Texas Custom Pools

I can't say anything about the quality of work that Texas Custom Pools
does, or I guess, did, since they have now disappeared. What I can tell
you is that they took 95% of the money to build us a pool/spa and
outdoor kitchen and then abandoned the job.
Richard Garza and Travis Pinkerton, THE NAMED OWNERS OF THE COMPANY, started the job on 8/17/13
and the contract specified a 2 month build, so end date of 10/17/13.
They came out on 8/17 and did the excavation and got their first payment.
Days later, we had the gunite shell. They got their second payment. Both of these jobs used subcontractors.
As soon as they were finished, that is when the problem started. Very
similar to Lori's account, Richard Garza and Travis Pinkerton made
multiple and increasingly bizarre excuses for why work wasn't being
done. When they finally did bring the tile, they didn't have the tile we
ordered, it was a different and cheaper tile. They said they could send
it back and order the new stuff, but it would delay a few weeks. My
wife and I decided we could live with what they brought. We gave them
half of the 3rd draw. Then they delivered the rock for the coping. It
was all supposed to be one type of Lueder stone, but they brought a mix
of stones that are different colors. No attempt was made to rectify that
before they started setting it.
At one point, they sent out a father
and son team to work on the coping. The father did all the work. The
son smelled of pot and spent the whole day asleep on our back porch.
After they were finished for the day, my wife was pulling in the
driveway to find them washing their car in our driveway, using our water
hose.
From October 3rd to November 14th, they had one worker on
site for parts of 3 days total. That time was spent setting the concrete
blocks for the grotto feature.
October 17th came and went. And
despite promises from both Richard and Travis that the project would be
finished, it was not. We followed the contract and had our lawyer send
them a notice of default. This was met with additional promises that
they intended on finishing the job and that the concrete for the deck
would be poured very soon and that once that happened, we were looking
at 2 weeks before they would be complete.
November 14th, they poured the concrete for our deck. We never saw them again.
Richard, when making arrangements to have the concrete deck poured, promised to
deliver all the equipment that weekend. We never saw it, even though he
made other promises that it would be delivered. Then he got indignant
with me when I called him out for lying.
But that is what we got  from Travis and Richard. Nothing but lies and excuses. Travis even tried
to talk me into signing some sort of an agreement that I wouldn't leave a
negative review on their company because of the strong impact that
Lori's review had on their customers. I told him that he needed to send
the document to my lawyer, which he never did and that if he finished
the job by 11/17 ( a month after the contract specified) that I would
sign it if they didn't use me as a reference.
We sent another notice of intent to terminate shortly after Thanksgiving when it had
been more than 2 weeks since anyone had been there again. Richard gave
more and more excuses and more promises.
Ultimately, I had to call from phone numbers that they didn't have in their phones to even
get them to talk to me, or they would just send me to voice mail. Texts
went unanswered. Emails went unanswered. Requests for a meeting went
ignored. Actually, the one meeting that Richard agreed to, he canceled
on and wasn't even man enough to reschedule. He canceled right before
the meeting by text and wouldn't take my call when I called him to
discuss.
One of the workers came by and said he hadn't been paid
and threatened to put a lien on my house. Travis admitted to me that
this guy wouldn't do anything like that because he was an illegal alien
(put that in writing to me). They had their lawyer (who later ceased
representing them) send a letter saying they paid him in cash and they
took on the liability.
So, ultimately, we fired them and filed for arbitration, as per the contract.
They did not participate at all in the arbitration process.
Theirlisted address was an abandoned building. Richards only other address
was a UPS Store box number. That is the address listed on this site, a now defunct PO box. Their website is now gone.
We won an arbitration ruling against them for the amount of $36,850, the cost of
hiring another company to finish the job, legal fees and arbitration
fees. Of course, they won't pay and we'll have to take them to court
now.
So, if you deal with Richard or Travis, just be aware that they will may steal your money like they stole ours.
Travis has even reported me to Yelp for using his real name and tried to get my review there removed. But I put it back up and will keep doing so.
Oh yeah, check out Travis' arrest record. Really, before you hire them, spend the time doing A LOT of research or you'll be the victim of theft as we were.

We were working with Texas Custom Pools (TCP) owners, Richard Garza (aka Richard Salinas) and Travis Pinkerton, to design/build a pool for our back yard.  Unsure of building and financing a pool, we moved forward in purchasing a free
standing hot tub with the intent of designing a deck surround and patio cover, running electrical underground as well as refinishing and expanding an existing concrete patio on our own.  The patio would encompass a fire pit and kitchen area with counter tops and inset for gas grill.  Additionally, a door exiting to the back yard would be installed as a part of the project.  Richard assured us they wanted the job even on the limited budget we offered.  We signed an agreement for a project, and were told to expect about 3-5 weeks of work, with electrical and deck installed no later than 6 weeks, the day the hot tub
was to be delivered.   Contract signed February 28th, 2013.  Work began March 1, 2013 based on scope of service and detailed rendering for project.  As of mid October TCP had abandoned the project and were no longer returning calls, nor any of the deposit we gave them upfront.
In Summary:
1) First door installed was the incorrect door.  Door was replaced however, installed incorrectly.  No header was built for the door which was cut directly into an external wall.  TCP had second contractor come out - short header was added but did not extend the width of the door and no support structure was installed to frame the door.  Door was unfinished inside and out and trim was temporarily pieced together surrounding the door to make it look better until they could get their trim person on it.  Air/light flows in above the door.  Door is warped.
2) Irrigation system was punctured in over a dozen locations with pick ax as TCP attempted beginnings of electrical work.  Travis, Richard and a few select others returned on several occasions attempting to complete electrical.  Wiring was too short in several places and was spliced together each time they discovered their errors.  The trenches by code are the be 18" deep.  They are 6" deep in 3 areas. Trenches sat open for 4+ months as they attempted to complete the work.  Yard is unlevel as trenches remained open and grass grew over them while work was in progress.  Will have to be professionally leveled next growing season, and dirt brought into to backfill trenches and build up for new sod.
3) Concrete step additions poured  is incorrectly.  One step is 3" deep - no room for a foot of any size.
4) We arrived mid day while concrete workers were setting hot tub pad in incorrect location (despite drawing given to Richard, drawing was not shared and direction was incorrect when TCP directed contractor).  We were able to direct before concrete was poured.
5) TCP had several contractors attempt the patio cover/roof extension.  None were building it correctly as spec'd - 2x6 was in the plan vs. 2x4.  TCP let them all go, unpaid, though contractors were unaware of the specs - TCP did not share the plans with any of them. Eventually a fence builder completed installation of the roof/patio cover.  It is acceptable, but not the quality we would have hoped for.  TCP said it was the best they could provide financially.
6) Deck surrounding hot tub was never started though TCP repeatedly said "someone would be here today".  We offered to do all labor ourselves, TCP drop off lumber.  Gave TCP the supply list.  They did not accept.
7) Concrete refinishing, fire pit, grill area remains untouched.
TCP offered unlimited, unbelievable excuses for the project's failures.  They return calls reactively on occasion, but NEVER offer proactive project management after the first week of disasters.  Travis outwardly blames Richard; Richard openly blames Travis.  Numerous blatant lies from both (ie. I am right down the street, be right there...then no show.  I'll call you at 5pm or meet me at your house at 3pm - no call/no message.  Deck will be done on Friday, no show, no call, no cancellation, no update.) The scenarios/lies are endless.
This our my experience with Texas Custom Pools. It is only a summation of the activity/errors/mishaps/results from February to October 2013 when TCP abandoned our 5 week project.  NOTE: I posted my first review to Yelp.com so anyone considering TCP's services would have quality, honest review and posted my phone number for additional information.  Richard Garza with TCP told me "they were not afraid of one little review".  I heard from six people also under contract with TCP that unfortunately had the same experience with TCP on pool builds, had given huge deposits to TCP and work was not progressing or their projects had been abandoned.  Even one as recent as today, February 4, 2014, which is when I was convinced it was time to post this review.  If considering TCP for a project, I recommend you as to visit numerous customers they have worked for, not just the one or two they volunteer to show you, apparently the same couple that all of us unsatisfied TCP customers were shown.