Swimming Pool Contractor reviews in Lake Forest, California

Here is a "good, bad, and ugly" review to help you avoid mistakes I made. First thing everyone asks is if I would recommend Swan Pools. The answer is yes, but with some advice...

Design:
DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Know what you want and what you can live with which are not the same. The pool make look fantastic but travertine is VERY slippery when wet. For safety, this material will not be right for you. But if you live in a humid area, concrete will have issues with efflorescence leaving a white deposit that you are constantly cleaning. My sales rep did not give me the +/- of my selections. Google everything to learn on your own.

Your Yard:
When designing the pool, consider if the ground is expansive? If yes, you WILL get shifting in your walls and decking. It is not Swan Pools' fault, but there are ways to reduce to problem. Again, your rep most likely will NOT suggest these because the cost will go up and the rep wants to remain competitive. This is a long-term investment. DON'T SCIMP!

Equipment:
I like the Jandy equipment, but if you have water features or hot-tub, you may want to use separate pumps and heaters. It costs more but gives you full control over everything. Have solar? Consider an electric heater in addition to the gas. It will save you a lot of money from "free" heat. My gas bill runs $1,000+ per month in the winter and wish I had installed an electric heater.

Installation:
Swan Pools uses subcontractors (SUB). Some are not so great. Also, you are on their schedule - not Swan's. Do not depend upon a timeframe the Swan sales rep gives you. Try negotiating penalties for project delays. I wish I did. And if you do not like a SUB, demand a new one. Same for your Project Manager. Do not settle.

Pricing:
Design as accurately as possible before negotiating on a price. "Change requests" will cost a lot more, but scope reductions lower price by negotiate cost. BE SURE to get an itemized breakdown with detailed costs. This may make Swan's initial bid higher, but it will save issues later on.

Support:
I read bad reviews on support from Swan Pools with long delays. I understand some people post complaints to "get back" at Swan Pools, but you need to keep in mind that Swan Pools is going back to the SUB for service and you are beholden to the SUB's schedule. There is little Swan Pools can do about this, so don't blame them 100%. However, for equipment issues, Swan Pools does have their in-house technicians who I think are great! They may be a little hard to get a hold of because they are busy, but I found working with them (Andy in particular) has been awesome.

The Owner:
The owner is James Fraser. When I first met him, I was not a fan. He seemed to want to rush me, seemed dismissive, and did not come across like he cared. But I came to understand that this is just how he comes across and not really the case. I figure it is because he is just swamped with a lot of projects, or maybe its just his personality. Regardless, in reality I believe James does care about you, your project, and your potential issues. But you need to be persistent if you are not hearing back from him. I found him to be tough but fair if you have a legitimate problem. Just be prepared to go to him with all of the facts and state what you feel is a fair compromise/compensation for the issue.

In Conclusion:
Did I have problems with my install? Yes.
Am I still calling Swan Pools for service issues a year and a half after installation? Yes.
But would I recommend then? Yes.
When I asked to visit a previous installation, I did not get much of a response. I think this is because no one ever has a perfect installation and experience. I think Swan Pools is scared that if you are told about problems that it will jeopardize you signing a contract. But I would argue that if I talked to someone who had a perfect experience, I would not trust that reference. There truly is the good, bad and ugly with ANY construction project. Good luck with yours!

We interviewed several landscaping companies. We chose to go with Swan Pools and are very happy with the results. Our contract with Swan Pools included all of the expenses and there were no surprises or additional costs except for a few small items that we decided we wanted to add. The project completed on schedule. The different teams did high quality work, including concrete, pool, tile, and garden. The city inspector even remarked that the work was to a very high standard. We recommend Swan Pools for your pool and landscaping needs.

Swan Pools did a great job from start to finish! Kelley Class our Sales Director was very knowledgeable, professional, and transparent throughout our pool project. Her team Juan and Johnny were awesome project managers! No surprises and they were ahead of schedule! My family is so happy enjoying our pool and spa every day! Making many precious memories thanks to Swan Pools! Thank you Kelley Class!!!! Erick G.

Swan Pools listened to our vision and exceeded all expectations. We highly recommend them to anyone looking to build a beautiful, high-quality pool!

We had been wanting to build a pool for years but the timing had not worked out until well after labor and material costs had essentially doubled for everyone. We went with Swan because of its reputation. There are many ways in which a pool build can go wrong. Join a FB group for first time pool builders and you will see exactly how costly it can be if the company is not experienced. Even with the delays caused by the pandemic and equipment shortages (Texas freeze the year before) we started the dig in June 2022 and were swimming in November. The work was excellent. Julian, our project manager was onsite often and very easy to work with. The crews were polite and diligent. All in all one of the easier construction projects We have ever dealt with because they were so organized. As for the cons, the process is messy and time consuming but that would be the case for any pool build. If I moved and wanted to build another pool, I would use them again. We used Swan for the pool only so the rest of the landscaping is still a work in progress.

We just finished a 4 month remodel of our pool and backyard and love the results.

The design process, which can be scary, was made very easy because of DQ. He listened to what it was that we were looking for in the remodel and he brought our thoughts to life with his suggestions and designs and was a pleasure to work with.

Although we got off to a very muddy start at the end of January, due to no fault of Swan (Mother Nature and tons of rain over a three week period), the entire Swan team, to include the owner James, was here to help in the decision process on how to move forward to get past the crisis that Mother Nature was creating. Tony our first Project Mgr showed up at 6:00 am every morning to insure any potential crisis was averted and would reach out over the weekend to check in and see how things were fairing while it rained.

When it became time to select our pool tiles, coping, etc. Annie reached out to us from the office. We can’t say enough about her…she truly was so much fun to work with. Her eye for colors and what worked and didn’t work was a tremendous help when there are so many choices to choose from.

As the rebuild progressed we had a new Project Manager assigned, Johnny, who is new to the pool business. He stepped up, knowing he had big shoes to fill and did a tremendous job with guidance from his Manager Juan. If he wasn’t able to answer a question, he would get the answer and get back to us right away and was a joy to work with.

Mario who was involved from start to finish was fantastic.

We are now in the pool start up phase where Andy is our POC and he’s very knowledgeable and great to work with as well.

Like all construction projects, there are hiccups along the way and it certainly doesn’t help when the first 3-4 weeks of demo and digging are fighting Mother Nature and making a complete muddy disaster in your backyard that you never think will just never end. Communication is key and needless to say it goes both ways so don’t hesitate to ask questions up front to understand what to expect of the overall process if you haven’t done something like this before. Ask after each phase is completed..”When does the next phase start?” so you know when to expect workers to be at your home, etc. this way you’re not left wondering.

Our overall rating is 4.5

Last but not least….would we recommend Swan Pool, yes we would.

I’m very pleased with the whole process from Swan Pools from start to finish. I can’t thank Julian my project manager enough! He was always responsive, made me feel like a priority every time! Very professional! Thank you swan pools and Julian your awesome !

Swan Pools are people that take their craft seriously! Their expertise and vision for building custom pools is invaluable. Great people to work with, too.

Writing this review for Swan Pools as a shout out for their exceptional customer service even three years after our pool was built. Such a great feeling to know that you have a team that supports and delivers results before, during and after your build!

We recently finished our backyard project with Swan Pools and couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the very beginning, Jim Eldridge made a huge impression — he came out to our home multiple times, sat at our kitchen table, and walked us through everything with complete transparency. He even pointed out details that other companies we met with never mentioned, which really built our confidence in choosing Swan.

The design they created for our space was beautiful. Our yard ended up feeling even bigger than we realized, and they did an amazing job optimizing every inch. Like with any major construction project, there were a few unexpected things that came up, but Swan handled everything with honesty and professionalism every step of the way.

Beyond the pool itself, the craftsmanship stood out in every part of the project — from the pavers to the barbecue island and the beautiful masonry work, the attention to detail was clear.

We especially want to give a big shout-out to Johnny, our project manager — we nicknamed him “Johnny on the Spot” because he was always available when we needed him. He and Juan gave us great recommendations throughout the process, helping us make small adjustments that truly made a big difference in the final result. Anytime a question or decision popped up, Johnny handled it with great communication, care, and a genuine commitment to exceeding our expectations.

Annie was also incredibly helpful during the selection process — she was so patient in helping us navigate the many tile and pebble options (as there are a lot to choose from).

The whole construction stayed on track and moved along smoothly. We were lucky to have good weather, but even with that, Swan’s organization and follow-through really kept everything moving on schedule.

We’re so grateful to their entire team for making this a smooth, exciting, and ultimately beautiful transformation of our backyard. Highly recommend!!

Swan Pools customer service has been fantastic. We needed them to come out once and they responded right away. Swan Pools created our dream yard! We are very happy with the results.

Having a swimming pool built as well as new concrete/decking can be very stressful and a huge headache. Not with Swan Pools. From out first meeting with Jim we knew we were in good hands. Julian was our Project Manager. He was not only professional, attentive, and completely on top of everything, but an absolute pleasure to work with. There is no doubt that Julian cares about his clients and does whatever it takes to get the project done and make sure his clients happy. A big project can have little hiccups along the way, and that's ok as long as it handled promptly. (For the record we didn't have any major problems, just minor little details that had to be ironed out.) Julian handled everything with ease. The contractors they used were great! Martin's demo crew, Travis' crew from GAW for plumbing and electric, Albert's crew from AOC for pool tile and decking, concrete/shotcrete/pebble tech crews and Mario with landscaping were all kind, respectful, punctual and very accommodating. It was a pleasure working with everyone and we couldn't be happier with the finished product! I would absolutely recommend Swan Pools! You won't be disappointed. .....(side note regarding pics, we do have color changing lights even though blue is posted)

I'meaving this review, 2 years after getting my pool done by Swan.

My original review did have some bad information. Originally I stated that the owner was my original salesman, however it was a different gentleman of the same name.

My pool design and style turned out amazing. I was able to work independently with a few of the subs in order to do some of the finish work like the concrete and decking.

There were a few initial hiccups that have been resolved, and any leftover issues, to be fair, were no fault of Swans. What inwoid recommend to anyone doing a pool for kids, do not get the bubblers by Jandy. They're just not a great design.

Post Sale, Jim, the owner followed up with me and personally made sure that the Jandy rep came to my place as well as offered my some compensation in some extras for the headache.

With the pool finally done and summer approaching, I'm very happy I chose Swan and wouldn't hesitate again.

"We just had our pool built by Swan Pools and it was a fantastic experience! They met all budget requirements and timelines, delivering our dream pool, which exceeded our expectations. The crew was professional, clean, and kept us informed through every phase—from design to the final finish. I highly recommend Swan Pools to any homeowner, who desires a beautiful pool and landscaping project. They transformed our difficult backyard into a beautiful oasis, solving complex, hillside sloping, and soil issues with expertise. Their communication was superb, and they were always responsive to our questions, making the entire process stress-free."

We are super pleased with our pool design and installation from Swan Pools. Their attention to detail, willingness to work with our ideas throughout the entire project, quality of workmanship, etc. all top-notch. The pictures don't do it justice. Like with any contractor - we needed to pay attention to points that were important to us to get things right - but our project manager, Tony, was always receptive and easy to work with. I think Wendy Arrington's review here is a great representation of what we experienced as well.

Our neighbors just had their pool done by Swan Pools and it's magnificent. They did such a beautiful and professional job! I intend to have Swan Pools build our pool after receiving several recommendations from people in the neighborhood about their professionalism and excellent work.

As a subcontractor providing pool excavation, demolition, and grading, we’ve worked on many projects with Swan Pools over the years. Their team is professional, well organized, and communicates clearly throughout each phase of the job.

Scheduling and coordination are handled efficiently, and Swan Pools consistently delivers quality results. We value the long-standing working relationship and look forward to continuing to collaborate.

— Redline Grading & Excavating Inc.

This is our second experience working with Swan Pools and like the last time, they did an outstanding job! From the excavating crew to the masons, electricians and plumbers, all do amazing high quality work. Our Project Manager Johnny, did an exceptional job keeping everyone on schedule. He was very pleasant to work with and kept a very steady demeanor when faced with the challenges that arose. I highly recommend him. Great job Swan!

Swan Pools did an amazing job on our project. We wish we had built a pool sooner! We're really happy with the baja shelf—it brings so many great benefits. Big thanks to Swan Pools for their fantastic work on our whole backyard!

My wife and I took a while deciding to invest in a remodel of our backyard. Once we made the decision to do so, we reached out to 5 different pool vendors, including Swan Pools.

The representative from Swan that came for the appointment was Kelly Class. We had already met with a few other companies at that point and Kelly was BY FAR the best! We had a specific design in mind and knew we had to get creative with the scope of the project to stay in our budget. She helped bring our ideas to reality and also gave us plenty different options to save some money on the project by doing some of it ourselves.

Once we made the decision to use Swan Pools it only took them 2 weeks until breaking ground!! At that point, we were assigned our project manager, Julian Carrera. Kelly continued to stay in contact but we worked with Julian on a weekly basis to ensure our design came to life. Julian and the construction crew were rockstars! Julian was extremely communicative and helpful throughout the process. These guys completed our backyard in only two months!!! It was so quick and such an easy process. I can’t thank Kelly and Julian enough!

We met with several pool companies before choosing Swan Pools and we decided to go with a company that has been in business for a long time. Our project manager was very helpful and communicative which we appreciated. Swan Pools did an amazing job on our entire backyard. I highly recommend them!