We have just completed our dream backyard remodel and we chose California Pools for the Pool part and we couldn't be happier. Mike Smith and Mike Exstrom were excellent from start to finish. Mike Smith was our project construction manager throughout the build, he was extremely responsive, gave us lots of advise and always over delivered on timeline and detail. We are two very happy customers and are now enjoying our backyard oasis! The scheduling and invoicing was very transparent and easy. The various aspect of the build are sub'd out i.e. excavation, re-bar, plumbing etc. we have been very happy with all the contractors that CP's uses, they were all efficient, trustworthy and very skilled in their trade. Thank you California Pools! read more

BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT recommend this company in ANY manner! They are definitely NOT Arizona's most trusted company, in fact the complete opposite!!!!!! All I can do is share our AWFUL experience with this company & hopefully I can save you the aggravation we had to go through. This was supposed to be such a fun time and boy what a nightmare it was !! It was bad from the beginning!! First of all, our designer of the pool & spa project did not capture the details of the project we were most concerned about ( my husband has back and hip issues). The communication was horrible!! We saw a picture of the project.. the contract is very hard to read / I'm sure that's on purpose !! We paid extra for pop-up cleaners in our pool!! We didn't even realize that there was absolutely no way to clean our hot tub. We were not sold or even TOLD by our designer that pop-up cleaners weren't included or that we wouldn't even have a way to clean our spa!!!! It was very disappointing and then to mention.....Our Hot tub was unusable for the first three months because my husband couldn't get into it because they made a 34 inch step into the hot tub! Oh, did I mention when it finally did get to be usable we found out that it was plumbed wrong and all of our pressure was coming out of the return jets! So it needed to be fixed for a 3x !!! Not to mention, I had to drain and refill this thing three times the fourth time it was finally complete!! Again, you would think that coming from such a high profile Company, you would not run into these issues. How does this happen from a professional pool company ? So then it was unusable again!! I can honestly say NOBODY in this company throughout the whole process cared about my project! In fact, my project manager, Donny was rude unprofessional. He told me I that I need to mind own business and leave the pool building to the pool professionals ! Who talks to somebody like that? Donny lie to my face and told me I had to do a $$4,000 upgrade to pass inspection, That was a Lie!! NOT THE CASE AT ALL!! I asked the inspector! Then he completely denied it! When I let a manager know it was completely brushed off!! It was disgusting. I've never been treated so poorly by Company that I hired!!!! worked my way up the Management line after several failed attempts! I talked to Steve, Donny's boss and that was useless ! It seems like they must be buddies!! This company throws the Manager title to anyone... what a joke Steve was. We had PROBLEMS after PROBLEMS ! Way too many to mention ALL! Every single trade was a subcontractor. We would have NEVER went with a pool company who subcontracted out everything!! We had a big issue because we were not able to communicate with them because I cannot speak Spanish. Subcontractors were leaving garbage all over our yard. Others they were Spitting sunflower seeds into our pool when it had rebar being done..I was told that most of the work would be done by a California pool employee and that was not the case... ANOTHER LIE !!! All work was subcontracted!! I can't stress enough that nobody in this company cared about how my project was going or how I was being treated as a customer. The work was less than average.They were the highest out off all of our quotes!! I'm still not happy with the outcome of my project. I'm beyond disappointed and disgusted in this company! You can find a much better company to spend your hard earned money on! This company was the highest company out of all of our estimates. I went with them because I thought that they would be a reputable company and man was I wrong!! This company needs some MAJOR fixing!! SAVE YOUR MONEY!! The quality is less than average! RUN AS FAR FROM THIS COMPANY AS YOU CAN!! I forgot to mention we paid cash for our pool before it was even finished! Horrible mistake on my end!! Lesson learned!! read more

Got two bids for a $150K pool, we were honest and earnest with both companies and did not choose California pools. Mike took my blueprints, promised to bring them back and hasn't. He has now ghosted us. So petty really, so very unprofessional. Mike we want our blueprints back, we were nothing but gracious with you. With respect to their response a doubled down lie. He told me he was on vacation and would return them upon his return. They were our only blueprints. Absolutely pathetic. read more

First, special thanks to foreman, Steve Rodriguez for making the building of our pool as smooth and effortless as it was through the difficult time of delays from COVID and the resulting supply and delivery issues. He was the calming force, always on top of issues and with frequent visits to assure us, his clients during this out-of-control time. We hired CA POOLS when our neighbors were putting in a pool, and we were impressed with the work. The outcome, with design by Joanne Perrin, is perfect. We can recommend California Pools for the job, no matter how large or complicated. read more

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We absolutely love the job that California Pools did for us. They turned our small backyard into an oasis in no time at all. Steve (project manager) was amazing to work with, always on time, organized and helped guide us through every step of the process. All of the subs, including the plumbers, electricians, masons, were great to work with and answered all of our questions along the way. Can't thank CP enough for building a place for our family to create memories for a lifetime! read more

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Mike Exstrom & his crew at California Pools transformed our backyard into a paradise! Since I was a young boy, California Pools built our pools, so we went with a name we trusted & they came through again! Mike was so friendly, accommodating, knowledgeable & easy to work with. We're so happy! Thank you California Pools! read more

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So let me start out by saying I've never owned a pool or gone through the pool building process.. so I was nervous and didn't know what to expect; as generally working with contractors can be a less than desirable experience. Cal Pools breaks the mould when it comes to stereotypical contractors. They're a well oiled machine that meets deadlines, exceeds communication expectations and sets your mind at ease in every regard. Buying a pool is a fairly large investment and having peace of mind through the process is priceless in my opinion. Mike Exstrom came out on day 1 to get my input on all of the features I desired and to go over budget. I sent him dozens of photos with ideas I had. His designer "nailed it". She came back with unbelievable 3D / Animated Renderings that dropped my jaw. Once you discuss all the goodies with Exstrom.. the process moves quickly. You'll then be introduced to Mike Smith... Mike Smith is like your own personal "alexa" for the Pool building process. He responds within minutes on any concerns you may have and makes sure things get done as they should be. Every company needs a "Mike Smith", as he's the one that sets the customers' mind at ease throughout the entire building process. Very good communication! If you have high expectations and you'd like those expectations met. You can't go wrong with Cal Pools! read more

Amazing job from start to finish. Great advice, execution, and service from The Mike's. The entire team truly went the extra mile to make it perfect. read more

We have had our California pool now for a little over three years now, recently we were having some issues with the Chlorine cell (or so we thought) and called California to see if they could help. We are still under the warranty period. I was contacted almost immediately by their new support Manager, Dan McDonnell who started to work the problem. Long story short, the vendor for the Chlorine cell said it the cell causing the problem. I had to leave on a business trip so I asked Dan if he could come out and troubleshoot the issue. Dan came out the next day, spent a good deal of time working on the pool and called me with some possible solutions. When I got home from the trip I tried the first one and Dan was right, immediate fix and simple to do. The responsiveness and expertise was very pleasant to experience and the pool is doing great, just in time for summer. Thanks again to Dan and California pools! Great company! read more

Mike Extrom and his team from California pools expertly transformed our backyard, we are extremely happy with the final result. From the design conception through execution, California Pools were first class builders, We bid our backyard renovation to a few other companies before finally deciding on California Pools (which was our last and final bid) to deliver us a pool, spa, and fire pit area. California pools were priced well, and about we had expected. CP never up-charged for certain items, which is very common with other companies. Extrom's sub-contractors used were family run businesses which we really liked. Thank You CP-Construction Manager Steve Rodriguez (for great communication all the way through the project) / Israel G. and his team from MCLM, assisting Extrom in delivering us a backyard we could never have imagined on our own. Excellent work. read more

California Pools - Thousand Oaks - Blue Wave PebbleTec/Jandy iAqualink/Pentair Intelliflo VS - General Contractors Near Me

We Had such a wonderful experience with California Pools ! They were always on time, had great staff and Crew and did a great job helping us create our pool ! Mike Exstrom had such great ideas for our small Backyard and Mike Smith our facilitator was always there for us and quickly became A family friend! Thanks for everything CalPools! We love our Pool!! The Daland Family -Thousand Oaks read more

California Pools - Thousand Oaks - General Contractors Near Me

We recently had our new pool built by California Pools-Thousand Oaks and we can't say enough about the team of Mike Exstrom and Mike Smith. We've never been pool owners before so this could have been an overwhelming experience, but the process was incredibly smooth. Mike Exstrom was extremely easy to work with from design to planning. Mike Smith was there for us every step of the way as the project manager. He always explained each phase of the project thoroughly and completed the project within the given timeframe. His workers were always respectful and worked incredibly hard everyday they were here. We are beyond pleased with the results. The pool came out more beautiful than I imagined. We can't wait to make lasting memories for years to come! read more

We had our pool installed a few years ago. The first pool we have ever had built so total newbies. We had one other quote and the person seemed not all that informed on how to build a pool. Mike Exstrom from California Pools came out and he talked a great game. We for sure trusted him too much, as we later found out he sold us commercial equipment suitable for an olympic size pool for our 30'x6' pool....ugh. They act like they offer design options....be clear they do not, you just figure it out on your own. It is nice to swim in my pool, but paying 100k for what I have....welp just pretty stupid on my part....get a bunch of quotes before choosing you give all your money to, read more

Had a great experience with California Pools. They built us a beautiful pool while helping us navigate a difficult inspector. We're now swimming everyday and loving life. Thanks Mike & Mike!!! read more

We had a great experience working with California Pools. The team completed the work on time and on budget. Our project manager Steve was helpful and always accessible along the way, making such a large project very manageable. We're incredibly happy with the result! read more

The process with CA pools was fairly painless. They have a fantastic orientation to the process so you understand what's going to happen before it does. The pool and spa is beautifully done. We had a problem with some trim work and they came out and fixed it promptly to make sure we were satisfied with the finished look of the pool. The end of the process did not have as much communication as I would have liked. We had no idea how/when to add the salt, chemicals, etc. we also didn't know that we would have to wait 30 days to use the pool heater. Still, we would definitely build with them again. We would just ask more questions next time around. 4.5 stars really. read more

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This was our first experience of putting a pool in and I have to say it went very well! I have heard so many complaints out here of contractors who do not return calls, show up on time, clean their mess or finish on time and I have to say California Pools did all of those things. They were set to finish early but we had a lot of rain during Nov-Dec '19 so we did not finish early but we finished on time based on the contract which is what we originally agreed upon. The only thing I would advise to people is do your research and know what you want up front. I would change a couple of things: we put in stamped concrete around the edge of the pool and while it looks smooth and mostly it it is really harsh on kids feet (they have had to build up calluses or wear socks/shoes). I will look more into the prefab ledgers or slate stones. I would take a little more time to pick out colors and pay extra if I found some I liked. I picked out some that I really liked but found out last minute they were on back order and I just wanted the pool done at this point so I just picked what they had in stock. It was a long process and not fun during but we would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat!! read more

California Pools - Thousand Oaks - Our wonderful backyard now! - General Contractors Near Me

We had a terrible experience with the California Pools - Thousand Oaks office which was led by Mike Exstrom. They do not stand behind their work but rather point to limited 3yr warranties. Customer service is generally unresponsive regardless of the season, took four weeks to respond to a electrical safety issue (regarding multiple under water LED light failures) and only confirmed there was no safety issue after we posted this review. Still won't replace the lights though. read more

California pools built my pool in 2014, our pool came out just as we designed it.. unfortunately in 2018 we have had some masonry issues that California pools has refused to correct due to their claim of an expired Warranty.. they did send someone out to see the settling of the deck and blamed it on expansive soil. Masonry work when done correctly should last longer than 4 years.. buyer beware... and buyer be aware.. read more

California Pools were great! I did a lot of research and it was important I was comfortable interacting with a team I knew I'd be interacting with over a few months. CP and the complete team (including Mike S.) were there before, during, and after. Everything was timely and consistent. I recommend these guys to everyone and still keep in touch. Nice job guys! We absolutely love the pool and spa! read more

California Pools - Thousand Oaks - After - General Contractors Near Me

Mr Extrom's condescending attitude is in full display in his response. He has never once taken the time to come out and see what the problem is. I am no friend of his and I certainly do not deserve his flip comments. Talk is cheap! This individual is good with words. Let me tell you, whenever I have called him with issues, he has been evasive. 20 or 30 years from now, I will not work with Extrom. He is not a man of his word! I don't believe it! He just pulled the response I referenced above!!! read more

We couldn't be happier! California Pool did an amazing job! From the beginning to the end! Steve, the project manager was great to work with and guided us every steps of the process! Thank you CP! We finally have our dream pool! read more

Thank you California Pools for turning our drab backyard into an absolute paradise. Many thanks goes to Steve who was always responsive and patient with us during the 16 week project. All of the sub-contractors were extremely professional and detailed. Even the Gas Company commented on how professional and organized the plumbing was done. If you want a pool and/or jacuzzi that's built right, you'll hire California Pools... read more

If you're going to be building a pool, I highly recommend this company. We had multiple bids and ultimately decided on California Pools. Mike Extrom came out and explained every detail of the process and continued to be helpful every step of the way. Mike was always very professional and did a great job with giving us ideas when we were planning the structure of our pool and landscape. Steve Rodriguez, our Construction Manager, did an outstanding job at staying connected throughout each phase of the job. Steve was always present, easy to get a hold of and made the process much smoother. Steve did a great job communicating with us whenever something came up. I highly highly recommend this company. Mike and Steve made this whole huge decision much easier and the process went incredibly smooth. We had our beautiful pool finished in two months! read more

Mike was great to work with We moved our jacuzzi and reconfigured the pool Added a Baka shelf and umbrella sleeves read more

California Pools - Thousand Oaks - New swimming pool with waterfall and infinity spa - General Contractors Near Me

We just finished our SECOND pool with California Pools. We moved after 12 years and there was never a second guess about who we would contract to build our new pool. Our first pool NEVER had any issues so this was a pretty easy decision for us. Working with Mike Exstrom in the design stage as always was a pleasure. There were no hidden expenses, all costs associated with our design were explained and choices were given. Once the contract was signed, Mike Smith took over our project. He was ALWAYS responsive, informative and three steps ahead of the project. The timeline given was realistic and was followed throughout the course of the project. Needless to say, today we have a wonderful pool that we will enjoy as a family for many years to come. And the best part? The stress-free build! Thank you California Pools!!!!!!! read more

Mike Smith who led me through every step of the complicated pool building process was probably one of the most responsive persons I've come across in the construction industry. I'm not an easy to please customer, but he was patient with me and addressed every single question I had about the process. Choosing equipment is a dizzying endeavor, but he helped me select the right stuff for our pool! I had questions and concerns about the pool on the weekends and late nights, but he always timely responded to my texts and phone calls. I would recommend their services any day! read more

California Pools is great to work with. Mike And Mike were so professional and very creative with our pool. They were so kind and easy to work with from concept to finish. They also finished our pool when they said they would. I highly recommend them!! read more

We contacted Cal Pools to help us design a spool and firepit for our new place, Mike Exstrom helped us design a great looking setting for our back yard. Mike Smith did a great job managing all the subs and the work. Our backyard turned out great and the job was done on time. read more

We began our backyard makeover on shaky ground. After interviewing several local pool companies, my wife and I felt disappointed that we could not install a pool and spa within our budget. CA Pools TO to the rescue, and became our knights in shining armor. They came through with a plan that fit our budget, and gave us what other companies could not. An oasis in our own backyard! The best testimonial I can give, is to simply echo what my wife said to me when the project was completed; "OMG, they listened to my design ideas, and they gave me exactly what I wanted...this is exactly what I imagined, and wanted!" The CA Pools team of Mike X and Mike S. were stellar! Whenever they would come to the house, it was like a visit from a friend. Always a pleasure seeing them, even when it came time to collect a check! Their customer service is exemplary. Any concerns I had were addressed right away, and we were always put at ease with answers or action. Did everything with our project go perfectly? No, it did not, and I understand that it never can. Yard and ground variables exist, and all factors in the construction process cannot be predicted beforehand. Also at times, the guys were put in the position of answering for their subcontractors customer service and communications. The important thing, is that anytime an issue arose, "The Mikes" stepped up, and were always fair in resolving matters to our satisfaction. We would not hesitate to recommend this company to a close friend! My wife has the backyard of her dreams, so where I'm concerned...happy wife, happy life. Thanks again, to Mike, Mike and Co. read more

Absolutely recommend California Pools! Mike and Mike are great. The pool design experience with Mike E. was a pleasure. 3D computer renderings were so helpful. Mike S. was very responsive and checked in with us regularly throughout the process. Their crews always showed up on time, were professional and produced quality work. Our pool is beautiful! read more

Working with the Mikes and California Pools was a pleasure. They were on top of the entire process from start to finish. We would defiantly build another pool with these guys if given the opportunity. read more

California Pools just finished our pool and we couldn't be happier. They were a real pleasure to work with. Mike Exstrom and Mike Smith were both extremely responsive both in the proposal and construction phases. They were a great team. We received a proposal that included elaborate computer-drafted images. Mike Exstrom was very collaborative in helping us design the pool we wanted. Once we decided to start, both Mikes met with us to explain the schedule and the requirements for the various phases of construction. They also clearly outlined the payment schedule. We were told the pool would be completed in approximately 3 months and it was. We highly recommend California Pools for anyone wanting a solid experience in building a new pool. read more

Mike Smith and Mike Exstrom with California Pools were awesome! We had a Free Form Pool with a Spa built and the project was completed on time and within budget even with all the rain delays that we had this year. When there were issues to attend to Mike Smith was incredibly responsive and excavation, plumbing, electrical, masonry, pool set up, and all inspections went off without a hitch! I highly recommend California Pools for all of your needs and it was well worth the time an money to hire true professionals! A+++ for California Pools!!! read more

California Pools (in Thousand Oaks) was professional and excellent service. They worked with us and understood the 'vision' for the pool; and they worked like clockwork in putting it in as desired. There were no delays and they were helpful for decisions we still had to make during the project. read more

Mike Exstrom and his team did a great job designing a pool and spa to meet our families needs. They were extremely efficient and professional. Our project manager, Mike Smith was great to work with and he was very responsive. We have had numerous compliments on the quality and beauty of the finished product. read more

California Pools - Thousand Oaks - General Contractors Near Me

Made an appointment with "Mike" days ago. He was a "no-show." Then he was completely disrespectful and rude on the phone, as if it was our fault because we didn't answer his phone call - immediately. (We were driving). An appointment is an appointment. I even took the day off of work for this. Mike needs a good lesson in customer service. The poor thing was going to have to "drive 45 minutes in the opposite direction" to keep HIS appointment. Sad, we were going to throw a whole lot of $$ their way. Such a shame. read more

Mike smith and team delivered exactly what was promised. We decided to contract with cal pools based on their reputation throughout the county. We were not disappointed. When you embark on any major renovation communication is key. Any issues were quickly resolved. I would highly recommend. Fair price and job was done as promised. Thank you guys. Ron and Georgia read more

We are so pleased with our new backyard!! The Mike and Mike team were amazing during the whole process. Mike Exstrom was professional, knowledgeable, and thorough during the planning process. He answered all questions in a very timely manner, with details that made sense to someone who doesn't know a thing about pools. He never tried to upsale us and he pushed any expensive product. Mike Smith was a very responsive GC who was readily available and continuously checked on the building process, leaving notes when we didn't make contact during his visits. The build was on schedule throughout the whole process and was completed in the time frame given. We couldn't be happier with the end results! We are recommending Cal Pools to everyone we know. read more

Mike and Mike at California pools did an amazing job on our pool. We weren't even sure what we wanted until we talked to Mike E. He gave us ideas we would have never even thought of. We then got an artistic rendering of the plan and it was better than we could have imagined. Mike S then took over and made sure all of the subcontractors did the work according to the plans. They stayed in communication throughout the process and we couldn't be happier with the end result. Our friends and family have actually told us our backyard looks like a resort now! I have already recommended them to a co-worker that has expressed interest in putting in a pool. read more