Dueling has been a part of American history since the earliest days of our country. In fact, Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury) was killed by Vice-President Aaron Burr in a pistol duel. Could you imagine Joe Biden doing that today? I’m guessing that might cost him a few votes. But the truth was dueling was so entrenched in the culture, nearly everyone participated. For example in the early 1800s, dueling killed more Navy sailors than the sea.

Today, dueling is all but forgotten, partly because it is illegal. Instead, we compete in sports and other “smarter” methods against our rivals. A much anticipated duel quickly approaching is Mutual of Omaha’s Duel in the Pool. The U.S. Swimming Team will be facing off with a team of European All Stars to solidify for a year, who has the best swimmers in the world.

And because the best swimmers need the best equipment, PEM will be there to protect against slips and falls and protect the swimmers’ feet. Our matting will be used around the pool in our signature blue color.

PEM’s slip-resistant matting was chosen in part because it contains an antimicrobial biocide that guards against the growth of mildew, fungi and bacteria. The porous construction allows moisture to flow through or evaporate to eliminate standing water and reduce algae growth. And cleaning PEM is also easy, with only a sweeping or hose down, the matting can be cleaned.

So if you are interested in watching the best from the U.S. faceoff with all Europe has to offer, tune at the below times:

Watch on TV
Dec. 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m. ET on Universal Sports
Dec. 17, 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET on NBC

To protect their visitors, many facilities have turned to PEM Surface Creations and Wysiwash for a long term and cost-effective solution.

How does PEM’s matting protect people? PEM’s slip-resistant matting contains an antimicrobial biocide that guards against the growth of mildew, fungi and bacteria. The porous construction allows moisture to flow through or evaporate to eliminate standing water and reduce algae growth.

And cleaning PEM is also easy, with only a sweeping or hose down the matting can be cleaned. But for a more effective measure we recommend the Wysiwash Sanitizer System.

The Wysiwash…

• Connects right to your hose
• Cleans, sanitizes and eliminates odors while blasting away dirt with a jet stream of water
• Hydro-injection system produces a solution of hypochlorous acid up to 120 times more effective than liquid bleach

PEM and Wysiwash can protect visitors in nearly all environments. Watch our latest YouTube video to find out more.

PEM Surface Creations doesn’t just protect against falls above the water, it also protects below. How you might ask? PEM is easily installable with their special adhesive below the water, installed with only a chalk gun. Our adhesive is specially formulated for a more permanent installation, holding for years. Taking into account PEM’s ability to withstand the elements, you have a long term fix!

You also might be surprised to find that there are no regulations on the matting used on pool bottoms and spray parks, like there is at conventional playgrounds. This leaves even more reason to further research matting options, because the lack of oversight.  At PEM, we believe underwater applications are just as important as above water, possibly even more so with the lack of regulation in the industry.

And if you think a PEM installation might be difficult, don’t just take our written word for it, listen to our president Bob Amelung talk over the installation process and the many options for adhesives. This video is the latest on our YouTube channel.

Stayed tuned or contact PEM to find out more about our matting’s slip-resistant properties and adhesives for safety and comfort above and below the water.

To give you do-it-yourselfers some help, PEM Surface Creations has put together a few tips to make the pool opening process run smoother, so you can better enjoy your time off and avoid some common mistakes.

1. Check chemicals: Your chemicals have been sitting for months waiting to be used. Now that you are ready to use them, they might have passed their expiration date. Go through and throw away any expired chemicals and prioritize the chemicals you have left, so the oldest supply is used first.

2. Cleaning the winter cover: Give your winter cover a thorough cleaning, it has been taking mother natures worst all winter. And once you have finished cleaning, make sure you let the cover air dry. Otherwise it will likely collect mildew.

3.Filling the pool: Usually filling your pool with your garden hose is the easiest and most cost-efficient way of raising the water level. Except for larger pools, it can cost less to have a service truck in the water. Check local providers.

4. Put in the time: If you have solids floating in your pools, take the time to manually remove them with a net. Relying on your pool system or vacuum can lead to clogged pipes and bigger problems than you started with.

Now that you have your pool open, it is also important to consider protecting the people who will be using it. A pool is typically open for 90 days during the summer and we suggest that any pool, large or small, consider installing PEM Surface Creations’ aquatic matting. Out matting can help reduce slips and falls on concrete and on decks, as well as help prevent splinters to the foot.

PEM also is simply great for increasing comfort to bare feet! Our matting is cost-effective and can be installed with just a razor knife, caulk gun and square.

Have fun this weekend and rest of summer. For more on PEM Surface Creations visit our website.

But for the first time, PEM Surface Creations’ aquatic matting will be there to greet them. When swimmers and divers get out of the pool they can expect to feel the comfort of PEM matting on their feet, as well as the benefits from its slip-resistant properties. PEM’s textured surface reduces the risk of slippage in wet conditions and allows moisture to flow through the matting, eliminating standing surface water.

To get here, the swimmers had to meet minimum requirements on strokes like the free style, breast stroke, butterfly and back stroke. And divers had to compete in Zone Meets to qualify.

In years past this event has featured Olympians or future Olympians, making us even more excited to have our product chosen for this event. The championships will run from March 17 to the 19. ESPN3.com will stream finals sessions live on Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19 and ESPN2 will air a 90-minute show at 1:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 5.

The SEC or Southeastern Conference is comprised of schools like the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University, Louisiana State University and Auburn University. Every year the best from the conference compete in the conference championship to determine a winner, which can be difficult because SEC schools have also won an astonishing 23 NCAA swimming championships.

The 2011 SEC Championship was held at the University of Florida’s Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Utilizing PEM’s slip-resistant properties and comfort to bare feet, our matting was installed on the pools bulkheads. Also because PEM contains an antimicrobial biocide and can be rolled up for easy storage, it can be used at future events for years to come.

This year, athletes broke a number of SEC records with the Auburn University coming away with the win for the men and the University of Georgia the winner for the woman.  It was a great weekend of friendly competition and large crowds to cheer the student-athletes on. Take a look at the photos of PEM in action!

As a leader in slip-resistant flooring, our product’s applications have broadened as new industries have discovered PEM. To support our increased web traffic, our new website design offers improved navigation, allowing visitors to access information quicker.

You may have also noticed we now offer online ordering! With this new feature, our customers can order rolls of PEM flooring from the comfort of their own home. They can order our three standard sizes, 2 x 25 feet, 3 x 25 feet and 6 x 25 feet, as well as all six of our colors, black, grey, blue, chocolate brown, sand and hunter green.  We offer bundling and accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and PayPal. The cost of shipping is also factored into your total.

And coming soon, we will be offering a video gallery to the website. There, you will be able to find videos describing our applications, testimonials, installations and cleaning of PEM.

We are very excited about the changes to the website, but we want to know what you think. Call us, email us, or find us on facebook or twitter. Your feedback can help us, give you the best experience possible.

Unlike a car dealership, once this sale is over, it is over. This is your last chance to get premium slip-resistant flooring at 2010 prices. To receive 40 percent off, orders must be $5,000 or less on existing inventory, so act fast. Shipping and handling charges still apply.

Place you orders now for the spring and summer. Contact us at 1-800-783-2358 or sales@pemsurface.com.

While Santa spends the entire year getting ready for that one special night, he also enjoys a few hobbies to keep himself busy, including golfing with the elves. Because Santa wears his boots golfing, keeping a solid footing can be tricky on bridges, walkways and cart paths. Until, Santa discovered PEM Surface Creations, and its slip-resistant flooring.

After some strenuous testing from the elves, Santa found a new application for PEM flooring…use on roofs. In the dead of winter, even the most regular roofs can be wet, icy and slippery, leading to rough landings by the reindeer, and possibly slips and falls by Santa himself.

So this year, help a guy out and as you put out cookies for Santa or treats for the reindeer, add some PEM slip-resistant flooring to your roof to keep Santa safe.

At PEM Surface Creations, we like everyone else, want to keep Santa safe during the holidays. That is why we have decided to have an end of the year sale to make PEM flooring available in Santa’s honor. From now until the end of the year, order PEM and receive 40 percent off of your order. And maybe Santa will give you something extra next year as a thank you for your gift to him.

Safety is a top priority at aquatic facilities, especially in high traffic and wet areas which increases the risk of slip-and-fall accidents. Because of the economic climate, many facilities are facing budget cuts, meaning that slip-resistant surfaces can be a cost-effective solution.

When selecting a slip-resistant surface, there are many factors to consider, including its location, slip-resistant properties, installation process, physical properties, maintenance, safety and comfort.

Slip-resistant properties – To ensure a surface is slip-resistant, a third party evaluation is needed. Slip-resistant characteristics are graded using a coefficient of friction (COF) scalar value. Tests should be performed on wet and dry surfaces using a variety of footwear (e.g. tennis shoes, grooved neolite and bare feet).

Installation process – Installing a slip-resistant surface is critical to its effectiveness. Determining how to relax your flooring and understanding the adhesives will alter the installation time, longevity and effectiveness of the surface.

Physical properties – Because of where slip-resistant flooring is often installed, it is subjected to elements such as chemicals, extreme heat, wind uplift and mold/mildew growth, which will affect the life of the slip-resistant surface.

Maintenance – To maximize the life of slip-resistant flooring regular maintenance along with proper procedures are required. That includes inspecting edges and using acceptable cleaning products and tools.

Safety and comfort – Providing a safety surface for areas with high barefoot traffic, slip-resistant surfaces should be comfortable to people of all ages. It should also protect bare feet from splinters and hot surfaces.

For a more complete explanation of slip-resistant surfaces, read Rob’s article in Pool & Spa Marketing.