Signing a contract with Jackson Pools…
Signing a contract with Jackson Pools has been one of the worst decisions we have made as homeowners.
The first warning sign was an approximately three-month permitting delay. The permit was rejected three times, and permitting records showed that no Notice of Commencement had been submitted. We did not expect this from a company that has reportedly operated locally for approximately 40 years.
The next warning sign was that a single individual performed the pool framing, plumbing, and rebar work. We raised concerns about that work multiple times, both in writing and in person, and were repeatedly told that the problems had been or would be corrected. In our view, they were not adequately corrected.
We signed our contract in mid-April and spent several weeks working with Jackson Pools to finalize the design we had contracted to receive. Nearly six months later, we are left with an unfinished shell that does not match the approved design and appears to have been built in the wrong shape and orientation. We also believe an elevation error made our planned deck design unworkable.
Jackson Pools submitted a unilateral plan change to the City of Cape Coral that relocated our deco drain. After we confronted Jackson Pools with this unapproved change, yet another change to our approved design, the pool deck was built according to the original design. However, because the elevation being too low even after they raised the pool wall, water drains across the deck pavers into the pool instead of into the deco drains. Because the water appears to drain downward between our home and the pool, we are concerned about possible erosion or settlement in that area.
Work has stopped since approximately August 6. Jackson Pools emailed what it called a “compensation offer for our experience”: $500, two loads of dirt, and regrading, which it described as a $2,800 value. We rejected that offer. Jackson Pools then told us the project was on a “legal hold” and later offered $5,000 or demolition and reconstruction. By the end of that week, Chad Jackson himself offered to waive the $15,600.66 final contract balance. We repeatedly attempted to negotiate a reasonable resolution based on that offer, including agreeing to repair the yard damage ourselves.
Instead, completion of the project appears to have been conditioned on our signing an addendum containing terms we believe would release or substantially limit Jackson Pools’ responsibility, together with a nondisclosure agreement that would take effect immediately and could restrict our ability to discuss what occurred or pursue a regulatory complaint. We are unwilling to sign away important rights simply to have the pool completed. Jackson Pools also refused to agree to any completion deadline, even though the final survey is currently being completed and the remaining construction work consists primarily of the pebble finish and final completion items. They have even rejected our requests to call in an inspection to prove their design is correct or come repair it.
The damage extended well beyond the pool itself. Jackson Pools spread excavated soil across approximately 2,800 square feet of our yard, choking out the sod, not even returning the property to its original grade as contracted. We have had to repair the irrigation system and completely regrade the yard. These repairs cost more than $5,000. There was no need for additional dirt.
Electrical work was performed in our garage and through our attic by another pool company, which was acting as an electrical subcontractor according to our permit. To our knowledge, that work has not been inspected. The electrical work, equipment, heater, autofill, paver deck, backfill, and removal of the wood around the shell were all completed within approximately four to five days, shortly before we received the first of 3 compensation offers, and a bill for the remaining contract balance, including the final payment.
We paid for the final pool survey and installed the required pool barrier around what remains an unfinished concrete shell. Nevertheless, Jackson Pools has not meaningfully responded to our attempts to negotiate revisions to its addendum. We have also received a lien-related notice from a materials provider.
At this point, we do not know whether the unfinished pool is structurally sound, or if any other hidden defects exist. Our concerns remain unresolved because Jackson Pools has not completed the project. What was supposed to be a beautiful addition to our home has become an expensive and deeply stressful ordeal.
Our account is supported by contracts, permit records, plans, photographs, correspondence, surveys, and invoices.
Based on our experience, we cannot recommend Jackson Pools.