Winners Announced: About.com Pool and Patio
Every year, the About.com Readers' Choice Awards showcase the best products, people, companies, organizations, and services in multiple categories, from technology to hobbies and parenting to religion. The readers of About.com make the nominations; each About.com Guide chooses the finalists (up to five in each category) from among the nominees; and readers and others vote to choose one of the finalists as the best in the category for that year.
2012 was the second year for Pool and Patio's participation in the awards. About.com announced on March 30, 2012, that the following products and companies have been selected as the About.com 2012 Readers' Choice Award winners for the Pool and Patio site. Congratulations! They are:
Now in its fifth year, the About.com Readers' Choice Awards honor the best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more, as selected by its readers.
"This year's Readers' Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across dozens of categories and featured hundreds of finalists," said Margot Weiss, managing editor, About.com. "We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate the Pool and Patio winners on their success." To view all About.com award winners, please visit http://awards.D106.
And the winner is...
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2012 Best Decking category honors the year's top decking materials, brand and manufacturer, as nominated and chosen by our readers.
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 plastics and wood fibers.
Two of 2011's nominees made it as finalists in this year's contest for Best Decking: Azek and The finalists for Best Decking 2012:
And the 2012 winner for Best Decking is...More »
Like last year, things really heated up during 2012's Best Hot Tub / Spa contest. Here are the finalists, in no particular order:
Another new category in the Readers' Choice Awards this year was Best Outdoor Lighting -- an integral design and safety consideration in outdoor living spaces. Most manufacturers of outdoor lighting feature LED and solar fixtures for energy-conscious, environmentally minded consumers. In alphabetical order, the finalists:
And the winner for Best Outdoor Lighting 2012 is...More »
Congratulations to the five finalists, who were nominated by our readers. In alphabetical order, they are:
And the winner for 2012 Best Patio Furniture is...More »
Cleaning a pool may not be glamorous, but the chore can be less grueling with the right equipment. Every pool or spa owner needs a pool cleaner or vacuum that is easy to use and does a thorough job. It's even more appealing if the pool cleaner works quickly and quietly.
Congratulations to the five finalists for Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum 2012, as chosen by our readers. In alphabetical order:
And the winner is...More »
An outdoor toy needs to be fun, well-made, and mentally and physically engaging. We think all five of the finalists meet this criteria and then some. We'd be happy playing outside in the yard with any of these entertaining items. Congratulations to the five finalists (in alphabetical order) do just that:
And the winner is...More »
2012 was the second year for Pool and Patio's participation in the awards. About.com announced on March 30, 2012, that the following products and companies have been selected as the About.com 2012 Readers' Choice Award winners for the Pool and Patio site. Congratulations! They are:
Now in its fifth year, the About.com Readers' Choice Awards honor the best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more, as selected by its readers.
"This year's Readers' Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across dozens of categories and featured hundreds of finalists," said Margot Weiss, managing editor, About.com. "We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate the Pool and Patio winners on their success." To view all About.com award winners, please visit http://awards.D106.
Best Book: Landscape Design & Outdoor Living
The Best Book, Landscape Design and Outdoor Living was a new category for the Pool and Patio awards in 2012. Three of the nominees were books from Timber Press, a Portland, Oregon-based publishing company that produces gardening, landscaping and horticultural books. Many of their authors are frequent guest speakers at home and garden shows, garden clubs and public garden events in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States. The other nominees were from longtime DIY publisher Sunset (formerly Lane Publishing and now published by Oxmoor House) and Taunton Home Idea Books. Books nominated had to be published in 2010 or later and could not be classic gardening or horticulture books. Here are the finalists for 2012:- Backyard Cottages & Gazebos: Fresh Ideas for Outdoor Living (Sunset Outdoor Design & Build Guides, Oxmoor House; 2011)
- Handmade Garden Projects: Step-by-Step Instructions for Creative Garden Features, Containers, Lighting & More(Timber Press; 2011)
- Landscaping for Privacy: Innovative Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Peaceful Retreat by Marty Wingate. (Timber Press; 2011)
- i>New Backyard Idea Book by Natalie Ermann Russell (Taunton Home Idea Books; 2010)
- Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants by Debra Lee Baldwin (Timber Press; 2010)
And the winner is...
Best Decking
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2012 Best Decking category honors the year's top decking materials, brand and manufacturer, as nominated and chosen by our readers.
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 plastics and wood fibers.
Two of 2011's nominees made it as finalists in this year's contest for Best Decking: Azek and The finalists for Best Decking 2012:
- Azek
- DuraLife
- Fiberon
- Geodeck
- Hardwood: Ipe
And the 2012 winner for Best Decking is...More »
Best Hot Tub / Spa
Like last year, things really heated up during 2012's Best Hot Tub / Spa contest. Here are the finalists, in no particular order:
- Arctic Spas
- Bullfrog Spas
- Cal Spas
- Jacuzzi
- Hot Spring Spas
- And the winner is...
Best Outdoor Lighting
Another new category in the Readers' Choice Awards this year was Best Outdoor Lighting -- an integral design and safety consideration in outdoor living spaces. Most manufacturers of outdoor lighting feature LED and solar fixtures for energy-conscious, environmentally minded consumers. In alphabetical order, the finalists:
- Foscarini
- Hinkley
- Kichler
- Philips Forecast
- Sea Gull
And the winner for Best Outdoor Lighting 2012 is...More »
Best Patio Furniture
Congratulations to the five finalists, who were nominated by our readers. In alphabetical order, they are:
And the winner for 2012 Best Patio Furniture is...More »
Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum
Cleaning a pool may not be glamorous, but the chore can be less grueling with the right equipment. Every pool or spa owner needs a pool cleaner or vacuum that is easy to use and does a thorough job. It's even more appealing if the pool cleaner works quickly and quietly.
Congratulations to the five finalists for Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum 2012, as chosen by our readers. In alphabetical order:
And the winner is...More »
Favorite Outdoor Toy
Inspired by campaigns like the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Be Out There! and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! programs help to motivate children to combine healthy diets and exercise. Exercise -- outdoors in the backyard -- is a good way for children to have fun, become more fit, develop their muscles and coordination and interact with others.An outdoor toy needs to be fun, well-made, and mentally and physically engaging. We think all five of the finalists meet this criteria and then some. We'd be happy playing outside in the yard with any of these entertaining items. Congratulations to the five finalists (in alphabetical order) do just that:
- Incred-a-Ball
- Kids' Crooked House
- Schylling Speedster Race Car
- Swimways Rainbow Reef Turtle
- Vortex Ring Swing
And the winner is...More »
About the About Group
The About Group comprises the Web sites About.com, ConsumerSearch.com and CalorieCount.com. About.com is a valuable platform for content that helps users solve the large and small needs of everyday life. ConsumerSearch.com analyzes expert and user-generated consumer product reviews and recommends the best products to purchase based on the findings. CalorieCount.com is an online resource that helps users solve the everyday challenges of losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle. The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading global, multimedia news and information company with 2011 revenues of $2.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, NYTimes.com, BostonGlobe.com, Boston.com, About.com and related properties. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.
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