KB Custom Pools

Update 6/18/22 Our pool remains drained and unusable as of 9/2021. Our pool had core samples taken from 3 different areas of the pool on 2/10/2022 by MLAW structural engineering firm who was hired by KB Pools to do the testing and the engineering report. The results and report were completed and signed off on 4/15/22 by the MLAW engineer but were not given to our attorney by KB Pools until 5/17/22 after multiple requests.

The report shows the pool is positive for ASR (alkali silica reaction) which is commonly referred to as "concrete cancer" in the construction world. In the report, the engineer (hired by KB Pools) states that repairs to a pool with ASR have not been proven to work and the only reliable way to repair the pool is to remove and replace the affected concrete.

The report states ASR development and cracking is expected to continue. In addition, the engineer did not feel there is movement occurring with the pool but did note that there was insufficient reinforcement in the pool that likely contributed to cracking but ASR is the primary cause of the cracks in the pool shell. KB Pools response to this report was an offer to perform the same original repairs they proposed prior to the core samples showing ASR, which their own structural engineer has stated have not been proven to be a reliable method of repair.

Given KB Pools response to this engineering report and their unwillingness to correctly repair the pool, we have sent a demand letter to KB Pools for arbitration which they did not respond prior to the deadline given by our attorney. As they have not responded to our request for arbitration, the next step is to file a lawsuit against KB Pools. A search on the Travis County Municipal Court search portal shows 3 active lawsuits against KB Pools filed within the last 7 months which will soon be 4.

In December of 2021, we started discussing pools with Joshua with KB Custom pools. In our discussion, I made it very clear in writing that I would not sign the contract for a pool until we knew the design would be approved. No reason to pay a down payment for something that can't be built. Joshua, in writing, claimed that "if the pool was not approved for any reason they would refund our down payment." Expecting Joshua and the owner of KB custom pools to honor their word, I moved forward and paid a downpayment.

Fast forward a few months, It became apparent that the pool we wanted to build and the equipment we wanted to use would not work on our lot. What we had signed a contract for, was not obtainable. I went back to Joshua and asked for my refund. Even offering to take less than 100% to cover some of their expenses for permits etc. This request was quickly denied by the owner Bo Barnett.

Not only did Bo refuse to refund the money, but he also refused to honor anything his employee had said or had written. He actually said on tape speaking about Joshua his top sales guy "he knows that's not our operating procedure. And if that's the way selling pools, he won't do it here." If Joshua is still working at KB pools, it is just another example of how Bo talks out of the side of his mouth.

The bottom line is I have no idea if KB custom Pools can build a pool or not. I have heard they have so many unfinished pools in Lakeway that they had to take out a special bond to get more permits. So it sounds like they can't The bottom line is the owner does not honor the promises his employees make. Which is a HUGE red flag. If you are thinking about using KB custom pools, don't talk to anyone but Bo, and make sure all your calls are recorded and everything is in writing. And just get an Attorney from the start.

Our pool is fantastic! We began looking for a builder in last year, and I am thrilled that we chose KB Pools! They started digging, and we were already filling up in 4 months! Bo and Ken were attentive and genuine in their concern.

The equipment they installed was extremely user-friendly, making my job of maintaining the pool a breeze, despite the fact that I had never had a pool before! Finally, our outdoor areas are fantastic! We were looking for a single provider that could handle everything, and we found it! Thanks to Bo, Ken, and Thomas for their help.

The outdoor experience created by KB Pools is similar to having a resort in your own backyard. Anyone who sees it exclaims that it is the most incredible pool they have ever seen. We have two pools as well as a large hot tub. KB Pools has created the ultimate fun and enjoyable environment!

We have recommended KB Custom Pools to others. They create each pool uniquely from the imagination of each owner using top-notch design, their stone/mason crew's talent, and stunning selections of materials from our area. We adore the pool that you designed. Thank you! The professionalism and quality of KB Pools has beyond our expectations.

They are an excellent pool builder that finished the job on time. The design process exceeded our expectations. KB Custom Pools performed an outstanding job on this project! By far the best design, and the finished product far above our expectations! KB has exceeded my expectations.

We spoke with three other firms, and KB Custom Pools was the only one who supplied three distinct designs following the initial consultation. That allowed us to pick and choose what we liked and disliked about each design, resulting in the 4th and final design being exactly what we wanted but hadn't considered before. I would hire this business again if I needed a pool built in the future.

Our pool process started 2017 and completed in 2018. The design was exactly what we wanted and pool construction took longer than we wanted but the delay was understandable (weather, labor issues, etc) The final project was amazing. The kids enjoy swimming and the adults enjoy using the swim up bar. In 2022, our pump stopped working and Bo replaced it completely free of charge.

An exceptionally enjoyable pool party thrown by a co-worker was the last straw. We absolutely needed to have a pool of our own and it absolutely had to be as impressive as his. My buddy was happy to share the contractor's name. And thus began our KB journey. Now it is my turn to do the recommending. That pool is filled with happy people every day the weather allows.

We have built 2 pools with KB Custom Pools in the last 10 years. First off, the design of both pools was exactly what we were looking for at the time. We were happy that Bo listened to what we wanted and designed a pool that was within our budget and included the features we wished to have. He made recommendations and gave us options to choose from. Walked us through every decision we needed to make.

The build of each pool was started and completed in a timely manner. As with any build, we had our share of issues that had to be dealt with. The process is not always easy for either side, but we are happy to report that all of the outstanding issues are being addressed. We are in the process of selling our home and wanted to be sure that the future owners of our pool (and home) would have the same pool warranty that we have as the original owners of the pool. We are pleased that Bo has offered to transfer the warranty to the new owners, showing confidence he has in his work.

We had a recommendation to work with KB pools. Before moving to Austin we contacted them to get the process started. We set up time for their team to come and measure the area, discuss what we want and start working on designs. The guy told us to follow up in 2 weeks to make sure the designs are worked on RED FLAG #1. Every 2-3 weeks for 6 months I followed up, at first getting responses, then nothing.

I submitted another inquiry online, to which I started getting their sales emails, but still no time set. Then finally I get an email to set up someone to come out and measure the land. which they've already done. We try to set up time and then I get a text saying he will be coming that day. Great but I have a job so I need to know what time to make sure I'm not in meetings.

He shows up while I'm in a meeting, so I try to rush through the meeting to discuss with him what we want. I finish the call and he's already left. Which seems odd that he's going to design me a pool, but with no idea what we want. I've text with him a few times, when he keeps telling me we can set up a zoom call, but no times have been set up. I've seen some of their work and it looks great, but they've just wasted my time twice and are so disorganized in the sales process, which you're usually putting your best foot forward, I can only imagine how bad they will be when you actually pay them a deposit. **Update** - I read Bo's response on Yelp and this is 100% a real review. I'm really disappointed by this response. Bo text and called me right after seeing this review to apologize.

I hadn't seen this response at the time, but the call was apologetic and even made me feel a little guilty for writing such a post. To respond like this in public is not what review sites are for. I subsequently asked around the neighborhood if anyone had used KB pools and their reputation is not good. Site like Yelp are not about naming and shaming, but letting companies know if there is a problem, to fix them and letting customers know what to expect from their experiences.

The apology was great service but the Yelp response shows it's to appease me not to fix a negative experience. **Update x2*** Bo's called me directly and took onboard all my candid feedback. I appreciate the efforts he made personally to rectify my experience.

This is a review originally written in August 2021, but we were asked to remove the review in order for repairs to begin. Since Bo has not performed the repairs as promised in the time he stated we have decided to repost the review. We had a pool completed by KB Pools in April 2019. It took about 7 months from start to finish. There were a few issues along the way but nothing that deserved a negative review. Bo designs beautiful pools and we were initially very happy when the pool was completed.

Our pool even won a design award at an annual pool conference. In January of 2021, we noticed cracks in our spa as well as along the tile line. Bo was notified of this via certified mail on 1/29/2021. KB Pools sent out Justin to look at the pool and do dye testing which they stated the cracks were surface cracks and not leaking. Over the ensuing few months, the cracks enlarged and started appearing in other places in the spa as well as in the pool. We. had a architectural engineer who is also a registered professional engineer that specializes in pools come do an inspection of the pool and spa on 4/28/2021.

He found the spa was leaking via a dye test and there were parts of the pool decking that were cracking as the deck fill was not adequately compacted prior to the concrete pour. This has resulted in a depression in the deck as well as the fireplace sinking 1-2. The engineer feels this is a structural issue that should be covered under the 1 year general builder's warranty. Bo has refused to fix the deck as he states he does not warranty his decks but agreed to make repairs to the pool and the spa.

Since the pool cost over $175k and deck cracks appeared less than 1 year and spa/pool cracks began less than 2 years after completion, we are very disappointed and unhappy at this time. Repairs to the pool started on Sept.13, 2021. We were told these repairs would take 4-6 weeks. We would not recommend KB pools to anyone and wish we would have gone with a different pool builder.

We have not been able to use our pool 70% of the time since it was initially completed. UPDATE: It has now been over 19 weeks since the repairs commenced for a job estimated to take 4-6 weeks. The KB team tore out the spa benches that did not originally have rebar reinforcements and added rebar in the benches. They also repaired a leaking pipe and rusted rebar in the spa wall as well as repaired cracks in the spa using staples and waterproof epoxy.

They then retiled the spa. They have also repaired cracks in the tanning ledge and other parts of the pool using staples as well as repaired a broken pipe in the pool wall. This is where the repairs have stopped. No further repairs have been done since 11/26/2021. Bo states there is a concern at this time about faulty gunite that was initially used and two weeks ago a structural engineer he hired came to evaluate the pool and recommended some further testing on the pool concrete which to date has not been done or scheduled.

Our pool has remained drained and unusable since 09/2021 and likely will continue for the foreseeable future. We have posted pictures of the pool in it's current state. We will continue to update this review as time goes on. UPDATE: 1/27/2022 Bo informed me this morning that he will not perform any further repairs and that we are to complete the repairs and replaster on our own and wished me luck.

We have retained an attorney and have opted to pursue arbitration as we have no other recourse at this time and have given KB pools more than ample time to complete our pool repairs. The pictures speak for themselves. There will be no further updates as we have been advised by legal counsel not to further engage online.

If you are considering a pool in Austin, Call Justin at KB Custom Pools. They are masters at design and have a great crew. I spoke with several builders and crews in Austin, but couldn't be happier working with Justin and his team. He consistently over delivered on the project and managed the project like a pro. These guys made me feel like I was part of the family. I highly recommend speaking with them if you are considering a pool.

I had noticed that my propane needed to be filled up more often since the pool and hot tub were installed which would make since if I'm heating the hot tub and do it frequently and I didn't question the increase of the the bills so much until this week when I was flagged with a safety notice. The propane company detected a leak near the pool equipment and said it needed to be addressed immediately.

I had another propane company come out that same day to fix it. They found three leaks! And what's more interesting is that the leaks are in the work that KB Custom Pools did! Almost all of the piping had to be replaced. Leaking fuel next to an ignition source is a recipe for disaster. I'm less upset about the hundreds of dollars of lost propane but poor quality work and carelessness that put my family and my home in harms way in indefensible.

It simply takes a bottle of soapy water to detect leaks if one doesn't possess a gas detection meter. There is no excuse for the lack of concern for customers and their property. I updated this review with futher evidence of my claim. The response from the owner is typical. He responds as a petulant child would by deflecting and maligning the individual that calls out the shoddy work done by his subs which basic psychology tells us that when a person acts as he does that the person casting aspersions is often guilty of what they are accusing the other person of.

I feel quite confident that my evidence would hold up in court and I'm equally confident that Mr Barnett's slander of me would be great evidence in a libel case. I have no ill will to Mr. Barnett and my only intent is to document my experience and anyone with a modicum of intelligence can read through the previous reviews and ascertain the veracity of Mr. Barnett's claims.

He has a long and documented history of side stepping any culpability and harassing people that post about their negative experience with him. If any actual proof was presented by Mr Barnett as to an inspection I would think it to be as useless as the contract I signed with him. I will own my part in this. I should have hired an independent inspector at every stage of the build to check the work performed. Caveat Emptor.

We loved working with Bo. They were on top from the very first time we met. They took our vision and came up with a design we needed for our backyard. We had previously seen other pool designers which gave us ok designs but not suited for a family with 4 little kids. Kb Custom Pools not only designed our dream pool but also gave the best service, always answered our calls and emails. Unfortunately we couldn't build the pool (financial reasons) but when we are ready to do it we'll do it with Bo and his team

Me and my wife have been looking into getting a pool for awhile. Decided to start looking online and I came across KB Custom Pools. I was blown away of some of the designed pools they built. Got in touch with the owner Mr Barnett and descibed what we were wanting and price range. He went above and beyond to make that happen and trust in KB Custom Pools. I apprecate everything and thank you again. Take care

I couldn't have asked for a better company, designer, & professional to trust with such a large investment! Hands down best designer in ATX & probably all of Texas in my opinion. Great job guys & I will be referring anyone I know that is looking for a one of a kind experience & dream pool! Services: Roadworks, Water fixture installation, Design

Bo Barnett feels like that last geuine person who prides himself on good old fashion custom service. I had a dream. He took his time to drive 1hr and 45 minutes for free to listen to my dream for my company. He walked into completely undeveloped land. His design was more than I imagined and check all the boxes. To this day he has stood by the Zen Ranch patiently waiting to build the best pool and spa in Texas.

His estimate was realistic and rational so I wouldn't have to constantly deal with price increases. This provides the opportunity to trust and completely enjoy the experience of the dream pool being built. He is now a friend who would be the only one I could trust with my money and my dream. KB Custom Pools is amazing and am grateful to have a KB Custom Pool. The Zen Ranch & Mental Health Spa is coming soon thanks to you! By Brandy Junk

Had a few quotes and bids. Bo came out and made it very easy to make decision to go ahead with him on designing our new pool. He was very professional and the finished product was gorgeous. I would recommend him to all my family and friends. Thanks Bo!

It is with great honor that I write this 5 star review for this 5 star company. From my first interaction with Justin, the construction manager, me and my family were blown away by the honesty, professionalism and the attention to detail Justin and his team planned and performed in building us the pool of our dreams! Really, what we could afford. Lol. That's another thing!

Great prices! Honesty and Integrity go a long way these days and these guys are a shining example of exactly that! You need a pool? Call Justin at KB Custom Pools for a honest and affordable pool install. No joke, these guys are top notch!

Justin LeBlanc and his team did an absolutely amazing job designing our pool and spa with a fire feature surrounding it! He was able to guide us step by step with this project! Justin is top notch and is upfront with customers from the start! I recommend this company and you should too! Ask for Justin, he will make your dreams come true! 5 stars!

Justin is very professional and knowledgeable on anything pools! He is very courteous and communicated well with his crew making sure they knew exactly what he was wanting them to do. He answered any and all questions that I had and told me if I thought of anything else I could call him with any questions or email and call the office. The fact that he was willing to give me his personal number shows what this company is willing to do for their customers! A big thanks and much appreciation for all he and his crew did!

I can not say enough about KB Custom Pools. We have had numerous homes with pools, and what they do differently is make it an outdoor living retreat. Their design, process and the finished product is unparalleled, based on my experience. Our backyard, with amazing views, they truly made into a work of art, with outdoor living and the pool positioned perfectly to take in the sunset. Loved working with Bo, and would highly recommend.

препоръчва KB Custom Pools.
26 юни 2017 г. ·
KB Pools exceeded our every expectation. On time and on budget with a beautiful swimming pool.

*Nov 2017-pool complete

*July 2019 (20 months later)-inform Bo the pool was cracking and leaking. He said hairline cracks were normal and we said they were not hairline and the pool was leaking. He is contractually obligated to fix a leak. While there was some communication from him, there were mostly long stretches where we/issues were ignored (we have sent many messages/made phone calls that were never responded to).

*Aug 2020 (13 months after being notified of a problem that continued to worsen, causing who knows what kind of further damage under the pool)-repair attempted that included replacing stone & tile that had cracked, resurfacing the entire spa, digging out the plaster and concrete on a bench the entire width of the pool/an area on the wall in the deep end/another area half the length of the pool and adding staples and epoxy to those areas before putting plaster back over it

*Post repair-pool never stopped leaking and within weeks, everything was cracked again.

It has continued cracking. We lose inches of water every week (not evaporation, our pool lost 2in of water when it was 10° outside). Our jets blow air bubbles constantly, something we were told by a professional was due to cracked equipment under the pool. We also now have a pool with 2 different colors of plaster and were told by Bo we would be responsible for paying $10k to replaster entire pool if we weren’t happy

*After several months waiting for another plan and still being mostly ignored, we informed Bo we were hiring a structural engineer as we felt nothing was being done.

His response-“well that will be very expensive for you.” Bo is obviously not concerned with fixing our pool and the fact that we were willing to pay $1400 out of pocket to an engineer and hope for answers speaks to our desperation to get our pool fixed and the lack of support we were receiving from our pool builder (Bo) whose responsibility it was to fix it.

We gave engineer pictures of our pool before concrete was sprayed and he immediately noted several areas where the rebar was missing important structural elements. He took measurements and pictures, and put together a formal report for us of what needed to be done to repair the issues so that it wouldn’t crack again. The report includes rebuilding the entire spa, a large portion of the pool, part of the back wall that is above ground where there are several leaks, and part of the deck. Bo is now denying it, but had told us when we mentioned getting an attorney due to lack of any progress toward fixing our pool that he would follow the engineers recommended plan of how to repair it.

*19 months after this started, 6 months after a failed repair attempt, and a couple of months after we informed Bo we would be hiring an engineer, he comes to look at our pool, seems surprised to see how badly it’s cracked, and tells us he is now sending in a concrete guy that he just met the previous week (but now he’s an integral part of fixing our pool?) and will see what he has to say before he comes up with a plan to repair our leak.

This is typical Bo. There is always an excuse for why he doesn’t fix something/have people show up when they’re supposed to/etc. Bo has yet to acknowledge that there are structural issues w/pool

We realize things happen behind the scene that take time and this isn’t an instant fix. However, at 19 months in, having been beyond kind/patient in our waiting and dealing w/lack of attention from Bo to truly solve our problem, we hired an attorney which Bo told us was a mistake to do and would prolong the process by months, if not years. I’m sure you can imagine how cooperative he’s been during the process.

And covid cannot be used as an excuse,there was ample time to fix pool before covid

Details on process with attorneys and pics on Yelp under Sarah L (out of space on Google reviews)

We reached out to Bo Barnett from KB Custom Pools to help when our contracted pool company left us hanging with an incomplete pool project. Bo came recommended from our neighbor who contracted with him to complete their pool project. Their pool is GORGEOUS. Bo was incredibly communicative, responsive to our "cry for help" and sent a worker out to help us that weekend.

His employees completed the job with professionalism and got us up and running. I am so grateful for Bo and his team at KB Pools and the work they did. I highly recommend him for a future pool project. You won't be disappointed!

Bo and the KB team did not disappoint! After interviewing several pool builders, KB pools got our business hands down! Bo took a rough sketch on a piece of paper and transformed my yard into a resort. Bo's vision was completely spot on with what my family wanted in a pool. Like any construction projects it had its ups and downs but Bo was there to calm my nerves and guide me through the whole process from permits to plaster. Bo completed our pool early and gave us a little time to get some swimming in as promised in our initial meeting.

The overall experience was great, KB',s team of contractors from excavation to landscaping were top notch and professional throughout the entire project. The Hauser family cant wait to dive in this summer! Thanks BO!

Bo and his team are incredible! After consulting with several other pool companies, what Bo had to offer us couldn’t be beat. Talk about artistry. Thank you all for a safe, relaxing and stunning place to quarantine.

Bo and his team are incredible! After consulting with several other pool companies, Bo's design couldn't be beat. Talk about artistry. In light of COVID, I understand the process took longer than most would anticipate, however WELL worth the wait. Thank you all for making my home a safe, relaxing and stunning place to quarantine!

Happy with our experience with KB. Bo Barnett is hands down the best pool designer in Austin - his vision for how to transform ordinary backyard space into a dream backyards is extraordinary. We get nothing but compliments on how our end project turned out.

2nd Update - Bo and the KB pools team fixed the issues with the spa. They did a great job. Their plaster subcontractor did top quality job and they were very courteous notifying us when they would be working and what they would be doing. Bo made sure to keep us up to date on when work would be happening as well which helped us plan. After the work was complete, a member of the KB team came out and checked to confirm the work was done right.

All and all great work and we are very pleased. There are a few minor issues with pool that still need to be addressed but overall, KB did a great job addressing the issues that appeared. Stuff happens in construction but what really matters is that they are addressed. Thank you for the hard work! Update - Bo and his team have agreed to address the issues with our pool. We are hopeful that this will resolve the remaining issues and I can update this review to a more positive one.

Bo helped us with some design work and budgeting for a pool. His design was exactly what we were looking for and the pricing was reasonable for such a premium product. Bo was a pleasure to deal with throughout the entire process.punctual, courteous, and never pushy. We're holding off on construction until our kids get a bit older, but our experience in the design phase w KB was very positive.

We had an existing pool built by another builder who used inexpensive materials that did not stand up to normal wear and tear over 3 years. Bo and his team replaced our pool coping with higher quality materials and did an outstanding job! The work was completed quickly and economically, for a first class outcome. We even messed up some caulking by letting our dogs walk on the coping before it had fully cured, and Bo quickly took care of it at no additional cost. Bo is strong sense of ethics and delivered what he promised at the price he promised. Thanks for a great job Bo and team!

Designs that simply unmatched and a level of expertise that is hard to find. This team takes the back yard to a totally new level! Thanks KB!

Ken Blythe is the best. His understanding of our pool equipment operation and equipment capabilities make the pool worry free. Very responsive.

Let me update my review. So for like probably close to the 9th time now in 7 or 8 years, Bo has reached out to me to ask me to remove my reviews. I refused and this is how the guy acts.

We have used Bo and KB pools as our family pool builder. He designed and built not one but TWO of my parents pools! Beautiful custom pools for beautiful custom houses! Now That I'm a home owner myself. the only pool company I am using is KB! Even through all this ATX weather Bo has been great about keeping us posted, updated and rescheduling. Thanks for the VIP treatment KB Pools:

Our pool is more than we had hoped for and we love it. Working with KB Custom Pools was fun & exciting as they enjoy what they do. Communication & follow through are their only areas of improvement, but they are very responsive & professional. We would recommend them (and have) to friends in the area. With top notch design, their stone/mason crew talent, and beautiful selections of materials from our area, they make each pool uniquely from the imagination of each owner. Thanks Bo, Ken & Team!!!!

I have nothing but the best to say about kb custom pools. The whole process was perfect from start to finish and the continued after care has been top notch. Thanks guys!

We got a great product at a fair price. One of the things I liked the most was the hands-on involvement of Kenny and Bo throughout the entire process - design to build out. They were onsite monitoring the progress of the construction from start to finish, and with on-time completion.

We had KB Pools build a pool in our back yard last year. They did a fantastic job and now we practically have our own resort in our back yard. Bo helped us design the pool on his computer. The finished pool looks better than the computer animated drawing Bo showed us on his computer. Which I really didn't think was possible.

I have nothing but good things to say about KB Pools! Our pool was installed in about 40 days with no problems and no extra or hidden costs. We got exactly what we expected to get and have not had any problems. Bo designed our pool and did an amazing job and i would probably not change a thing!

We had KB design and build a custom pool for us last spring (2013). It was completed on time and exceeded our expectations. We have had many compliments on the design and the quality of the work. We have quite a bit of stone/rock and it looks great! Any issues we had were dealt with in a timely manner and to our satisfaction.

KB Pools built our fabulous pool I feel in love with the design from Bo he is a awesome designer. We had a wonderful experience building our dream back yard with his team of contractors. As with anything if we ever have any minor issues he is quick to respond to us and address anything I need. This is the most important part of finding a awesome pool builder.