We had an inground gunite salt water pool and spa constructed by Blue Haven Pools this summer. Our experience started with Clint, the pool designer. We contacted several companies and Clint was the first one to come out to us, he even came on a Saturday so we didn't have to take off work. We have a difficult back yard with two slopes in two different directions and a significant left to right elevation change. He listened to our wish list and the budget we wanted to stay within. He gave us realistic expectations and went to work. He had a design and 3D video to us within a week and developed a beautiful design that was very creative to give us all of the elements we wanted. He listened to our concerns about drainage and incorporated a plan. He did several revisions with us to get us to the price and design we wanted and even spoke with us Easter weekend before we left on vacation so we could swim by summer. My only tip is to make sure every specific detail down to the type of drain you discussed with your designer is spelled out on the contract or you might not get it even if you agreed on it, but Blue Haven made it right! We received quotes from 5 companies and Clint's design was by far the most beautiful and he was very attentive throughout the design process. Our next experience was with Michelle in the showroom. My husband and I tend to only agree on one thing when it comes to design and that is that we have completely different taste! Michelle patiently went through all of the options and color combinations available, sifting through pictures from other sites to give us a visual on our multiple requests. She was very friendly and answered all of our questions thoroughly. She communicated with us several times throughout the process and was always professional and friendly. She even enlisted her son to help us when we needed help watering the concrete while we were on vacation. She was a pleasure to work with. Then came David, our project manager. All we can say about him is he is an absolute rock star! With all the rain and storms this summer, broken down trucks etc, David handled every construction hiccup in stride and kept us informed with solutions. We have done several home improvement projects over the years and he is by far, the best contractor we have ever worked with. We have had a few small things come up since construction was complete and David always takes our call promptly and provides a quick solution, gets someone out, or tells us how to trouble shoot. A project this size is stressful (they warn you but you are not prepared for the dirt, dust and mud!) We can say without a doubt, David made the whole experience better with his calm demeanor and making us feel like we always had access and were informed on what was going on. We never felt like we were in the dark on what was happening. Blue Haven uses several companies to complete the pieces of your project. I have to give a shout out to Feliciano Hardscapes and Landscapes. They did the tile on our retaining wall and around the pool. They did an amazing job and it is truly beautiful. I have also never seen men work like that from dawn to dark in 100 degree heat and not miss a beat. Our final interaction was with Elton. He came out to teach us about the pool pump. He was also great and texted us suggestions for products we asked about. He gave us his contact info and told us to call him anytime we had a question on the workings of any of the equipment. Blue Haven sets you up with Aqua Shop to take care of your chemicals etc for a while after the pool is done. They have been very friendly and done a great job. When we decided to take over ourselves, they came out and taught us everything we needed to know to take over. Overall, our experience has been amazing with Blue Haven. We love our new pool and we are loving our hot spa on these cold nights now that it is getting cold. We would highly recommend Blue Haven if you are considering a Gunite pool. They will take great care of you and you won't be disappointed in the...
Read moreWe recently had the pleasure of working with Blue Haven Pools for an extensive pool project, and couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome. From the moment we started discussing the project to the final touches, they displayed a level of professionalism, expertise, and dedication that is truly worthy of bragging about.
We had the incredible pleasure of working with a truly exceptional pool designer, Nathalie Baird, who turned our dreams into a breathtaking reality. From the very first conversation, her attentiveness to our ideas and vision assured us that we were in capable hands. With an uncanny ability to grasp our aesthetic preferences, she not only nailed the design but also flawlessly translated it into a stunning pool build. Every detail, from the intricate tiling to the perfectly integrated features, reflects her dedication to bringing our vision to life. We're beyond thrilled with the end result - a testament to her talent, expertise, and unwavering commitment to delivering perfection.
The project management, led by David Andrew, was nothing short of IMPECCABLE! David had a clear plan from the get-go and executed it flawlessly. Every step of the way, he kept us informed about the progress, anticipated any potential challenges, and provided creative solutions that showcased his, and Blue Haven's, mastery of building pools. We felt confident in their abilities to bring our vision to life, and they exceeded expectations in every aspect.
For us, communication is key throughout the project of this magnitude, and David truly EXCELLED in this area. He was ALWAYS available to answer our questions, address any concerns, and provide updates - whether we sought them or not. This open line of communication eased our minds and allowed us to be part of the process without feeling overwhelmed. David shared that"...which for us was an understatement; he is not only one of the most genuinely effective communicators I've ever met, but certainly the best I've had the opportunity to lead a project of this magnitude on --- Thank you, David!
In our opinion, what truly set Blue Haven Pools apart was their ability to assemble a team of exceptional subcontractors for each phase of the project. Each contractor they brought in was a master of their craft, and it was evident that they all shared the same commitment to excellence as David and Blue Haven. That level of collaboration resulted in a seamless construction process and a final product that is both visually stunning and structurally sound.
Timeliness is often a concern with projects like this, but Blue Haven (and David) shattered those expectations. They completed the project ahead of schedule, without compromising the quality of work. Their customer service was phenomenal! Every interaction with their team was pleasant and respectful, and they truly listened to our ideas and concerns. They went above and beyond to ensure that we were satisfied every step of the way.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of this experience was the almost non-existent punch list. It's rare to find a project of this magnitude that doesn't require a laundry list of touch-ups and fixes at the end. Blue Haven Pools' attention to detail and commitment to quality meant that the final result was practically flawless. What wasn't flawless...we have been pleased with their responsiveness to address the issues in a timely fashion!
If you're in search of a pool company that embodies professionalism, creativity, communication, and exceptional project management, look no further than Blue Haven Pools. They have set a new standard for excellence in their field, and we are beyond grateful for the beautiful pool they've created for us. We look forward to enjoying and creating memories in it for...
Read moreIt has been almost a year. Our pool building process started in April of 2022. The issues start from the day we broke ground. This being our first pool we did not catch the major mistake that was made. The pool was designed and the renderings showed that our pool would be flush to the ground. During excavation though they set the framing approximately 2ft. above grade. This was done with no communication to us. After going back and forth with our project manager it was brought to our attention that the issue was brought up to the salesman but he did not relay the message. There were issues with grading and it would’ve been $5,000 more dollars for us to get what we wanted. We were never given that option though. What came next was a complete mess.
The salesman told us there was a military discount of 3%. It was even in writing. When it was time for the initial payment my wife asked about the discount and Jeff, the salesman was rude and out of line when speaking to her. I intervened and he quickly changed his tune. It shouldn’t take a man calling just to get treated with respect. I then spoke with the GM, who is no longer with the company. He informed me that the discount was if we paid in cash. No check or cashiers check just cash. So I drove to Columbia, the closest Navy Federal bank to get $80,000 out. We gave him that initial payment and after that no one could provide a receipt or show us where the money was applied to our pool.
Back to the design and build. Jeff told us that we could use our spa as bench seating to our fire pit area and that is what the renderings showed. Due to them building the pool to high our spa is about 3’ above the fire pit area. We hit a halt because Blue Haven said that they would just back fill and grade out the area. We had to hire engineers to come in prove that structural walls were needed. Blue Haven said that we were responsible for paying for the walls. We had to hire an attorney to go over our contract to ensure that they breached since the build did not match the design. After a couple of months they finally agreed to build the walls at no charge to us. The caveat is that we could not use the same travertine materials it had to be concrete. Our pool equipment was also placed too low and was actually sinking due to water building up in that area. Another fight that we had to go back and forth with to get corrected.
At this point the VP stepped in and everything seemed to be going well. Everything was moving along smoothly until final inspections. We have been waiting on a gas inspection because when they raised the pool equipment they had to disconnect the gas line so we failed the first time because they thought there was a leak. So, now that that’s corrected no one has been back out for the gas inspection which is holding up our final inspection. We also cannot upgrade our gas meter until the final inspection is completed.
Another aspect of the process that baffled me was the design phase. We had to fight with the design team for things that we wanted. Something simple like an extra light was a debate. If I’m paying for it what’s the issue? Also, be careful when picking materials in a showroom because the colors are likely to not match when delivered to you.
Overall, I have never been so dissatisfied with doing business with a company that I have been with Blue Haven. I see them advertising now to get a pool built by summer while we’re a year in and...
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