Recommendation on swimming pool companies (Keene: live, lawsuit, cheapest)

[Nick2021]

Any photos of the completed pool...really interested in having a pool built so I'd like to see what the end result looks like

[TXtrkgrl]

It sounds really nice. I can't wait to see the pics.

[Karen1969]

I'm currently in the middle of construction by Keith Zars Pools. The design is great, the initial planning was great, the suggestions were great, the supervisor and crews have been great. But getting them to work more than 1-2 days a week is starting to grate on my nerves. I'm not sure if they've cut back on their crews or what, but the excuse is always "I'm trying to get it on the schedule." Or, "we're waiting on the order for this or that to come in." I was initially told that this would be a six to eight week project and we are nearing eight weeks and there is no way we will be done.

Short of it, I wish they would work more consistently at the same level of quality, without me having to call and push. It's making this process that should be enjoyable a real drag.

[paketo]

rlw, I have only heard posative things about Gary's Pool and Patio. They and keith Zars Pools are the 2 largest in San Antonio. Do you know otherwise?

[MichelleSG]

My neighbors bought a Pool Concepts Pool that is just about2 yrs old now. They spent about $47k and it's a lovely raised hot tub waterfalling down into the pool with lovely stone edging and a salt water system. The only problem they had at first was the pool bottom/sides had too much acid used on them and were insanely rough. Like coarse grain sandpaper. At the beginning of the summer all the kids (and my dh too) had raw toes and fingers until they got enough calluses built up. After 1 year the salt water system started acting up. When they had the workers come out to fix it they couldn't and after a few months Pool Concepts told them they would no longer warranty the system any more. Also the stone they chose for the pool edge was falling apart (big time, apparently due to the salt water). Pool Concepts would replace the salt system with a chlorine system but wouldn't fix or replace the salt system. They would also replace the stone that was falling apart and resurface the pool when it was emptied of the salt water but they wouldn't (obviously) pay for the water to refill it. They went though all of the repairs in August but Pool Concepts forgot to resurface the pool and filled it when our neighbors were at work one day.
Did they do a good job? I suppose. I don't know if my neighbors were really satisfied with with how it all ended up. They didn't get the salt water system they really loved (and yes, they did maintain it), Pool Concepts would not honor the warranty on it. The stone that was sold to them was not compatible with the system that was sold to them and they had to pay a lot of money to SAWS and still didn't get the pool resurfaced.

I would really love to get a pool but it's such a crap shoot with the money you spend!

[Caseypoolguy]

Originally Posted by Paka

DANG!!!! I am not even looking to put in an inground pool because we have a HUGE oak tree that shades our entire back yard and most of our neighbors, so we had to go with an above ground pool....but I certainly am glad that I read the postings for Blue Haven on the fraud website that you enclosed....MAN, 88 complaints (and all almost identical from ALL OVER the entire country!!!!!) and the lack of response, standing behind their work, strong-arming that continues to come up in each of these postings makes me KNOW that I would never consider them for a pool at all....almost looks like these items are sooooooo similar that it is something they are TAUGHT as a way of doing business/avoiding repairs...too strange that no matter where the complaint was from, the total lack of customer service was almost identical.

I think that you did a HUGE service to anyone thinking of putting in an inground pool by posting that site!!!! THANKS!

Bob 913
Please research before you spam about companies. First Blue Haven is the largest pool company in the us and yes there is alot of complaints out there. But look at the size of the company compared to complaints. The Blue Haven builds 6,000 to 7,000 a year compared to most companys 120 if that. Check the BBB and think before type.

[czarina]

I know that you posted this last spring, so I am assuming that you are now enjoying your Keith Zars Pool (hopefully you purchased the heat pump!!) I just wanted to mention in the defense of all pool builders that we have had more than 80 days of rain since last January. For every day that it rains, the construction gets delayed by several more, especially if you are at the stage where you would be shooting concrete/gunnite. You cannot fight mother nature. This weather puts the little guys out of business in one bad summer, whereas Keith Zars Pools keeps plugging along. There are many perks to working with a company of this magnitude, one being that they were here before the others came along, and they will be here when they go under. The folks that built my parent's pool have gone out of business, and KZP has been out there fixing it every summer. Every single pool part is warranteed, work is never sub contracted out,(never an uninsured worker on premises) and they are award winning every year from the Better Builders Assoc. to the Master Pool Guild. And if you knew how many jobs KZ provided to survivors after Hurricane Katrina, you'd be humbled. Just a few details I thought I'd share....

[pool man]

Bob, I hope you enjoy your pool. If you got the salt clorinator be sure to seal your stone. For all others there are quite a few good companies out there in S/A, do your homework. While I do work in the Equipment end of the business, I work with or know all the companies listed in this thread. Just remember the cheapest is not always the best. I can also tell you there are some deals out there right now if your in the market.

[bohick36]

Looking for information on this company - owner is Karl Keene. Not part of the BBB or can I find anything about this company. Looking for those that had a pool built by this company or anything else you can provide.

Thanks,

Larry

[mbtxSanAnton]

We moved into our house 3 years ago. It has a Gary Pool that was installed in 1993. We have had no problems with this pool or equipment. We have several friends that have pools from other companies, and they all hate them. They have problems with the equipment, maintaining clear water, etc. Our pump is very quiet and I have noticed others that are much louder. Our pool has a huge skimmer receptacle which is great for when the leaves drop. Our friends has just a puny basket, it hardly holds anything, and you have to empty it a lot more. We have one other neighbor that has a Gary Pool as well, and they love it too. I haven't dealt one on one with any of the other pool companies, but the people at Gary's pool have been so helpful when we have had questions. We spend about $150 at the most per year on pool chemicals. Rarely does ours need anything but shock and chlorine tablets. We bought a new filter for the system when we first moved in and 3 years later, it is getting close to needing to be replaced. If we moved, I would definitely use Gary's pool again. Hope this helps you out...