Swan Pools West

I hired Dave Lewis of Swan Pools West to completely redo our 40 year old backyard and pool. This included removing and replacing lower and upper concrete patios, used brick perimeter walls and pool coping, new tile, new mini pebble plaster, new patio cover, new pool equipment and new water, electrical and gas lines. I chose Dave after conducting due diligence, obtaining bids and interviewing 4 pool contractors, and visiting recently completed projects. Having represented hundreds of contractors, subcontractors and architects as a construction lawyer for 40 years, I consider myself quite knowledgeable about construction, and was present every day of construction, which lasted 3 months. Dave or his son Todd visited the project several days a week during critical phases such as demolition, rebar placement, gunite spraying, construction pours, and the application of the mini-pebble stucco finishing. Dave, Todd, and their employees Jaime, Javier, Lupe and Robert, as well as his independent plumber, electrician, and subcontractors (rebar, gunite, concrete and mini-pebble stucco) were professional, on time, and responded immediately to any questions and additions I had during the entire course of the job. His employees arrived every morning by 6;30 am, and would wait in their trucks until 7 am before entering our backyard. (When the two day demolition work with Bobcats had accidentally tripped the earthquake safety valve on my home's gas meter, shutting off our water heater one Friday, Dave drove to our home on Saturday morning to reset it and relight our water heater, as we had a dinner party for 18 guests that night!) My wife and I had all of our dreams and expectations meet by the finished project. We couldn't be any happier with the result, which is breathtaking. (Photos attached.) I would be happy to speak with anyone considering hiring Dave and Swan Pools West, and permit them to view the result (as others had done for me.)

We are in the midst of our new pool build and backyard remodel and I could not wait until we are finished to share a review! We could not be happier! This entire process has moved along seamlessly, thanks to Dave and Todd Lewis and the entire Swan Pools West team. Can't wait to update my review with photos of the finished project!

Highly recommend Dave and his team! Before and after pictures are attached.

Very professional received estimate that was reasonable but decided to go with a more local company.

Dave and his team have done a wonderful job. We are near completion on our project, and everything has gone very well. Dave explained to us the process and the time table at the beginning, and he has kept to his word. He has been incredibly responsive, and he's worked well with the minor changes we've added along the way. His team was very careful with our property. We have a very narrow point of entry on the side of our house for the machines to get to the backyard. The crew was extremely careful with our existing gate and brick stairs. They also cleaned up very well. The team has been on time everyday--getting to our house and ready to work at 7 am. Dave worked diligently with the city to get our permits as quickly as possible. He has been doing this for such a long time that he knows the process very well. He makes it as painless as it could possibly be. We can't say enough good things about Dave and Swan Pools West. As many of the other reviewers have said, Dave works with you to get the pool you want within your budget. I can see why Swan Pools has so many excellent reviews. We have had a lot of work done on our house since we moved in, and Dave is the best contractor we have ever worked with. I highly recommend Swan Pools West! I will add pictures to my review as soon as it is finished.

The day they showed up we were informed it would be necessary to reverse the deep end and shallow end of the pool. We were promised a 6 to 8 week job which tool over ten weeks to complete. The crews did their best to destroy our plants and sprinkler system. The owner was rude and insulting. They were the contractor from ****.

His name should be taken out of list he does not do home inspection. Calling him was a waste of my time and waste of his time.

I thought his price was fair, but decided to buy a house with a pool.

We've had our pool repaired twice before to fix the cracks but each time they re-appeared and the pool always leaked. I could see from the beginning that the work Dave was doing was much more complete and thorough than the previous times. He was on time with the estimate and started when he said he would. He also fixed problems with pipes and replaced the drain, skimmer and pool pump. He was also helpful with picking out tile and met me at the builders supply to pick out the stone for coping. Now we have a beautiful pool that I think will last.

Our pool is very large (16' x 32' x 8' deep) for our yard size. We had originally planned to reduce the size and depth of it, but after meeting with a few contractors, we decided that it wouldn't be cost effective. The first two contractors we met with acted like they were doing us a favor to come look at the project and wanted $2,000 - $3,000 up front just to do a drawing of what the remodel would look like. Once we met Todd at Swan Pools West, we knew we had found a partner we could work together with. He listened to our ideas and had great suggestions on how to accomplish them while staying within our budget. He drew a plan at our first meeting and didn't ask for anything until we signed the contract. This was a very large undertaking, so we wanted to be sure we were hiring a company that could handle the job. We did our research and went to visit a site that they had recently finished. The workmanship convinced us that we were making the right decision. Once the project started, there were workers here nearly every day. No long stretches of time without progress. Aurelio, the stone mason and general supervisor, was fantastic! He was here making sure everything went smoothly and worked with us on an additional idea we had (adding stone to an existing step to match the pool coping), which turned out beautifully. We also added a custom bar bench that required creativity from everyone involved. It looks great! Todd was there every step of the way, helping us make decisions about color and texture. He went with us to two different stone yards then hand picked pieces when we needed more stone so they would match. He was always available by phone to answer questions and came by frequently to check on the progress. The entire project took just under three months. It appeared to us that the City Inspectors were familiar with the quality of work performed by Swan Pools and we passed each inspection the first time. The finished product is amazing! We now feel like we have a resort in our back yard. The quality and execution exceeded our expectations and we would highly recommend this company.

Dave was an absolute pleasure to work with! We received multiple bids on the project and dave's pricing was fair and competitive and the completed work was beautiful and professional. Our pool was a bit tricky but dave greeted and solved every problem with patience and offered multiple solutions that could meet any budget needs you have. We had an asymmetrical kidney shaped pool with a retaining wall.  The to keep within budget we decided not to change the shape of the pool but wanted to add an attached spa.  Dave suggested we build up the spa where the existing stairs were. Genius! also the masonry we wanted around the side of the spa did not exist. Dave and his team hand-cut each piece of flagstone to encompass a tear-drop shaped spa! The addition of the iAqualink makes turning on the pool/spa from anywhere makes enjoying the pool/spa so easy and we have been in everyday since our pool has been filled.

Dave is honest and hard-working. My advice is to be honest with him with your needs (remodel, addition, how you will use your pool/spa, safety, looks), timeline (we wanted it done for summer), what you are willing to sacrifice on (size-we lost pool area due to the addition of the spa) and what you will not (did not want it to look cheap-the bellacrete and mosaic tile waterline was extra; also ease of use via iaqualink was important to us). 

If there was a day the guys could not work (maybe 2-3 days over the duration of project) dave called the day before or the morning of to let us know the conflict.  He updated us on sunday before the start of each week to let us know what would be going on...demo on monday, plumbing/electrical on tuesday, gunnite on wed, etc. If his guys needed full access to the driveway which would impede on us going in and out he would tell me the night before. Always reachable by phone/text and if he didn't answer would call back within 1-2 hours.

If there was a problem he would come by HIMSELF to check on it. He is very solution oriented and a high communicator.  No surprises with him without talking about it.  

The project was estimated at 2 months and we finished in less than three.  

The best part was the bags full of white peaches he brought from his trees in oxnard! 

Thanks dave!!

Absolutely Perfect!!  Dave and Todd and the entire crew began with grading our back yard to the correct level, and then from Plumbing to electrical, boulder setting, concrete, tile, plaster, equipment setup, cleanup, etc.... it could not have gone smoother.

We had some rain during the process but were still able to have our pool party by the time we needed it.  My wife and I  have waited 11 years to have this done, so we are ecstatic.  Dave got the crews out here by 7:30 every morning starting on Feb. 27 and everything was finished by May 18th.  All permits were pulled to begin with, then the process was done in 8 or 9 increments with specific payments collected at the time to start the next process.  

The finished product was excellent and we could not have asked for better workmanship!  Thanks Dave and Todd Lewis and your excellent crews for your expertise and professionalism!  

Swan Pools West is the best!
Rick and Irene

I've been renovating houses for a long time, but the idea of building a pool from scratch has always been something I've hesitated  from in the past. Living in one of the highly regulated hillside communities of LA's westside, I sought out many bids and contractors to price out my pool. Most of the companies measure and then call you back in a week with a price, if your lucky. David, of Swan Pools, arrived and within an hour designed the pool by hand according to my specifications and gave me a price that was within 10% of the original budget upon completion. City permits were meticulously procured and each inspection was usually handled by David personally - a rarity in this business. There was some cost overage due to the fact that pool had to be dugout by hand once bedrock was hit, as well as a few brick details that I requested mid-project. But David discussed each overage in advance and any options to avoid them. My design was not something he had not executed before, but the finished product is truly exceptional and so good that I hired him to do my driveway and gate that is currently underway. I'll be sure to update my review as to how that project goes, but if you're looking for a worthy pool contractor that's on budget and on time - I can't recommend David and Swan Pools West enough.

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Pool contractors have a bad reputation in general. We've heard constant nightmare stories of delayed projects, undisclosed charges, hidden fees, dishonest subcontractors, shoddy workmanship, etc. Consequently my wife and I spent a couple years deciding exactly what we wanted in our backyard remodel while carefully vetting out the various bids we were getting from a very select group of contractors.
I cannot emphasize enough how happy we are in choosing Swan Pools West to do our project for us. Todd Lewis was a sincere pleasure to work with. He talks a lot, and so do I, so we certainly got all out bases covered when it came to what work needed to be done. When there were last minute changes that needed to be done, he made it happen. He was always on site at every major stage of the pool remodel to supervise the project. His employees and subcontractors were terrific, primarily his plumbing and concrete crews. Attention to detail and a constant flow of dialogue is so crucial for a project this big, and we are quite impressed over how smooth everything went.
The project was required ripping up and removing the old concrete deck and turf, new filter equipment, new saline filtration system, new plumbing, new electrical, pool heater, building in a hot spa into existing footprint (solid gunite), building a baja shelf into existing footprint (solid gunite), using mini pebble instead of plaster, concrete sanded coping, stamped concrete decking, drainage in deck, back planters, and side yard to lead to street, reversing yard gates to comply with city code, and building a fence around the equipment. The drains along the planters and side yard weren't even discussed. They just factored it in to the project by going the extra mile to make the project a success. Adding a quick fill valve line was also a nice feature that I didn't even think of that was factored in. The company is a true marriage of construction and design. Together, we collaborated on aesthetics like color schemes, stamped patterns, pebble tec and pool tile options, and lining the bottom step to be flush with the spa wall, among others.
Every stage of the project was completed in a timely fashion. We started construction in June and was in the pool by Labor Day weekend. It would have been sooner if it weren't for delays with another contractor on a door to window conversion we were also having done on a backyard facing wall.
Aside from solid communication, Todd was incredibly forthright and honest. He saved us money when we downsized our pool fence to better match our backyard aesthetic. He also helped us make the best choice for us regarding using a PDA for the pool equipment versus a smart phone controlled system. The same consideration was applied during our discussion regarding LED color lights versus normal pool lights (we opted for the latter less pricey option). He played an intricate part in choosing the 6" tile that goes around the pool, understanding the design look my wife and I were going for and steering us away from a more expensive yet less appealing look for us in the end that involved decorative tile.
Lastly, when problems arose like sharp concrete edges, chipped pieces of coping, lack of sanding on the equipment fence, some faulty putty work from the electrician when installing the proper fault line to out electrical panel, a broken sprinkler pipe, etc., Todd promptly addressed and rectified  all matters with professionalism that you wish all contractors would do.
As much as you want a contractor to guide you through a project, it is important for home owners to do their own due diligence and have that open honest dialogue with their contractor about options and worst case scenarios about matters like material choices. Pete is a master with concrete and placed expansion joints in all the right places. We do have some minor cracking in the concrete, but nothing that is egregious or unexpected. We also have expansive soil in our backyard and roots still present from very persistent carrotwood trees, so we knew that hairline cracking was a strong possibility.
With all things considered, this is a family business that understands that their name is attached to their business and that reputation is a valuable commodity that needs to be protected and upheld through solid workmanship. If you need a pool contractor, use these guys and ask for Todd.

We developed a basic plan for our pool and spa.  As the construction started we add patios, the fireplace and patio and of course a big concrete and stone slide.  Never once did Dave Lewis or his son Todd say it was a problem, but generally offered a better way or least costly way to reach our objective.
As friends and family come over all we hear are comments about the beautiful pool and spa.  Of course the slide is a big hit with kids and adults. The fireplace patio is the crowning achievement in our backyard oasis.

I just got off the phone with Dave. His tone was great at first until I told him I have 2 other quotes for a brand new pool build and would like to get 3rd. I told him we are close to making a decision and wanted to weigh our options. He said I dont want to be a 3rd person and hung up on me without saying good bye. Bologna on his response....once a Chiester always a Chiester.....STAY AWAY

The owner, Dave, came out to give me a quote and immediately got out his ruler and started measuring out my whole yard. I was a little nervous because I just wanted a pool?no landscaping, etc. (the pool was a gift?a pool and only a pool). But I didn't need to worry?Dave pulled out his yellow legal pad and drew a scale mock up of my yard while I looked through his portfolio of pools to see if I saw something I liked. I showed him a freeform pool I liked and he pulled a template for that pool out of a zip lock bag and traced it onto the drawing of my yard. Old school?yes. But I love it. He did not try to upsell me or talk me into something I didn't want and couldn't afford. He understood my situation and worked with me. If you are looking for a slick salesman to come in and schmooze you, Dave is not your guy. If you want someone straightforward and to-the-point, call Swan Pools! Dave worked up an itemized quote for me right there on a worksheet and handed it to me before he left. 
The Swan Pools bid was the lowest by a little bit, and we really felt good about Dave and his reviews here so we went with him. Contracts were signed within a week and ground was broken within a week after that. Construction lasted 10?11 weeks.
Construction went well. There were a couple hiccups here and there, as can be expected from any big project. Dave or his son Todd were around often to check up on things and let us know what was going on. We definitely had ideas about what the finished pool should look like, and Dave and Todd really worked with us to make sure that happened within our budget. The crews that came and worked were professional and hardworking. I saw a lot of measuring and level checking. 
When it was getting to the end, we had a birthday party planned, and it seemed like the final safety inspection might do us in. Todd made sure the party could go on as planned. He had his crew over at 7 am to complete the changes required by the inspector and scheduled the inspection for the same day so we could get water in the pool. There was water in the pool Thursday morning and a party on Saturday.
The finished pool is truly more than I could have asked or imagined. It brought me to tears it was so beautiful. The flagstone, stacked stone, tile and pebble finishes work so beautifully together. It looks natural and timeless. I never would have believed I would ever have something so beautiful. Swan Pools West built me the pool of my dreams. 

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I knew I was with a great pool builder, that's why I hired Swan Pools West in the first place. The construction was very well orchestrated by Dave, who is decidedly experienced; everyday a crew was hard at work for each stage of development. The various crews were always friendly, extremely hard working, pleasant, respectful, and obviously knowledgeable, plus no complaints at all from my neighbors! The waterfall wall crew were highly artistic! Everything moved like clockwork.
Strong leadership was always at hand whether it was Dave, Pete or Todd, and questions were always answered. We always knew what was going to be done the following day making it a smooth ride. Any problems were immediately taken care of the next day.
I wish to thank Dave, Todd, Pete and all crew members for helping me accomplish my dream pool; it's absolutely how I envisioned! It's hard to get inside someone's head and be able to read their imagination.  These guys had the patience and the skills!  Special gratitude to Pete for his adeptness and incredible talent with cement and stone! Thank you all so much!
Must say that the solar heat, pebble bottom and maximum five foot depth sure makes the pool's desired temperature easy to reach. LOVE IT!

Work went very smoothly.  Dave was great to work with, and kept the project on budget and on time (with the only exception being the time needed to find tile that matched the discontinued tile pattern that already existed inside the pool for the added spa walls - which they did and nobody notices the slight difference).  We are thrilled with our updated and refinished pool.  We turned on the heat on the first day, and have not needed to use it for the pool once in the past three weeks, due to the pebble finish, reduced depth and pool cover.  I would highly recommend Swan Pools West.

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Swan Pools West did an excellent job on our pool renovation.  Todd Lewis and his crew made the entire experience enjoyable by (1) Providing a fair and competitive bid (2) doing excellent craftsmanship(3) managing the expectations for our completion timeline and exceeded it by early completion (4) all workers respectful and enjoyable on the job site and (5) keeping the work setting clean at end of each day.
Followup was outstanding and communication was a key to a successful project.  Swan Pools will be used again in our next project.

Our pool was built in 1987 and is quite unique with simulated rock features surrounding the spa and half of the pool. The original builder had gone out of business years ago and I knew it wasn't going to be easy finding a contractor with the experience and expertise to make the needed repairs and upgrades to our pool and spa. 
 I found Swan Pools West on Angie's list, read some of the customer reviews, and visited Swan's web site to look at completed projects. A couple of days later I met with Dave Lewis to discuss the list of changes I was considering. Dave took measurements of the pool area and patio as we went over the needed changes. He prepared a proposal, listing each item and cost estimate except for the plumbing pressure test and pool leak test. I discussed some of the history of our pool, the original pool builder, and how the rock features, waterfalls and pool /patio decking were made. Dave said his son Todd has several years experience working with these types of pool features and would be handling the work on repairing, resurfacing, and recoloring of the rock features, pool and patio decks and walkways.
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Our pool was drained and work started on Sept 25th with the removal of the old plaster. That day, and from then on, Dave or Todd and sometimes both, were on site to see that things were being done and done correctly. I'm the "curious"  type, and whenever my work permitted, I was at home watching the work with interest, and asking questions. To me, knowing how and why something was being done is just as important as "what" is being done. Dave, Todd and their work crews were always courteous and responsive to my questions.  Following the plaster removal, the pool plumbing was pressurized to test for leaks. No leaks were found but several places in the pool and spa indicated past seepage thru the old plaster, and were sealed. At the same time, Todd and his workers went to work on the repair and resurfacing of the rock features, walkways, and patio decking. Part way thru the process of repairing the rock surfaces, work stopped and all of the rock features were covered in plastic to protect them from wind and rain predicted for the next two days.
  
When Todd reached the point of applying color to the rock features and pool and patio areas, he prepared samples of three shades of "sandstone" and coated three of the rocks. He gave me an opportunity to look at the sample colors over the coming weekend to see how they looked at different times of the day, especially in sunlight and in shade, before I made a decision. This is just an example of the effort and consideration Todd put into his work to ensure that we were getting what we wanted. Another example was Todd's work on replacing the 3 foot by 8 inch deep hole in our patio which the original pool builder referred to as a "fire pit". Todd used sections of a "simulated rock" shell to form an above ground fire pit with rock like features matching the existing rocks. After adding turquoise colored glass, the new fire pit  is a great addition to the patio. It is clear that Todd loves what he does and it shows in his work!! Todd also worked with me to add material to balance the flow of water over some of the rock feature waterfalls. 
Additional repairs included replacement of the pool and spa lamps and removal of concrete around the pool skimmer. The original pool builder used uncoated rebar in the skimmer which rusted, causing large cracks in the overhang and dropping  pieces of concrete into the pool. The repair included the replacement of the concrete around the skimmer and a new skimmer cover which now looks better than the original ever did. Also, the original builder failed to provide flexible material filler between the pool and pool decking which over time caused cracking. Dave recommended that  it be repaired by creating a channel between the two concrete sections and installing flexible filler material. The cost was not in Dave's proposal, but I considered the repair necessary and agreed to it.
 
On November 12th, the pool and spa were replastered in a beautiful blue color with mini pebble texture and tiny blue glass beads that sparkle in the sun. A perfect complement to the sandstone rocky background. During "start up", one of the old Chardonnay (Ortega) diverter valves failed and it was decided to replace both valves for proper operation of the pool and spa. A lot has been  accomplished in restoring the appearance and functionality of our pool and spa, but I know there is more to do. Working with professional, understanding, knowledgeable people like Dave and Todd and their associates was a pleasure.  I now have a pool company that I can go to for help in the future.