Pools Plus LLC

Building a pool with Pools Plus was a great experience. They were able to take our vision and build an amazing pool. Jim (General Manager) listened to all of our wants/needs and helped us come up with our own personal design. Jason (Construction Manager) was knowledgeable and took customer care to a whole new level. He was always calling and informing us throughout the entire process making sure we were satisfied customers. I would recommend Pools Plus to anyone looking to build a pool.

It was a pleasure working with Jim and seeing his design. After signing the contract, though, we had really no contact with him. We worked with his manager, Jason, throughout the process. I will say that Pools Plus does quality work. You will get the best materials and the pool is beautiful. Some things affecting our rating: Jason is very responsive and that is hard to come by, but he did not do well at meeting his committed timelines. While we understand they have to deal with unreliable trades there are ways to communicate that to the customer. It's also important, though, when you commit to showing up, you do show up, instead of rescheduling multiple times. While there were rain delays, the clean-up crew was too slow and our pool would have finished nearly 2 weeks earlier had they arrived more timely. The most disappointing crew was the decking crew. They did not do a good job caring for our newly installed landscaping, which requires repair from their work. We even discussed delaying the landscaping so the decking could be installed, but were advised the decking could be damaged by the landscaping installation. We are still trying to wash away the decking material off the freshly planted sod, flagstone and river rock. Overall, they did a great job and we have a gorgeous pool. The above mentioned things can be resolved with some project management training and possibly other crews that are more timely and professional.

After meeting with several pool builders, we selected Pools Plus because of Jim Burkhart and his expertise with building pools. Jim was very knowledgeable and flexible from the design to the completion of the project. Jim took care of building permits, home owner association requirements and oversaw the construction of the pool contractors. Jim's communications with us were excellent from start to finish. The quality of the craftsmanship was excellent.. A few minor issues popped up, but they were dealt with by the crafts fairly quickly. Jim followed up on an issue nine months after the pool was complete and fixed the issue quickly and at no cost to us. The pool and outdoor grill are a wonderful addition to our home. We are also pleasantly surprised with the low energy (gas and electric) costs to operate our pool. It is basically maintenance free except for chemicals and weekly cleaning. We'd highly recommend Pools Plus for any pool or outdoor kitchen or grill needs.

After meeting with numerous pool contractors and Jim from Pools Plus several times, we selected Pools Plus for our pool construction. Each time we met with Jim, we asked many questions. He provided information about the different features, and he helped us through the design process with numerous designs. Jim was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions regarding the pool design. Although the quote from Pools Plus was not the lowest, you cannot compete with the quality of construction that is offered by Jim and Pools Plus. During the pool construction, we changed a few design features once it was laid out such as decking and curves of the pool. Jason, the project manager, was very helpful in making and executing these changes. He was also very consistent with keeping us informed of the progress and timing of all of the subcontractors. He was always available to answer any questions we had via call or text. From start to finish, it only took 6 weeks in order for us to be swimming in the pool. We appreciated the time Jason took with us during ?pool school? and answering our questions, and he also handled all follow-up issues in a timely manner. We would recommend Pool Plus to anyone that is considering a pool. It was a great experience and we love the pool!

If you're looking to build a pool, educating yourself about the various pool companies, modern pool technologies, and the building process can be a very daunting first step. Believe us, we know! After interviewing a half dozen pool companies, we hired Pools Plus, and are very glad that we did. While their quote was on the high end of the bids we received, we were very impressed by their detailed consultation and their obvious dedication to quality and customer service. During our meeting with Jim Burkhart we designed a pool layout, and he created a computerized illustration of our vision. This was incredibly helpful in deciding on a final design. A few weeks later, we asked Jim to meet a second time to answer some additional questions, to fine tune the design, and to discuss how to revise the bid to align it with our budget. He spent several hours with us working through these issues until we were satisfied. Now, looking back on the bidding process, my advice to any prospective pool buyer is that all bids are not created equally. I know we all know this, but some items in other builders bids were deceptive and made their bids look very good on the surface. The most memorable example of this was when another builder offered to install a swim jet at an unbelievably low price. Ultimately we discovered they wanted to install a couple of spa jets as a swim jet. This would not have worked. In stark contrast, Jim explained how swim jets worked, provided materials about the two best manufacturers, and then offered exceptional pricing on Endless Pool's Fastlane swim jet once we decided that was the right choice for us. Jim's honest and direct approach during the bidding process was a major reason we decided to go with Pools Plus. As for construction, our yard presented some special challenges. For starters, we have very limited space in our side yard, in fact most in our neighborhood do not have any kind of side or back yard. As a result, this meant that our pool had to be built within inches of our foundation. However, Jim was able to answer all our question and to address our concerns about this during our meetings. The next obstacle was city permitting. Several builders even expressed concerns that the city would not grant a permit. But, Jim, and his engineering team, were able to convince the city to grant the necessary permits. With the extremely challenging engineering situation, Jim, and our Construction Manager, Jason, enforced an aggressive schedule. The crews literally worked around the clock, so that we went from groundbreaking to a gunited pool shell in approximately 48 hours! This was to protect the house foundation from pushing against an empty, unsupported dirt hole. Throughout the entire construction process, Pools Plus was very hands-on. Jason, was there every day to keep us informed of the details of each phase of construction and to patiently answer all of our questions and concerns. Admittedly, we were not the easiest clients to work with. We were very particular on every detail, took our time making decisions, and expected our vision to be perfect. Jason fielded our every call and text with complete professionalism, and was very responsive. As anyone who has done a major construction project knows, issues arise during construction. And, of course, this project was no different. However, in my opinion, it's how issues are addressed and resolved that makes the difference between a good and a bad contractor. Pools Plus addressed every concern and issue, no matter how small, until we were 100% satisfied with the final product. Our pool is more beautiful than we imagined, and we are very pleased with the subtle aesthetic details that they added to the stonework and spa layout to enhance the design. Do yourself a favor and make sure to ask about the ultimate spa upgrade. It's worth every penny, and maybe my favorite part of the pool. If we ever build another pool, our first call will be to Jim. We love our new pool and have already recommend Pools Plus to our friends.

Having never built a pool before, we met with many different providers for quotes and assistance. Jim from Pools Plus was the best to work with. He was able to take our thoughts and wishes and put them together in an easy to understand package. He gave good advice on different options and helped us design the pool of our dreams. He spent a lot of time with us, making sure the pool was just right, even making suggestions that in the end lowered our cost, but made us happier. Jim was very responsive, making the process quick and easy. Working with some other providers, we would meet once and never hear back, or it would take multiple phone calls to get a response. Once construction started, Jim was there every day to check on the progress and make sure everything was progressing smoothly. He gave us frequent updates and kept us informed throughout the entire process. Other companies had stated it would take 8+ plus weeks to complete, but Jim was able to get everything completed in 6 weeks. We have loved the pool and really appreciate Jim's recommendations and help. We have had a few warranty items that needed to be replaced, and Jim has been great to work with on taking care of the issues. He gets the replacements quickly and usually within a day or two the problem is resolved. One time when more than a week had passed, Jim called to let me know that he had just gotten word the company who was supposed to come do the repair hadn't been yet. He let me know that if ever I don't hear from them in a day or two, to call Jim and he will take care of it. I know that we are in great hands with Jim and Pools Plus. I would recommend Pools Plus to anyone, they are a great company, very responsive, and do great work!

I have dealt with James Burkhart of Pools Plus LLC for the past 5 years as his website designer and director of internet marketing. James runs his business with the highest level of integrity online and off. You can see the pride he takes in his designs reflected in his websites http://www.poolhouston.com, http://www.bbqgrillshouston.com and http://www.poolhoustononline.com. He sought out one of the best designers in the area in QuickStrike Designing - http://www.qsdesigining.com to take his online presence to another level and that has been achieved in a short period of time. If you are looking to have a distinct backyard environment built to suite your tastes Pools Plus LLC is the only selection having won the coveted Angie's list award 2 years in a row. Beyond that they give back to charitable organization like The Wounded Warrior Project and The Navy Seal Foundation. Lastly they are one of very few pool designers in the world to have the much acclaimed Genesis 3 Design Group Gold Member status.

Could not have had a better experience with Pools Plus. They came in and consulted ideas/designs that met my requests. The construction was prompt and done with a high level of quality. They followed up construction with a how to "pool school" that showed us exactly how to treat and maintain our new pool. Jim and his construction manager Jason was along for the along for the ride every step of the way. We love our new pool and the ability to entertain on there design!

Pools Plus handled all the paperwork needed by our HOA in order to gain approval for pool construction which was a relief for us. Construction began in early May. We had an issue with rain causing the deep end wall to collapse during the gunnite process. Jim handled the situation very well and the original pool design was kept intact without any defects to the structural integrity of the pool. The construction schedule was followed and the pool was completed on time. Jim was open to our ideas about design and materials and helped give us advice which was appreciated. We have loved the pool. We used it extensively thru the summer and have continued to use the spa when the weather turned cooler. Jim and Jason have responded to all of our issues with the pool equipment and maintenance. We would highly recommend Jim and Pools Plus to anyone looking to put a pool in their backyard.

We are very satisfied with our experience with Pools Plus. Price, punctuality and quality were all excellent and we strongly recommend them.

Mr. Burkhart knows his stuff! He was able to show us exactly what our pool would look like, and exactly how much it would cost. In fact, he is actually the person who helped us really decide what we wanted in a pool. Most of the other companies I met with would just take down info, and then email the design a few days later. Mr. Burkhart was able to answer question right off the bat without hesitation. Both my husband and I were very impressed, and we seriously contemplated going with this company. However, once we actually sat down and took a good look at the cost, we decided that we just were not comfortable spending so much money on a pool. I guess you can say we were being frugal. Nonetheless, if his price had been about 15k lower, we would have signed on the spot. Regardless, I would definitely recommend him. Who knows, maybe we will decide to add an outdoor kitchen and call him up again.

As promised Pools Plus finished the construction of the pool in about 1 month. The construction process was very well organized, starting quickly after signing of the contract. City permits were gained quickly and then all sub-contractors provided timely and quality construction with minimal downtime between each phase of the construction. The result is a quality pool which was ready for the late Spring and Summer, which has had a high level of usage. Information provided before and throughout the pool construction was informative and well communicated and Jason (construction supervisor) was available any time throughout the process to answer any questions and discuss any modifications to any of the plans. The only area for improvement is the follow up post construction for any issues. Although we've had no real problems with the pool and the pool equipment, there are some related issues (i.e.: electrical) that have not yet been attended. Otherwise, we'd recommend Pools Plus to anyone with small projects (like ours) to larger scale pool construction. One of our friends contracted Pools Plus after viewing our pool and construction and are equally happy with the company. Update to above: The electrical wiring feed that was used for the pool equipment stopped providing power down line of this equipment. Several phone calls and promises from the vendor did not yield a visit to fix this problem. As we are now out of warranty so will have have to organize and pay for this ourselves. Bottom line - make sure you account for poor warranty service with this contractor. Further Update October 2014. Recently the pump for the hot tub failed. The response from Jim was very prompt and the equipment replaced in a timely manner. We have regraded the responsiveness based on this efficient response. Note to Angie's list - why is their not a warranty question in the review items???

It has been good so far. The price is competitive. We have been very happy with them. We would recommend them.

Jim designed a beautiful pool for us. He went over all the details and there were few surprises during construction. We had a fairly complex pool project with a beach entrance, large spa, large rock waterfall, in-pool cleaning system, remote controls, pebble-tec surface, as well as a Fastlane swimming system. Jim also has a gazebo designed and built for the pool area. Jason was the construction manager. He kept us well informed of daily events even though there were some scheduling delays. Most of the sub-contractors were very professional and created high quality results. The last two weeks seemed to last forever when we could see it coming together but the weather and scheduling conspired to slow things a bit. Not too surprising considering how busy the pool construction business has been this year. This complex project was completed in 2 months at the cost on the contract. We did add a few items during the project, but Jim and Jason were up for the changes and all went well. We only had issues with two subs that did not clean up in a timely fashion. Jason gave us a good final session with instructions on how to use the pool to its fullest. Pools Plus designed and built a quality pool and gazebo that will last us for years! We are very pleased with the results and highly recommend Jim, Jason, and Pools Plus.

Jim spent many hours with us upfront designing and explaining the construction process. During execution, the subcontractors were professional and performed work within prescribed time frame. All follow up issues were promptly addressed by Jason, who is Jim,s on site manager. We are very pleased with how everything turned out and receive positive feedback from all our guests.

It was a high pressure sales pitch instead of detailed estimate to build a pool.

Jim Burkhart with Pools Plus crawled over hot coals to earn our business. My wife and I are detail oriented, cost conscious, and had a specific vision for our first backyard pool. Jim patiently sweated the details alongside us, provided estimates on multiple options, revised 3-D computer-drawn images, and visited stone and tile suppliers with us. We benchmarked his costs against three other builders and found Pools Plus to be cost-competitive. But it was really Jim's personality and dedication to our project that endeared him to us. The pool build occurred with military precision. Jim personally supervised every stage of construction and ensured we were satisfied before moving on. He rallied his crews to finish before our Thanksgiving deadline so we could enjoy the pool with our extended family. It has been 3 months since our pool was built and he's been there to provide service, support, and answer questions along the way. We couldn't be more happy with the execution and follow-up from Pools Plus. If you are looking for a dedicated and experienced builder to make your pool plans a reality, this is the company for you.

We ended up going with another company as their bid came in a bit lower. Although we did not choose Pools Plus, we would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone looking for quality.

They were very professional, very good and very thorough. There were other companies that were a little bit closer.

Jim had us swimming in three weeks! Some of the equipment didn't ship on time (not Jim's fault) so it took a little longer than four weeks to completely finish. Jim is a scheduling master, the subs followed each other and the schedule didn't slip, except for the shipping problems.

Overall, Edna and I are pleased to have contracted with Jim for the design, installation and maintenance of our new custom built pools at our new home. He has provided us professional and timely service to our satisfaction.

GREAT EXPERIENCE - Lawn to pool in 3 Weeks!!!! We researched several pool companies and ultimately landed with Pool Plus, LLC. Jim, the owner, worked with us every step of the way. We had several features that we wanted to be included. He listened and offered some great suggestions on how to make our pool better than we could imagine. He was very responsive, respectful and most importantly he was very punctual. Despite heavy rains the first two days that set the timeline back, he was able to make up the time and deliver our pool on time. He has been very professional when it came to minor adjustments or fixes that we requested. He fixed them promptly. He was very up front an honest about the costs and any additions we wanted to make, so there were no major cost overages.

The quote amount was $45000. They were pretty straightforward. Their pricing was a little more expensive than the others but what they offered was better than others.

Everything went smooth except for the weather putting us behind on final touches like sod, but we can't control the weather. Jim kept us informed through the bad weather.

Our pool filter system is an older one and when the pump bearings seized on our primary pump I looked to Angie's List for a good company to use for the replacement. I found an excellent company in Pools Plus. They were prompt and completely professional. The removal and replacement of the pump was done in a very short time and we are completely satisfied with the work. We are planning to resurface and upgrade our pool sometime in the next year and we will definately be looking to Pools Plus again to perform the work!