pool

These Decks Have A Surprise Feature You’ll Have To See To Believe

Sure, you may have considered customizing your backyard before — maybe adding a deck, seating area or a pool. But you probably never imagined it could be quite like this! Introducing automated decks, which come with an incredible feature that hides away benches, grills and more. In other words, the deck opens to reveal the perfect outdoor setup.

We have the builders behind Dr. Decks to thank for this genius invention. At first glance, the structure may look like a plain, flat, wooden deck. But hiding underneath is whatever your heart desires. The team customizes each project to suit your needs, so if you’re looking to tuck away a grill, lounge chair or even a TV — you name it and Dr. Decks will build it!

Here’s an example of what Dr. Decks calls a “phantom BBQ,” a grill hidden beneath the deck to be revealed when you’re ready to cook.

Dr. Decks

To get started, send a request on the Dr. Decks website for the team to visit your house. They’ll drop by and learn about what you’ve been dreaming up for your backyard. They’ll then develop 3-D renderings to show you what your yard could look like before moving on to the building phase.

The decks go up like any other, and they need a sturdy foundation, framework, all of that good stuff. The end result, however, is far from average.

The realm of custom automated decks is certainly a niche market and there aren’t many companies doing what Dr. Decks does. One company in South Africa offers automatic decks built on top of pools, so when the pool is closed for the winter, you can transform it into a seating area instead of simply having a covered pool in the middle of your yard.

Courtesy House of Pools

Pretty cool idea, huh?

If you think that’s incredible, you’re going to love what Dr. Decks has come up with. Take a look at some of their past projects, and you might find yourself requesting an appointment with these builders yourself.

They’re changing backyards for the better!

These Cool New Pools Are Made From Recycled Shipping Containers

Having a pool in the backyard would be really nice, wouldn’t it? But the average cost of an in-ground swimming pool ranges from $33,000 to $55,000. If that’s not in your budget, there are some cool alternatives to traditional pools making a splash on the internet.

The latest version takes shipping containers and turns them into swimming pools.

We know what you’re thinking: “Why would I want to swim in a shipping container?!” But when you see how sleek-looking these pools from Canadian company Modpools are, you might change your mind!

Modpools

Yes, that pool was once a shipping container!

Modpools can be installed in-ground or above-ground, and you can get one for a bit less than a traditional in-ground pool. An 8-by-20-foot pool costs $26,900 and an 8-by-40-foot pool costs $35,000.

Modpools

Get a better look at them here:

The company says there are many other advantages, including the easy setup and installation. There’s no need to assemble a Modpool and, unlike below-ground pools, you won’t have to wait for concrete to be poured and set.

Take a look at how they’re delivered. The neighbors will definitely be curious!

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If you really want a Modpool and need to justify the price, you’ll be happy to know these sweet little shipping-container pools can also double as a hot tub. That’s because each pool comes with jets and a powerful heater that can quickly increase the water temperature.

Modpools

In addition, every Modpool comes equipped with technology that allows its users to control everything from the temperature to the jets and lighting right from their smartphones.

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Modpools come with a transparent side window, which is a neat design element. It surely makes it look less like a shipping container and allows you to keep a close eye on the kids while they’re swimming. But if you don’t want the see-through window, you can opt to have it removed.

RELATED: Beer-Can Cabbage Is This Summer’s Newest Grilling Trend

Are you sold on Modpools? We know we are! But if you’re looking for an option that’s even more affordable, don’t forget about these cool stock tank pools that you can buy at a farm supply store.

Stock tanks are typically used as water troughs for livestock, but now they’re being repurposed as swimming pools. According to Tractor Supply Co.’s website, they’ve seen an increase in customers buying stock tanks to use as swimming pools.

The best part about a stock tank swimming pool is that you can get one for around $350. Installation of a stock tank swimming pool in your backyard is super easy. The most difficult part is finding the perfect flat area for your new pool.

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If you don’t have that perfect flat piece of land, consider creating one with concrete or sand!

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You could also consider creating an in-ground version for an upscale look, but still low in effort and price.

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Choose from a variety of sizes of tanks and find the one that will work best for your home. Find all additional information on installation and securing your tank on the Tractor Supply Co. website.

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A Second Olympic Pool Turns Green, Officials Say Algae Not The Culprit

Olympic athletes and fans were in for a surprise on Tuesday when the Olympic diving pool in Rio turned a very prominent shade of green.

The neighboring pool, used for water polo and synchronized swimming, remained mysteriously untouched at first:

But then that pool, too, appeared to be changing colors as of late Wednesday afternoon:

Olympic officials initially said the cause was a “proliferation of algae” due to “heat and a lack of wind,” however FINA, the international governing body of aquatics, released a statement Wednesday afternoon that blamed the pH level of the water for the discoloration. Via the Los Angeles Times:

FINA can confirm that the reason for the unusual water color observed during the Rio diving competitions is that the water tanks ran out of some of the chemicals used in the water treatment process.

As a result, the pH level of the water was outside the usual range, causing the discoloration. The FINA Sport Medicine Committee conducted tests on the water quality and concluded that there was no risk to the health and safety of the athletes, and no reason for the competition to be affected.

Olympics spokesperson Mario Andrada told reporters that the team in Rio was in the process of balancing the pH. Andrada blamed a lack of testing and preparedness for the number of athletes who’d be using the pool:

“We probably failed to note that with more athletes, the water could be affected,” Andrada told The New York Times. “The people in charge of the pool should have done more intensive tests.”

So is the pool really safe for swimming, as officials assert? Vox spoke to Nate Hernandez, a director of aquatics at a company that maintains pools at resorts and public facilities. He didn’t caution that the pools may be unfit for use, but he did say that “multiple things would have to break down” for such a result to happen. Hernandez confirmed that algae was likely not the cause given that it likely wouldn’t bloom that fast in such a large pool.

The Vox reporter asked if Hernandez if he’d be embarrassed if this happened at one of his pools. His reply? “I’d be fired.”

Here’s Why The Olympic Diving Pool Mysteriously Turned Green

Update 08/10/16: FINA, the international governing body of aquatics, released a statement Wednesday afternoon attributing the discoloration of the water to its pH levels rather than algae. Read more here. 

Something is very wrong with the Olympic diving pool. Out of nowhere, it has turned a bilious shade of green, more akin to green Kool-Aid than anything in which the world’s most elite athletes should be swimming.


Though the diving pool was its usual shade of crystalline blue on Monday, attendees and divers woke Tuesday to decidedly emerald-hued waters, sparking the Twitter hashtag #greenpool and a myriad of theories as to what happened.

The pool was tested to make sure the water was safe for the athletes. While it was deemed safe, they were instructed not to open their mouths underwater—just in case.

Today, it was revealed that the color was due to an algae bloom that officials are blaming on the “heat and a lack of wind.” In a statement released to the media, the committee stressed that the water was tested and there was no risk to athletes. It also said the pool should be back to its normal color for today’s events.

Although the green water was considered safe, it did pose an issue for some athletes. According to interviews with several divers, the water was so dark that the bottom of the diving pool was not visible.

You may notice, there are usually water jets or bubbles dispersed across the diving well. Why? The movement causes a disturbance in the water, helping divers more accurately judge their distance (or height) from the surface of the water.

The Chinese duo Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia said the green water didn’t affect their ability to take gold in the event. Canada team leader Mitch Geller said in an interview with the Associated Press that underwater visibility is very important.

https://twitter.com/AndyCole84/status/763136540255981569