While the quality and workmanship is of high standards, I would NOT RECOMMEND Adam’s Pool Specialties based upon my experiences.
Pro’s
High Quality Work
High Quality Materials
Sufficient workforce for job
Show Room
Con’s
Lack of understanding and ability to successfully pass multiple permit inspections
Unable/Unwilling to identify and sync with homeowner about job details as they arise
Unable/Unwilling to provide a reasonable mitigation plan for unforeseen job details as the arise
Lack of understanding potential legal liabilities projected on homeowner due to business practices
Background
Our house is around 40 years old and we have spent the last 8 years updating and modernizing inside and out. We have replaced floors, the roof, kitchen, bathrooms, electrical boxes, etc. We are no strangers to construction.
By far, our backyard remodel (including our pool work by Adam’s) was the most expensive yet; approximately $80,000 total for a relatively small backyard.
Scope of Work
Pebble-Fena plaster, Cabo Shelf, 24’ wall with ledge stone & sheer descent, stone copping, re-plumbing: Approx. $34,000
Pro’s
Adam’s Pool Specialties delivers quality materials and workmanship. As a finished product, my pool is absolutely beautiful! I have had several other contractors (electrician, landscaper, awning) who have all commented on how great the pool looks.
The schedulers at Adam’s will provide notice for when workers are expected to be in your yard. The schedulers are well versed in the trade and can answer most question relating to your work. When the workers arrive, they arrive in force; 3-4 truck loads with anywhere between 5-10 workers. They work hard, and they work fast. They clean up after themselves and are respectful.
Adam’s has an excellent show room with all their products on display. Our salesman met with us and took time to select color combinations and have an in-depth conversation about our project.
Con’s
1)Part of the pool remodel project was to add a “Cabo Shelf” which is basically a very large (70sq/ft) second step. The Cabo Shelf has an umbrella sleeve and is big enough that two chairs can be placed on the step in the water. This add-on is $4,500.
After the gunite was sprayed for the step it immediately became apparent to me that the first entry step was in the wrong location. The entry step was in the middle of the shelf, basically cutting the useful area in half. The shelf is a finite size and people need a clear path to enter and exit the pool. There would be no way to have a second chair on the shelf with their configuration. Secondly, the position of the entry step meant that anyone entering or exiting the pool would hit their face on the umbrella which is in the middle of the shelf.
I immediately emailed Adam’s about this and the salesman called me back. Without giving me a reason why the current configuration is workable, he said that if I wanted it changed it would be $400. Stuck between a rock a hard place and wanting to keep on schedule I agreed to the $400 change order.
2)We decided to upgrade our pool light to a LED color changing light – $1,150. An electrician (not an Adam’s employee) who happened to be at our house noticed that the pool light conduit was broken and needed to be replaced. This was not captured by Adam’s even though they would need to install the pool light into this broken conduit. Once again Adam’s did not take ownership or responsibility.
I understand there is a certain amount of discovery when it comes to construction, but why didn’t Adam’s capture this? They had people in our yard for weeks by that point. My electrician saw that this was broken from 20 feet away. As pool construction experts, I would expect Adam’s has encountered similar problems in the past. Their crew should be trained to spot, report, and make recommendations as these issues arise.
It quickly became apparent to me that the Adam’s workers work in a vacuum and are leaderless. Not once did a site lead introduce himself or make any sort of contact with me. It seems that the workers are given work orders and are told to not question them. Anyone who has had any sort of construction knows that issues and questions will arise as construction is in progress. It is incorrect to train your employees to remain silent and passive.
3)The last stage of your pool remodel is the interior plastering, which generates a large volume of waste. The waste is a frothy blue mix of liquid and plaster; to a layman it looks toxic. Adam’s erected a 6’x6’ plastic lined box in my front yard to hold this mess and kept it there for all my neighbors to see. They only moved it days later after I complained.
My complaint wasn’t that it was unsightly (which it was) but the potential liability their actions could cause me. A child can drown in a bucket, and buckets from Home Depot and Lowes have warning labels stating this. I’m not sure why Adam’s thinks this logic doesn’t apply to them and their 6’x6’ box of frothy liquid plaster waste.
4)Permit inspections will occur throughout your pool remodeling process. Adam’s failed 3 out of 6 permit inspections. They even somehow failed the Final Inspection. After about 1 month and 3-4 phone calls harassing them to fix the issue, they finally sent someone over to make the proper corrections.
Overall, I am very happy with the way our pool turned out. It looks great and functions as intended. However, Adam’s Pool Specialties is in need of an honest self-assessment. I would recommend anyone who is considering doing business with Adam’s to be vigilant and proactive. Do not assume Adam’s will catch their own mistakes and/or take responsibility. Be your own advocate!
