Articles

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    Christmas Gift Ideas for the Pool or Hot Tub Owner

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    As we enter the holiday season, we start thinking of potential gifts for our family and friends. Sometimes it can difficult to find that special gift for someone. One special way to honor that person is to make a contribution in their name to a worthwhile charity. Denton has many excellent non-profit agencies that could always use some financial support. Another gift idea for the “hard to buy for” is to think practical. Do they have a swimming pool or a hot tub? If so, then there are many gifts that can be used by the pool owner to help make their life more enjoyable. It seems like each year we have to buy someone a gift that we are not sure they will like…

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    How Long Does it Take to Build a Swimming Pool?

    ByWes Gohlke Hours

    NOTE: THIS IS THE 3rd IN A SERIES OF seven ARTICLES FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING A SWIMMING POOL. THE NEXT ARTICLES WILL BE: One very common question that we receive is: “How long does it take to build a swimming pool?” This can be a difficult question to answer, as each project is different. Much like building a home, there is a considerable amount of planning that takes place before beginning the project. More often than not there are several design meetings, budget modifications, material selection meetings, a potentially lengthy funding process, HOA approvals, underground utility locates and approvals, and finally, the building permit process. Therefore, if you are interested in the possibility of a swimming pool for your family, I would encourage you…

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    Pool Heaters: Heat that Cool Water!

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    The weather has been wonderful as of late—we have had our share of warm days, but it is starting to cool down considerably, as has pool water. We certainly do not know what the future holds as far as weather goes, but rest assured that 85-degree pool water is over for this year. Average pool water temperatures in the Denton area are now in the high 60’s to low 70’s—of course this depends on if the pool is shaded, if it has a dark surface, etc. According to the National Oceanographic Data Center, 70-78 degrees is where most people feel comfortable swimming. I am not sure who “most people” are, but from what I have observed, 70-78 degrees is a bit cold for most of…

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    The Pros and Cons of Pool Ownership

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    Most home improvement contractors, including pool builders, have been very busy over the last 2-3 years. The main driver was both the pandemic and the desire to improve the home, which is where most people were spending their time. Other drivers were the growth of the DFW area and also low interest rates. Now that the pandemic appears to be coming to an end and interest rates have increased, the demand for home improvement seems to be returning to pre-pandemic levels. While many people in the area already have pools, others are trying to decide whether or not they should have a pool installed. Pool enthusiasts will tell you that life is too short and too fragile to spend it without a swimming pool. For…

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    Poolside Landscaping

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    Pool designers and landscape designers definitely agree on the importance of properly landscaping a pool area—it can really transform a backyard pool area. Oftentimes the only difference between a swimming pool that looks good and one that looks great comes down to the landscaping. As we enter the fall and a prime time to landscape (especially for trees & shrubs), now is a great time to plan and implement a landscaping plan. Following are some general tips and also plant selection tips to help you with your off-season landscaping plan. Following are some thoughts to consider when planning your poolside landscaping: What plants are best for Denton area backyards? There are many variables (amount of sun/shade, type of soil, amount of soil moisture, etc.) to…

  • How to Spookify Your Hot Tub for Halloween

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    Halloween is around the corner, and incorporating your hot tub into the decor setup is an excellent way to utilize your backyard space. Whether you use your hot tub as a decorative centerpiece with food and beverages stationed around the sides, or you decide to have a Halloween hot tub party, there are tons of creative ways to get your hot tub ready for the spooky season. Here are a few creative tips to get your spa area Halloween-ready. Hot Tub Massacre You can easily set up your hot tub to look like a bloodbath has ensued without using a dye that could stain your tub’s shell. Simply turn your red LED lights on and add plastic skeletons, bones, and/or body parts in or around…

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    How to Select a Contractor

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    There are many very good contractors in the area, but there are others who are not reputable and likely do not have the knowledge and/or financial resources necessary to be a contractor. Unfortunately, the growth in the area is resulting in unqualified contractors entering the market. Currently, there is much more work than there are contractors to do the work. This combined with the fact that the state of Texas has minimal licensing or bonding requirements for building contractors can make it risky to hire a contractor. This oftentimes result in an unhappy customer and even sometimes results in litigation. How can you avoid this potential problem and select the right contractor? Speaking from experience, by doing your research. Several times over the years I…

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    Home Sweet Home

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    I think that it goes without saying that our lives have been changed forever due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  It is something that none of us have ever been through, and there are many things about the future that we do not know: When will this pandemic end?  When can we go see our aging parents?  When can we go back to church?  When will public gatherings (sporting events, concerts, etc.) once again be allowed?  When can we dine in at our favorite local restaurant?  What will happen with the economy?  Are handshakes & hugs a thing of the past?  Will we continue to be as methodical when it comes to hand washing?  These are just a few of the many questions that we…

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    Be Prepared for Freezing Weather

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    Thus far we have seen a mild winter, but most likely we will see another significant freeze or two before spring.  Extreme cold for us and pool equipment is low 20’s and below and prolonged freezes where we don’t get above freezing for 24 hours or longer.  Damage due to freezes can be very expensive, so please take the following precautions before any significant freeze: Make sure the pool is filled before the freezing weather gets here.  Frozen hoses and faucets make it difficult to fill the pool during freezing temperatures. Check your pump(s) for operation, they are what prevent freeze damage. Main pump – this should definitely be operating during freezing air temperatures.  This is what protects other components (filter, heater, plumbing, etc.) Booster…

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    Gohlke Pools One of The Top 10 Pool Service Companies In The United States… AGAIN!

    ByMatt Gohlke Hours

    Denton based Gohlke Pools has been selected by Pool and Spa News as one of the top 10 Pool Service Companies in the country.  The list is based on a comprehensive criterion that included customer satisfaction surveys.  There are an estimated 67,000 pool service companies in the United States.  After compiling the data, Pool and Spa News ranked the top 50 pool service companies and recognized Gohlke Pools as one of the Top 10 Pool Service Companies in the country. “Our entire staff works hard to always put our clients’ needs first in taking care of their pool”, said Matt Gohlke, president of Gohlke Pools.  “We are humbled by the fact that our clients played such a key role in our receiving this honor.”  This…

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