Balcones Landscaping

We commissioned Barefoot Pools, a division of Balcones Landscaping (operated and owned by the same owners) to build a pool for us last summer primarily due to their reputation as solid landscapers. In the end we decided not to use them for our landscaping and, as I write this, truly wish we did NOT use them to build our pool either.





Inexperienced with the pool business, incompetent contractors, and bad customer service (although only recently) has plagued us from the inception of this project through today- where we are left with an unacceptable pool plaster that Barefoot Pools / Balcones Landscaping now says they will not warranty (a clear breech of contract) and will only offer a one-time attempt to fix (with all liabilities to be incurred by us and no accountability for the quality post-attempt).



We pointed out the horrible plaster the day they completed it but obliged them to give it some time, as they claimed the pool needs to go through a curing process and all the cracks would somehow go away – nope, still there. And all the white blotches, streaks, divots, and uneven topography would also fix themselves. That didn’t happen either.





We are now in March, when Barefoot Pools / Balcones Landscaping promised us in writing that we would revisit to try and fix it…promising us that they would ‘make it right’. To them this meant some sealant to deal with the cracks and an acid wash to deal with the blotchiness. We commissioned a third party pool expert to investigate the issue and his professional opinion was that these recommendations were not only wrong but there was no solution besides replastering the pool and that the job was simply ‘unacceptable’.





Barefoot Pools / Balcones Landscaping also chooses sub-par contractors, evidenced not only by the sub-par plaster but also the deck that was built so poorly that they needed to issue us a credit and a pool wall that they claimed was ‘a high quality pool wall’. Test...our pool serviceman was over while they were here and put his elbow on the wall. It crumbled apart in front of their eyes.





These guys were great to deal with in the beginning (eh um…trying to make a sale) but have shown their true colors when it has come time to turn words into action. Earlier this year we followed-up on some other items that they needed to fix for the umpteenth time and replace damage done to our property by their incompetent, unprofessional landscaping crew and did not get a response for nearly two months. Once we finally did hear back, they said they’ve been busy looking for new business so it should be understandable that our problems weren’t high on their list.





We paid a premium for a beautiful swimming pool from a company we wrongly assumed was a higher end builder in hopes that this would translate into a better pool. This seems to have backfired. All we want and expect is a pool that meets industry standards as set forth by the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals which is the minimum we are entitled to and what Barefoot Pools / Balcones Landscaping were paid to do.



Over the past few months we have tried contacting all three partners via phone and email, and have recently sent a Certified letter to document our issues in which they deliberately did not pick up. We will keep the public abreast of our dealings with them in hopes that they will treat their customers right, honor their contractual commitments, and stand behind the quality of their work.