Richard's Total Backyard Solutions — Local services in Houston

I’ve just finished a nightmare pool renovation and outdoor kitchen installation with Richard’s Total Backyard Solutions. I can’t image a sales and construction process going any worse that what we have experienced. The process was entirely un-managed and unsupervised by Richards, not to mention questionable business ethics that start at the top. The primary driver in choosing Richard’s was the short build time that was represented. We made it clear to the sales person that we wanted a "swimmable" pool for the summer. At the time of the initial consultation and contract signing, we were told 6-8 weeks after we told him a competitor’s time estimate of 12 weeks. With his “20+ years” of experience, we foolishly believed him. The contract states that “work starts about 2 weeks after signing of the contract and the remaining construction time would be approximately 6 weeks.” The first shovel went in the ground at week 7. It was readily apparent by this point that Richard’s had “hooked us” and they had zero ability to meet the terms upon which the agreement was executed. Water was finally in the pool by week 25. We missed the entire season. I find it curious how other customer reviews on Yelp, Facebook, and Google also cite that Richards represented an 8 week build time, only to be posting reviews about being on week 15 of a never-ending project. Seems to be a pattern. There are not specific extenuating circumstances that caused the delay on my project. It was their total ineffectiveness to manage trades to meet the represented timeline that we were sold.

25 weeks (6 mos, 1 week)= 173 days, 25 Sundays, 85 days of zero activity, 63 days of some activity. That’s right. 58% of the time with no work being performed. (Weather accounts for only ~6 of those days.) Here are excerpts from the last email that the owner sent me: “I certainly understand your frustration with the time frame and issues encountered during your project. ……I know this has been a trying process for you and your family …..” This is consistent with the entire experience: no action, no accountability, no apology. Stay away folks. Stay far away. They might be stellar at dropping a spa off but, on large costly projects they have zero concern for meeting their commitments.

** I anticipate a curt and defensive reply disparaging my motivations for posting this review. I’ll withhold further comments at the moment.

REPLY TO OWNER: I wish he was as committed to delivering the project according to how it was sold, as he is in distorting the facts. The details of the project as you describe were all present at the time of the agreement and representation of the build time. It was simply and completely misrepresented to us at the time of sale.

FACT- The contract was signed on April 5, 2018. FACT – The contract states “Project will take approximately 6 weeks to complete. Start date usually within two weeks of agreement” FACT- First contractor showed on Week 7 from the signing of the agreement (May 18). FACT - Last activity associated with pool start-up was the last day of Week #25 (Sept 25th) from the signing of the agreement. (6 mponths, 1 week) So, no the project was definitely not completed in 4 mos (as the owner mis-represented) from the committed duration written on the agreement and verbally stated to us. Also – The deck tile ”dispute” as you call it, was definitely not a month. Another example of you distorting facts and blatantly misrepresenting the truth. Fact- I notified you via email on July 22nd that the tile that was installed while we were on vacation was incorrect and not what was sold to us. The correction was actually 11 working days. Tile removal on July 31, tile re-install complete August 6th.

And still no apology to my family for missing an entire summer of swimming in our pool as a result of misrepresenting their capabilities and performance at the time of sale. It is also obvious that the owner makes no correlation with quality and experience. Because the quality of our experience...

Exceptional Pool, Patio, and Outdoor Kitchen Installation – Beyond Our Expectations!

We are absolutely thrilled with the transformation of our backyard, thanks to Richard’s Total Backyard Solutions! From our very first consultation to the final walkthrough, every step of the process was handled with professionalism, expertise, and a true passion for quality craftsmanship. I must admit that there was a hiccup with the final contract, but Johnathan Gill was quick to provide a resolution that was satisfactory to both parties.

Johnathon took the time to listen to our vision and provided thoughtful recommendations to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of our outdoor space. The 3D renderings helped us visualize the final product, and they made adjustments based on our feedback to ensure everything was just right.

The construction process was equally impressive. The team showed up on time, worked diligently, despite having some obstacles with weather including a hurricane! They paid close attention to every detail, ensuring that our pool, patio, and outdoor kitchen were built to the highest standards. The materials used are top-notch, and you can immediately see the quality in the final result.

We started the project with Michael Stanton as our project manager and he was absolutely fantastic! He not only took the time to hear every question and concern, he also provided valuable insight and suggestions to ensure we were completely satisfied. Unfortunately, Michael had to step aside from the project due to a medical condition. My wife and I was a bit skeptical about changing project managers in the middle of the project as we had a great rapport with Michael. We were then introduced to Bray Vincent. Bray was equally impressive as he visited the project and immediately had their crew continue the work without any delay. Bray was always available and always making sure we were completely satisfied all through completion. He continuously asked us to let him know if we ever had any questions or concerns so he could have them rectified immediately.

Our pool is an absolute dream—perfectly designed, with stunning tile work and a beautiful finish that complements our home. The patio is spacious and well-laid-out, providing plenty of room for lounging and entertaining. The finished patio is truly impeccable. The layout of our outdoor kitchen is incredibly functional, the appliances are high-end, and the craftsmanship is also impeccable. We had the privilege to have the patio and outdoor kitchen built by the same crew. Marvin is a great craftsman that also provided great insight and always had time to listen to our questions and provide feedback. It has truly become the heart of our outdoor living space, and we’ve already hosted several gatherings with family and friends who are just as impressed as we are! It is hard to say what the real showstopper is; pool, patio or kitchen. I personally feel the entire project is the true showstopper.

Communication throughout the project was outstanding. They kept us informed at every stage, answered all our questions, and ensured that we were completely satisfied with the work being done. They also stayed on schedule and within budget, which was a huge plus. We did, however, have a few upgrades along the way. My recommendation is to add the upgrades as they truly enhance your outdoor experience and add to the aesthetics of your backyard.

I also want to acknowledge and recommend Seth Wargo who maintains the pool weekly. I highly recommend this option with RTBS as Seth is very knowledgeable and very friendly.

If you're considering a pool, patio, or outdoor kitchen installation, look no further. This team is the best in the business, and we cannot recommend them highly enough. Our backyard has been completely transformed into a luxurious retreat, and we are beyond grateful for their hard work and...

When we seriously started looking to build a swimming pool for our new home, I knew I wanted to get a quote from RTBS. I was first introduced to RTBS at a Home & Garden show over 10 years ago and loved the customer service they offered without doing business with them at the time.

Today, I rate RTBS with a 4 Star but would give them a "+" if I could.

Fast forward - In January 2021, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting our designer Kristie who went above & beyond the call of duty and won us over. She was the only designer who spent time with us virtually to understand our desires, wants, and needs and then took the time to visit our home and spend time in our backyard to see firsthand how we would use the space with a pool. I was blown away by Kristie's eye for detail as no other company did this for us. In the end, RTBS was not the cheapest bid, but we knew we were buying a Brand. RTBS has been around for over 30+ years and I can see why.

Kristie was very transparent with us from the beginning and explained how Covid had impacted vendors, laborers, parts, supplies, etc, and she set the expectation that the pool industry was in high demand and we would need to approach the build-out with an open mind and patience.

We finally started our construction on April 19th, 2021 just 2 1/2 months after signing our contract. We were excited.

Upon meeting our Project Manager (PM), Jose, he reassured us that he had the experience to oversee our build and let us know we were in good hands. Along the journey, we ran into many roadblocks with crews not being available to do the work. As frustrating as it was at the time, Jose always followed up to ensure the job at hand was completed to our satisfaction. At times, Jose was not always proactive in offering next steps, but when asked, he was always prepared with an answer. As I learned through this project, PM's are managing a lot of moving parts and some things are going to fall through the cracks. This is no different from any other job people do. We all are human and sometimes there is too much happening at one time and as a PM, Jose did not always have direct control over a situation. However, when I would speak to Jose, he would be open and honest and at times took accountability when he needed to. I truly respected this about Jose!

As I look back over the last 6 months, I am very pleased with the outcome and the quality of work that went into our pool build. I know part of this is because Jose has established relationships with his contractors and has set the right expectations and work ethics with his teams. We had no issues with any of the contractors not doing their work. They all seemed to be very dedicated to their crafts and showed great work ethic and respect for us and our home while on our property.

Today is October 6th and I am pleased to say that our pool build is 100% complete and even Jose followed up with a phone call to see how things were going.

Thank you Kristie & Jose for making our backyard dream come true!

April 3, 2024 -IMPRESSIVE WARRANTY SERVICE! Our LED Color light went out in our built in Hot tub. I submitted a warranty request through RTBS website and a few hours later I received communication that a tech could be onsite the next day. Kristie was on top of it and the next morning, Kristie called to let me know what time to expect our technician. Shortly after, Technician Jesse called me to confirm the time of his arrival. Jesse arrived as expected and replaced our light with no issues. The communication and fast service were both well beyond my expectation. Thank you...