Backyard Resorts

We signed a contract for a pool on 9/29/14 with Joe White the owner of Backyard Resorts and Spas. This was a new construction house so Joe had full access to the property for completion of the pool. After numerous delays (and every excuse in the book) and workmanship issues with concrete, coping, etc., the pool was finally plastered on 3/31/14 (6 month after contract was signed). When the plaster was completed, the subcontractor did not properly protect the coping from the plaster or acid wash which severely damaged the coping. Joe filled the pool with water the next day and then started demanding final payment. The system did not work, the lights did not work, the auto-fill was not properly installed (so the pool leaked), and the coping was severely damaged. Chemicals were not added to the pool because the pumps were not working, nor were appropriate start-up procedures performed. Our pool turned green. We told him we would not pay him the last installment until the pool was completed. On 4/15/15 (7 days prior to when we were supposed to close on our house), Joe threatened to put a lien on our house and prevent us from closing if we did not make the final payment. However, there was no progress on fixing
the lights, repairing the coping, or fixing the auto-fill over that time. He kept telling us he was going to repair, but the repairs never occurred. On 5/6/15, we met with him and agree to pay 75% of the final installment in a good faith effort to get him to complete the pool and not put a lien on the house so we could close. He agreed and we were able to close on the house.
 Another month and a half went by with little to no progress on repairs or completion of pool.  I filed a complaint with BBB on 6/15/15 (almost 9 months after we signed a contract) as there was still no significant progress to repair coping, the auto-fill still did not work as it was designed, the salt water system was not operational nor was there any salt in the pool, one light still did not work properly (there was water in the light), and we did not have a final inspection completed. 
 Joe contacted us on 6/19/15 telling us he wanted to work on the pool 6/22/15.  He did not show that day or any of the following days (6/24/15, 6/29/15, 7/1/15, or 7/2/15) that he said he or his subcontractor was going to come out to work on the pool.  The only thing they did do was drain the pool on 6/30/15, which we then had to refill as no one ever came out to work on the
pool.  He cost us additional money in draining and refilling the pool in addition to countless times we took off work or rearranged our schedule to be there to meet him to work on the pool where he never showed.  We have not heard from the
business owner since 7/1/15. Joe did not even respond to the BBB complaint.  At this point, we are on our own to complete/repair the pool, which will cost more than the payment that is remaining, so we are going to be out a significant amount of money. 
 I echo some of the other concerns that the previous complaint/reviews did as well. Joe does not seem knowledgeable about pool construction. He uses all subcontractors, which he does not properly supervise or appear to have any control over. He hires lower priced subcontractor rather than most qualified (which shows in the workmanship). He also has cash flow issues in that he cannot pay his subcontractors, which his subcontractors have told is why they sometimes do not show up to perform work.  He is extremely unreliable and unresponsive. 
 This was the worst experience I have ever had with a contractor.  I highly advise against hiring him for anything.  He should not
be in business

It was terrible. The guy didn't do the work properly, we've got leaks everywhere, and they refuse to come out and address the issues properly. It took a very long time for them to even get started, and the workmanship was terrible. I wouldn't recommend him if my life depended on it.