welcoming beacon to Festival Tower residents.  But it is inside Festival Tower where its “luxurious livability” really becomes apparent.  There is no such thing as a basic amenity at festival Tower and Gib-San was the obvious choice when selecting a pool builder to take part on this project.

The stunning Pool House features an elaborate swimming pool, whirlpool and a cascading floor-to-ceiling waterfall housed in a glass pavilion overlooking an exquisitely landscaped terrace.   The project took over 5 years from its initial planning to the final completion in summer 2011.

“This project is surely one of our most applauded pieces of work” says Ed Gibbs, “to see such a large project come to life surely goes to show you our commitment to ISO policies and procedures works!” “The Festival Tower Project was built using the same standards and procedures used on any one of our residential projects, and because of that our brand transcends the industry standard for quality.”

“Festival Tower is so unique, so special, and so incredible – it exists in a class of its own!”

→ Leave a comment

Posted in construction, Design, Features, Landscape, Planning

Tagged , , , ,

Why Choose LED Pool Lighting?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

High-Definition Lighting That Lasts The growing popularity of color-changing LED lighting for pools and spas is primarily due to the brilliant-lighting effects of newer systems. The difference between old technology (incandescent) pool lighting and LED pool lighting is like comparing a standard definition television to a high-definition television—the colors and visual quality are simply stronger, brighter and more appealing.

Many pool owners also choose LED pool lighting because it is a more eco-friendly option. Not only do LEDs use far less electricity, an LED light can last six times longer than an incandescent light of equal brightness.

The Most Energy-Efficient Lighting Available An LED (or light emitting diode) is a small semi conductor device that converts electrical energy directly into light.  Since there is no filament, an LED does not heat up the way an incandescent bulb does, which wastes up to 80% of the electricity routed to it to produce heat rather than light.  An LED light like the Pentair IntelliBrite® 5g White LED provides a noticeably brighter light while using 86% less energy than an incandescent bulb—resulting in significant energy savings.

Brilliant Colors for Unmatched Visual Appeal The main attraction of LED lighting is the stunning visual appeal and ability to change up the lighting to suit any mood or event. Today’s best color-changing LED pool lights feature numerous light options—from static colors like blue, green, magenta, red and white to dynamic pre-programmed light shows that enhance nighttime poolscapes with rich and vibrant colors. Plus, most allow you to also choose the speed at which the colors change, further allowing you to achieve a particular ambiance.

Choosing the particular color or light show for your pool is usually a simple process of stepping through the selections until you find your desired setting. Other systems allow you to include a dedicated controller to make choosing and programming your lights even easier and synchronize LED lights in your pool, spa and landscape.

LED Lighting Outlasts the Competition The typical life span of an incandescent light is 5,000 hours, whereas LED lights have been proven to last 30,000 to 50,000 hours. The reason for their extended life is the durable, solid state technology, which has no internal filament to wear out.

Gib-San

In the past, LED pool lighting has received negative feedback because if one LED burned out all of the LEDs would stop working, similar to old holiday lights. However, new LED pool lighting systems like the IntelliBrite 5g Color LED will continue to work even when one of its LEDs burn out.

Posted by Kris – Community Manager FYI Pools: To read more visit http://poolfyi.com/profiles/blogs/why-choose-led-pool-lighting

→ Leave a comment

Posted in construction, Design, Features, Planning, Pool Equipment & Accessories

Tagged , ,