Is there anything more relaxing than lounging in the water, listening to your favorite tunes with a cold glass of whatever’s your poison? Musicians have spent better part of history lyrically lauding summer days and oooh ohhh, those su-ummer ni-ights.

Oh yes, the pool is the greatest of summer delights. There are so many ways to enjoy it – swimming, floating, lounging, diving, and a rousing game of marco-polo.

But these activities require stuff – lots and lots of stuff. Toys and floats and balls. It begs the question, “What is the perfect pool accessory?” Well, I can’t answer for everyone, but in my family, it is as follows:

• Husband/Dad: beer & volleyball/football to throw around with the kids
• Wife/Mom: music & sunscreen (and a margarita on the rocks with salt runs a solid third)
• Tween: goggles, cause who wants water in their eyes, and diving is her favorite activity
• Toddler: her float – so she can do it all by herself!

We keep these things close at hand in those beautiful months between Memorial and Labor Day.

But there’s a less obvious accessory that should be added to this list (one that could keep me from chasing my kids around all day reapplying sunscreen like a crazy person). And that’s a patio awning or canopy.

Here’s why! One of our customers measured the temperatures under his awning and it was a whopping 14 degrees cooler! So in addition to having a shady place to hang out to avoid sunburn, it’s also a good place to cool down, have a snack and hang out with mom…cause that’s where she’ll be.

And depending on the position of your patio and pool, you might be able to extend your awning directly over the water! Give us a call, have us come out and take a look. And get your very own perfect pool accessory while you can still enjoy it.