As much as I like John, I have not been happy with his work…read more About 9 months ago he did the mastic on our pool. In March I realized that snails were eating the mastic around the hot tub. In addition, there were many spots around the perimeter that were pulling loose from the edge. John said he had never heard of snails eating mastic but would talk to the Sika representative. Sika sent a letter saying this is a well known issue. They also said that the reason it's pulling away from the edge is due to expansion of the concrete joint. I asked why they're using a product with these problems that fails in six months and John said we've always done it this way. Neither John nor Sika would fix the mastic under warranty. I figured out why it's failing. John removes the old material from the gap and then fills the gap with foam backing and sand prior to covering with the mastic. The manufacturer recommends 3/8" - 1/2" of mastic. However, John pours a much thinner layer 1/8" to 1/4" thick. It's not thick enough to hold tight to the edge. If the sand works its way down in to the crack, there's nothing supporting the mastic and it comes loose. I told John about this and since i like him I said I would pay him to redo the job using a different mastic called Deckoflex that I heard works better than Sika. I assumed he would pour the new mastic much thicker than before as recommended by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, I'm just realizing now that he did not and the brand new mastic is failing after 2 weeks. When John redid the mastic, he decided without asking me that he was not going to redo the vertical part of the stairs leading up to the hot tub. So now that part doesn't match the rest of the project and looks unprofessional. I thought that John would give me a decent discount on the redo, since this was a failure due to issues with the mastic but also because it wasn't installed thick enough with sufficient backing, However, he did not.

Great company! Fair prices! Super communication! Called for an inspection, quickly got an…read moreappointment and John was right on time! He walked me through his report and really helped us understand what would be needed! And he's a really nice guy! Highly recommend!

Richard came out to evaluate our backyard for a potential pool project, and I was genuinely…read moreimpressed by how thorough and detail-oriented he was. He took his time walking through the space, carefully explaining placement options, layout considerations, and how everything would ultimately look and function. What really stood out was his ability to think beyond the obvious--he brought up several ideas and design elements that I hadn't even considered, which added a lot of value to the consultation. I've met with several pool companies, and Richard is by far the most knowledgeable and thoughtful professional I've encountered. He clearly has deep expertise and takes pride in doing things the right way. I would highly recommend him to anyone considering a pool project. I will post a before and after pic once the pool and hardscape are done

Go with Majestic Pools if you'd like to be cursed at and have legal action threatened…read more The first time I met with Richard Ham (sales rep) at our house, he feigned interest in my newborn daughter and touched her. This made my wife uncomfortable due to the risk of germs and, in my opinion, the creepiness of a stranger touching our baby. We did continue with the company because we didn't feel like starting the search over and assumed that once construction began, we wouldn't be dealing with Richard. I explained exactly what we wanted and even showed him a photo (and explained the size and purpose). The company pulled permits and later sent us a rendering that wasn't what we wanted. I scheduled a follow up meeting to discuss the issue. Richard said he could "squeeze us in" between other appointments. Before he arrived, my wife and I went into the yard to discuss the project. We realized they simply weren't understanding our vision, and it didn't seem worth the time to keep trying to explain it. I was about to text Richard when he pulled up. I went outside to let him know we would not be proceeding with the pool. His response: "Why the f**k didn't you tell me before I got here?" In my opinion, he then stormed off like a child. I reached out to his boss to let him know that such behavior was incredibly unprofessional, and the language was unacceptable. I explained that I am also a business owner and that employees are not just a reflection of the company, but the owner. Instead of acknowledging or addressing the issue, he told me Richard lives in Palm Desert--as if he had made the drive specifically for us and that somehow it would justify his behavior. The owner called me today (a week later), briefly acknowledging Richard's behavior before saying he wants to bill me for permit costs and time. I already paid a non-refundable $1,000 deposit. He told me, "I don't have to let you out of the contract," and said he has legal recourse and could place a lien on my home. He also let me know he would respond to any review I left. At the end of the day, Majestic Pools was hired to provide a service they failed to deliver to our expectations. They also employ a salesman who acts in a creepy and foul-mouthed manner. Even if we had been difficult customers who required more time than expected or had left them high and dry, that still wouldn't excuse bad, unprofessional behavior and now legal threats.

Marc from Sundancer Pools built our outdoor kitchen along with Jessica from SD Grill Pros and Dave…read morefrom Frazier Decks. We are completely happy with the finished product and can without hesitation recommend Marc and his crew. The work site was kept clear of unnecessary construction material and the crew went beyond our expectations to answer questions. Marc has top of the line craftsmen. This project was finished on time and within our contacted cost - well done Marc !!

So thankful we found Sundancer. We tried to get help for a long time with redoing our pool mortar…read more After searching and reading great reviews, I reached out and Shanyn responded right away. She was amazing and had Dave come out in a day or two. They were both so personable, thorough, kind, professional and reasonable. They got an estimate to us quickly and scheduled guys on site within a few days. They guys were on time, efficient and professional. Results look great. We found a few spots we wanted fixed and Dave sent the guys right back out to help. I highly recommend the Sundancer team and will absolutely call them again for any of our pool needs.

I highly recommend reaching out to Zier Pools if you are thinking about transforming your yard with…read morea pool. The entire team at Zier Pools was professional, friendly and focused. This review may seem overdue as Zier Pools completed my project in August 2025. I can speak not only to my Zier Pools construction experience but also to the quality of their work and their follow-through post-project completion. We reached out to Zier Pools and began working with Andrew and Jay on a full front & backyard remodel, including a pool, spa, kitchen, hardscape, landscape, deck, etc. We had purchased a home with a yard that was basically dirt, concrete, brick and overgrown trees. We shared a few ideas with Andrew and Jay about what we were looking for. By our first sit down meeting, they had brought the project to life better than we had envisioned. Working with Andrew, Jay and the entire Zier Pools team was phenomenal. We prefer to support local family businesses and Zier Pools did not disappoint. Jay has immense experience and a ton of valuable contacts he connected us with. Communication throughout the project was incredible. Andrew always had time to answer questions or address issues that came up. Both Andrew and Jay were very present throughout the entire project. We ended up with a front & back yard, completed in the estimated timeline, that exceeded our expectations. Post project, we reached out to Zier Pools regarding a patio cover and a pool light issue and both were handled quickly and completely. Neighbors and people who pass by stop and comment on how much they love the front yard and anyone who has seen the backyard raves about the design and functionality. Zier Pools most definitely delivered the WOW factor and created a space that feels like a vacation retreat. We are beyond grateful to Zier Pools and highly recommend that anyone looking to install a pool check in with them before choosing a contractor.

I can't recommend Zier Pools enough. We recently had an issue with a weak spa jet, and even though…read morewe realized we were a few weeks outside of our warranty window, they didn't hesitate to help. Matt was super cool and made sure we were taken care of immediately. He sent out the plumbers who quickly identified the issue (a rock blocking the jet) and got it fixed. It's rare to find a builder who stands by their work and supports their clients even after the project is finished. If you are looking to build a pool, hire these guys!

Dan recently helped me with a pool heater connectivity issue and was so patient walking me through…read moreall the steps. He is super knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommend!

I contacted H2O So Clean Pool and Spa Services originally for a drain and acid wash on my pool,…read moreconverting my pool to salt, and replacing the new filter and gas heater from 1987 with an electric heater at my new home in Paradise Hills / Bonita thinking that was all I needed. I had reached out to several other companies with no success, one being overwhelmed and confused. Other companies made it seem like my job was too small for them stating they only do "the big jobs." So I was looking for someone who knew what they were doing and wasn't going to treat me like my job was too small. I am happy to say I found that in Daniel and H2O So Clean Pool and Spa Services. Daniel went into great detail about all the above items taking the time to explain the pricing and costs vs. benefits. He came by while the house was still in escrow to look over everything and explain what could be salvaged and what needed to be replaced. He sent a thorough summary from his visit along with quotes for each item and options recommended. He further simplified everything by breaking down what were "needs" and what were "wants" and educated me in the process. Absolutely incredible! Daniel advised me that the filter and pump could be salvaged, but that the heater needed to be replaced. He explained why the pool should not be acid washed as it was painted and the paint was already starting to peel off. He identified some safety hazards in that the pool drain cover was missing and the spa one was broken. He connected me with a referral and they worked together to resolve the issue as inexpensively as possible with Daniel installing the spa one - in my freezing cold spa. Daniel's crew even dove down the bottom of the pool to try and install the pool drain cover to save me some money, but unfortunately a pneumatic drill was needed to get the new one in so his referral ended up taking care of that for me! I am so relieved that is also being taken care of now by his first referral. I wound up going with Daniel's recommendation for: -New gas heater -Full automation of the system instead of the existing time clock -Phone, tablet, Alexa, Apple watch App -New light to replace a broken one and addition of a color LED bulb -Pool Cleaner -Vac-mate so that my skimmer could be split for the cleaner to work cleaning the bottom of the pool and the skimmer to work cleaning the surface of the water -Timer to turn the fill into semi-automatic instead of fully manual -Some miscellaneous parts that were broken Per his recommendation I held off on: -Filter - he cleaned it out and revived it with a few inexpensive parts -Pool pump - mine was working and I have solar panels, so upgrading to a more efficient variable speed pump wasn't as much of a concern Unfortunately there was a leak in the plumbing from the spa to the equipment. We had hoped it was just a blockage and Daniel tried valiantly to clear it first. Ultimately, Daniel's crew was able to diagnose the leak and took a video so I could present it to my home warranty to get it fixed. I am so happy his referral for this will repair this next week. Unfortunately Daniel does not perform weekly service in my area, but he was able to hook me up with a great referral for that too. It was a pleasure working with Daniel to bring my pool back to life! He always responded quickly and was very appreciative of the opportunity for the work as well as being very mindful of my project budget.

We called and Chuck scheduled an appointment quickly, he was extremely knowledgeable and took into…read moreconsideration all of our concerns and shared suggestions and offered up possible solutions. We were very impressed and would indeed use him if we go that route. Highly recommended to anyone with pool structural issues! Rob & Tamie

Brennan provided excellent customer service. He is personable and helpful. He went out of his way…read moreto search for a product for my pool. Thank you. Brennan. Others also have provided good customer service at this store.

Jim and his pool demo team were a pleasure to deal with for the removal of our pool. Jim responded…read morequickly to calls/texts. He managed our expectations as homeowners for what was a pretty jarring process, and left our property exactly as it was when he started the job. I highly recommend Jim for his quality and expertise at removing pools in San Diego.

James Construction removed our pool earlier this year. It's a destructive and nerve-wracking…read moreprocess, but they worked quickly and did a good job. In addition, I had James Construction pour concrete over half of the old pool area to extend my patio. In the end, after some landscaping, there is no evidence that there was a pool in my yard. The new concrete blends well with the old/existing concrete. Overall, it looks good.

We couldn't be happier with the work California Smartscape did on our landscaping project. Our home…read moresits on a complicated, multilevel foundation and every other contractor declined the project due to its complexity.  Andrew and the Smartscape team embraced the challenge and delivered an outstanding design that incorporated all our needs.   The project included a full pool remodel (replacing crumbling 70s brick), new concrete, a safe and modern upper deck off the second story, a refreshed entryway, and a new outdoor living area to replace an unsightly and unusable wooden deck. Andrew's 3D model helped us visualize the final product and he worked with us to incorporate slight tweaks in the design based on our knowledge of the space.   Smartscape also phased the work so we could prioritize the pool and upper deck first. Leo, our project manager, was incredibly responsive and kept us involved in every decision. The finished pool is stunning with dazzling PebbleTec, modern coping and tiles, and our old jacuzzi was transformed into a luxurious jetted spa with smart lighting. The sleek, modern decking materials not only look amazing but give us peace of mind with everything up to code.   The biggest transformation was replacing the outer wooden deck with a retaining wall and turf, creating a large fenced-in play area for our kids--something we never had before. Now we have space to kick a ball and have outdoor family movie nights.   We started this project trepidatious, knowing that most contractors go over timelines and over-budget, but Smartscape completed everything in just a few months, with expert craftsmanship and within budget. Truly a five-star experience! (Select before and after photos included)

UPDATE: 12/17/25 New Owner Jonathan reached out to me so I give him 5 stars for the timely…read moreresponse. He's going to send someone out to assess the situation and identify best way forward to address the problem. I know it's been a long time since the installation and ownership has changed, so I appreciate Jonathan trying to be helpful, even though I still have this very significant issue with huge potential costs to fix. Updated rating to 3 stars because I am hopeful for a peaceful resolution. I want to be fair and support small businesses so stay tuned. More to come. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Initially, we were very happy with our remodel of patio and landscape. Over time, issues surfaced. We had water damage buckling up on our wood floor. After consulting several other contractors, we realized that the patio pavers were incorrectly installed too high, covering up the drainage holes of the patio sliders and windows by the patio bar, which Smartscape also installed. Now we have major damage inside the house on half of the wood flooring. Secondly, Smartscape installed a shade structure and over time, we saw issues of paint bubbling but could not figure out why. Finally, after consulting other contractors, we realize that material choice of tongue and groove panels were not the best choice; thin and subject to warp; install was uneven; and heaters too close to the ceiling, resulting in melted bubbles of paint. We rely on professional subject matter experts to provide the best recommendations... the onus should not be on the homeowner. We selected California Smartscape after some research. It all seemed good and legit. They seemed to know what they're doing: Richard Hafenstein, Sal Manna, Nick Hoffman. But only to find out too late, after any warranty period, that their work was less than acceptable and continues to erode and present more issues with time. They also recommended plant specimens - half of which I removed after several years, because they were simply poor choices for growth habit and space. How is a homeowner to know?... Isn't that why we hire professionals? We are so disappointed. But still hopeful that we will hear back and they will repair the paver install problem and stop the water leak into the house and foundation. I tried to contact Richard and have yet to hear back from the company. We spent over $172,291 on this project, not including equipment and component systems which we paid separately. We already spent $$$$$ to repair the shade structure paint bubbles. I just want the water drainage issue/paver install problem to be fixed and done right.