Gulfstream Pools & Spas

Golfstream designed and installed our $50k pool/spa.
They began by sending one of their contractors to our house to do site-prep, digging the hole in the ground where the pool would be built. The contractor dug the hole IN THE WRONG PLACE!! We were not off to a promising start. The subcontractor returned and dug the hole in the correct place, but this resulted in creating a giant hole outside the pool area that collected rain for MONTHS. We were concerned at that point that the ground being saturated underneath the pool could cause settling, but our concerns were dismissed. Gulfstream apparently decided to take a few months off work, as we didn’t see any progress for some time after the initial hole was dug. Finally, months later, they came back to complete the pool. Unfortunately, they risked popping the entire shell out of the ground by not opening the relief valve, and may have contributed to, in addition to the faulty site-prep, the damage we are dealing with today. A few months ago, some of our spa tiles began popping off and cracks started forming. We called Gulfstream, left messages, but received no response. So, I called Gulfstream again. This time, Kevin did return my call, and stated he remembered my name from a message he received a month or so earlier. No comment on why that message went ignored... Kevin comes out to the house, takes one look at the spa, and tells me a BEAM IS SEPARATING!! Seriously? A BEAM? Then he says that it’s not considered structural. Or it is, but it happened because the tile came off and water intrusion caused the beam to separate. Or basically any other reason that would make it someone else’s problem, and not their responsibility. It couldn’t possibly be the structure shifting from faulty site-prep, making the large cracks, and causing the tile to literally pop off. So basically, their structural warrant isn’t worth the paper is printed on. We thoroughly regret our choice to use Gulfstream Pools. Find a different pool company.

These people are probably the most rude and unprofessional people in the pool business I've ever had the displeasure to meet. We were referred by Pebble Tec to drive over an hour away to see their product because Gulfstream is one of the few in Florida to have a Pebble Tec showroom. I spent a short while of looking at the Pebble Tec displays and pools. After brief discussion they found we lived in a county they do not build in they demanded we leave. I will also be reporting to the Pebble Tec company exactly how horrible these people are and how this negatively represents their product.

I want to start out by saying we decided to go with Gulfstream because a friend of ours also had their pool done by Gulfstream and loved it. Plus, I like to support local businesses. While the work itself was stellar in the end, the customer service was beyond horrible. I've never paid so much money for something to get the worst service ever. It started with zero communication (tons of unanswered calls and no answers to any questions), and lasted that way until the very end. I was told I'd receive my plans via email, and they never arrived. When the company finally said someone was coming out to dig, the plans went completely against everything my husband and I had told the salesperson we wanted. So, plans had to be redrawn. Once it was time to dig, the workers were pumping water into the street from the ground. The city of Oldsmar attempted to shut it down because the water, filled with contaminates, was polluting the bay. So, the workers decided to run the water into my neighbor's yard, killing all their grass. And all the dirt that was dug up was placed in my other neighbor's yard because the workers didn't use a silt fence. The workers completely demolished our property and existing deck, all which now needs fixing. They cracked our sideway (it took nearly two months to even get an answer if they would fix it), stained a large portion of the street from the water issue (again, took forever to get an answer if that would be fixed or not), and graded out a large portion of the extra dirt all over our yard, killing all our grass. When the site manager called and said he was also concerned about the amount of dirt that was placed on the yard, my husband and I both tried to get answers on how this would be fixed, as it went above and beyond what was noted in the contract. Again, I got the run around. I asked to speak with the owner several times, and was constantly reverted to the brother's owner, who only tried to calm me down with "well, it's in the contract" and other sales tactics without listening to my concerns. He finally said we would work it out once the job was done. I expressed my concern that if I paid the last draws, I was scared none of this would be corrected, but I was assured it would be fixed.

Once the job was done, the story changed. He went back to the contract rules, and I explained that's not what we discussed before, and the site manager had also said this was above and beyond what the yard should look like. It had to go to such an extreme level, and that's when I finally met the owner (something I'd been requesting since the beginning). He was very nice, and on the spot, agreed to help out with the sod. I honestly felt like maybe he didn't understand the lack of customer service his company is providing. I thought we were back on the same page, and we moved forward with pool school. The pool guy didn't show up for our first appointment. Second appointment, he ran threw everything very quickly (there is no paperwork or manuals or anything for reference provided), and said he would be back to put in chemicals and show us how to use the vacuum on a Friday. He never showed. He came back more than a week later and threw in the vacuum but no instructions on chemicals or using the manual vacuum. It got to the point that the pool turned completely green and was filled with slime so we couldn't use it. We called to speak with the owner and again was told that he was busy and didn't have an email address so we couldn't speak to him. At this point, we just had had it with the service that we cancelled all communication with Gulfstream and went to Pinch a Penny to get the pool in shape. When PAP came out, they found cords and plugs not even hooked up right, were shocked at the state our pool and got it up and running while teaching us pool basics within 24 hours. The work itself was stellar but I wouldn't recommend using this company if you expect any service.

Check your contract carefully, and make sure everything you want is detailed out. Company is not great with communication, nor follow up. Despite request to come fix my enclosure that was built and is leaking water where the lanai roof was attached twice, it still has not been done. Water leaks right in front of our patio doors. Plus, I was told I would receive a letter for the water company so I wouldn't have to pay sewer charges for the water that filled the pool. Pol has been done for over a month, as I gave requested twice. Still waiting. Non-responsive once they get paid. Suggest negotiating withholding a certain percentage until all work is complete and all promises fulfilled.

Lousy company. Had their sales manager Bruce come to the house. He told me several times he was working on a quote but he never sent it. Left a message for Tim the owner to call me. He never called. This company is not service oriented. Glad I did not go with them!

A friend recommended Gulfstream Pools & Spas to me. Looking at his pool compared to a couple of my neighbor's pool with cost in mind, I went with Gulfstream Pools. Now that my pool is completed, I am even more happy that I decided to go with them. Everything they did was first class. I think this might come from strong family values. Just something I sensed.