Every summer, thousands of homeowners discover their pool renovation has become a financial sinkhole deeper than the pool itself.
The numbers are staggering: over $100 million in documented losses from pool contractor failures in just the past five years. Behind each statistic is a family who thought they were getting a bargain, only to pay double or triple the original quote in legal fees, repairs, and complete do-overs.
After 70 years in the business, we’ve fixed enough botched renovations to recognize the warning signs from a mile away. Here are the five red flags that separate legitimate contractors from the ones who’ll leave you with an expensive hole in your yard.
1. Unclear Estimates: One-line bids with hidden costs
A Minnesota pool contractor quoted 14 families $75,000 each for their dream pools. Sounds reasonable, right?
After collecting nearly $1 million in deposits, he spent $18,000 at casinos, $6,000 on a horse, and left customers with nothing but dangerous excavations in their backyards. The Attorney General secured a $2.2 million judgment against him. The victims? They recovered nothing. The contractor fled to Tennessee where he now faces federal wire fraud charges.
The tell: Legitimate estimates break down every phase. You should see separate line items for excavation, steel, plumbing, electrical, gunite, tile, coping, plaster, equipment, and startup. Each item should specify materials, labor, and timeline.
If your estimate fits on a napkin, you’re not looking at a bid. You’re looking at bait.
2. Limited Capability: Struggle with unique site or design challenges
In Sarasota, a homeowner discovered why their 26-year-old pool kept losing water. The original contractor had mixed the gunite so poorly, it had the consistency of compressed sand.
They could literally pull chunks off with their hands.
The rusted rebar poked through like spaghetti. Professional assessment? Either $24,750 for a new inner shell or complete replacement at $45,000+. All because the original contractor didn’t understand that gunite requires a minimum 4,000 PSI strength to maintain structural integrity.
Meanwhile in Houston, an inexperienced crew knocked two 5-ton AC units off their concrete pads and bent three panels of the neighbor’s fence. Their plumbing was installed so incorrectly that brand-new PVC elbows had to be cut out and replaced. When problems mounted, the contractor simply vanished.
What capability looks like: Ask your contractor what PSI their gunite achieves and how they verify it. Ask about their surface preparation method. Companies serious about quality invest in proper equipment like hydroblasting systems that preserve your pool’s substrate. If they can’t answer technical questions immediately, they’re learning on your dime.
3. Weak Portfolio: No verifiable track record of local success
A Melbourne, Florida company displayed gorgeous website portfolios while collecting $50,000 deposits from 600 families.
The reality? The owners were vacationing in Greece and the Maldives instead of building pools. Total losses exceeded tens of millions. Despite overwhelming evidence, criminal charges were mysteriously dropped.
In Jacksonville, another contractor left nearly 100 customers with collective losses of $1.8 million. When victims finally won a judgment for $1.9 million, it was reduced to just $60,000. That’s a 97% reduction that left families with essentially nothing.
How to verify a real portfolio: Request three addresses of completed projects from the last six months. Not photos. Not testimonials. Actual addresses. Visit them. Talk to the homeowners. If a contractor can’t provide recent, local addresses, they don’t have recent, local work.
4. Uncertain Credentials: Questionable licensing and warranties
A Utah contractor kept collecting deposits after his license expired in November 2023. One family paid $150,000 of a $200,000 contract before discovering the truth. Three other families lost a combined $274,000.
The kicker? His 24 expired permits now prevent any work on those properties for potentially a decade.
In North Carolina, a couple paid $23,500 toward a $29,500 pool contract. They received fraudulent county permits, fake invoices, and ultimately a bounced $20,000 refund check. The contractor lacked the required license for contracts over $30,000, making the entire agreement illegal from day one.
Takes 30 seconds to verify: Every state has an online contractor database. Don’t just check if a license exists. Verify the expiration date, check for active insurance, and confirm any specialty certifications they claim. Ask for their Workers’ Compensation certificate. Get manufacturer warranty documentation in writing.
No legitimate contractor hesitates to provide these documents.
5. Poor Communication: Lack of updates and follow-through
A Tennessee homeowner hired a contractor in July 2024. By 2025, the pool was filled but completely unusable. When problems arose, the contractor’s solution was simple: complete radio silence.
The homeowner spent an additional $35,000 hiring someone else to fix the mess.
Another customer in the same area paid $103,625 for a pool that remained an expensive hole in the ground months after the final payment. Weekly calls asking “Why is no one working?” went unanswered.
Industry standard communication: Updates every 48 hours during active work. Weekly progress photos. Immediate notification of any delays or discoveries. A dedicated project coordinator who answers calls within 24 hours.
If you’re chasing your contractor for updates, you’re already in trouble.
The Real Cost of “Saving Money”
Here’s what choosing the cheapest bid actually costs: In California, one homeowner’s $231,500 pool contract ballooned into a $475,104 legal judgment after their contractor used unlicensed workers and abandoned the project.
They essentially paid for their pool twice.
This pattern repeats nationwide. The “bargain” $15,000 resurface becomes $45,000 when you factor in tearing everything out after it fails in three years. We’ve repaired pools where improper jackhammering created micro-fractures that caused complete structural failure in just 24 months.
How to Protect Yourself
Before signing anything:
- Verify licenses, insurance, and bonds are current
- Visit three recent completed projects in person
- Get detailed, itemized estimates with specific materials listed
- Confirm manufacturer certifications for any products they’ll install
- Check Better Business Bureau ratings and state contractor board complaints
- Never pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less
During the project:
- Document everything with photos and written communication
- Never pay ahead of completed work
- Address concerns immediately in writing
- Keep all receipts and change orders
The difference between heartbreak and happiness isn’t luck.
It’s homework.
At Adams Pool Solutions, we’ve spent 70 years building our reputation one pool at a time. Our hydroblasting equipment cost us $500,000 because proper surface preparation isn’t optional. Our crews are employees, not subcontractors, because accountability matters. Our licenses, insurance, and manufacturer certifications are displayed on our website because transparency isn’t negotiable.
Your pool should be where memories are made, not where money goes to die.
Before you sign with anyone, ask yourself: Would you rather explain to your family why you saved $10,000 upfront, or enjoy your beautiful pool for the next 20 years?
The choice is yours.
Choose wisely.
