Pool & Patio New Year Polls: Assessing the World Outside Your Back Door

Your outdoor living space could have changed for an obvious reason -- like you moved. Was your property the victim of an act of nature or disaster? Or, maybe you added-on to your house, decreasing the size of your outdoor areas.  Take the poll

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Hot tub, spa -- call it what you like. It's that smallish human-made body of water on your property that warms you up, relieves sore muscles, gets you relaxed after a stressful day, and is a destination for socializing. Did you build or install a hot tub? Take the poll

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So, what do you replace that magnificent green carpet with? Native-to-your-area plants, shrubs and trees; hardscaping or faux turf. Did you do it, or do you plan to? Not over-your-dead-body-sprawled-out-on-the-Kentucky Blue Grass? Take the poll.

Take this poll.

Outdoor privacy screen has become an actual term (just Google it) to describe something that creates privacy or hides a bad view in your outdoor living space. Privacy screening can be made of traditional fencing and wall materials, hedges and vines, or even an outdoor curtain. Apartment dwellers might need a privacy screen for their balconies, while a homeowner with an average-sized backyard might need privacy screening for their pool or spa area. Take this poll to assess your future needs: