Home & Garden

Meet the Pool & Patio Finalists: About.com Readers' Choice Awards 2012

Vote for Your Favorites: Best Pool and Patio Products

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It's time to vote! Since 2012 is an election year and red carpet awards season is in full swing, we know you're anxious to let your voices be heard. About.com's annual Readers' Choice Awards showcase the best outdoor living, pool, patio and home and garden products -- the things that make your outdoor world look, feel and work better -- maybe fantastic in some cases!

Think of it as the People's Choice Awards for home and garden, pool and outdoor living and design products. There won't be any shiny statuettes for the winners, nor will there be the gushing red carpet interviews and star-studded awards ceremony. Just the bragging rights that come with getting recognized by the readers of one of the biggest networks on the Web.

To get weekly updates about the pool and patio awards as well as the latest news about the world of outdoor living, subscribe to About.com's weekly Pool and Patio newsletter, which includes projects, ideas and news on Thursdays -- right before your DIY weekends.

This is the second year that the Pool and Patio site has participated in About.com's Readers' Choice Awards. Curious about who got the awards in 2011? Check out last year's RCA results.

About.com Readers' Choice 2012: It's Time to Vote for Pool and Patio

Meet the Pool & Patio Finalists: About.com Readers' Choice Awards 2012

Ready to vote? The voting phase of the Readers' Choice Awards begins Wednesday, February 22, 2012 and continues through Wednesday, March 21. The winners, as determined by your votes, will be announced on Friday, March 30, 2012.

The nomination period was January 18 through February 15, 2012. Share this with friends, colleagues and Facebook friends.

Meet the Finalists: Best Outdoor Lighting

Photo © Lisa Hallett Taylor

Backyards, pools and outdoor living spaces are often enjoyed in the evening. And if there isn't any light, there won't be any entertaining. Many outdoor lighting companies are out there -- learn more about the five finalists.

Vote Now

Best Outdoor Lighting

Best Lighting 2012

Best Book, Outdoor Living and Design

Concept/Photo © Lisa Hallett Taylor

Great books provide inspiration and instructions for outdoor projects. A new category for Pool and Patio's 2012 About.com's Readers' Choice Awards is Best Book: Outdoor Living and Design. The finalists were published in 2010 or later:

Vote now: Best Book 2012

Best Book 2012

Favorite Outdoor Toy

Photo © Lisa Hallett Taylor

Have you played outside lately? What was the toy or fun activity that encouraged you or the children in your life to play? A playhouse, swing set or play structure? Something on which to ride in the yard -- either on pathways or floating in the pool? A game, building project or something that brings you closer to nature?

Meet the finalists:

Vote Now: Favorite Outdoor Toy 2012

Our Gift Picks for Best Outdoor Toys 2011

Get outside of the house!

Which toys are the top nominees?

Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum

Photo © Lisa Hallett Taylor

Have you recently purchased and been happy with a swimming pool cleaner of vacuum? Our finalists are robotic models that help make your pool-cleaning chores much easier. The five pool cleaners nominated by you, our readers, are:

Vote now: Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum

Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum 2012

Best Patio Furniture

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor

The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2012 Best Patio Furniture category honors the year's top patio furniture brands and manufacturers. The outdoor furniture finalists are:

Vote Now Best Patio Furniture 2012

Don't simply go by looks or familiar name alone -- for starters, you might want to check out this list of patio and outdoor furniture brands and manufacturers to learn more about the casual living products out there.

Best Outdoor Furniture 2012

Best Decking

The next category honors the year's Best Decking materials, brands and manufacturers. Some materials - like wood, the original and very basic decking material - have remained the same, while others have evolved as a reflection of the environment in which we live and include recycled materials and wood fibers. The finalists are:

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Best Decking 2012

Don't simply go by looks or familiar names alone -- make an informed choice. Read about decking brands before casting your vote.

The Five Decking Nominees

Best Hot Tub / Spa

Is there a hot tub or spa somewhere on your property? Lucky! Is is a model, brand or manufacturer that you would buy again, or recommend to a friend or to someone in the market for a new hot tub? Does it perform well, is it easy to maintain and do you use it enough to justify the expense? Keep these factors in mind as you learn more about the five finalists for Best Hot Tub / Spa in the 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards:

Vote Now Best Hot Tub / Spa 2012

The Five Finalists for Best Hot Tub / Spa