Southernwind Pools Inc.

We vetted numerous pool companies and Southernwind stood out from the beginning. The entire experience from the initial consultation through the design process, to installation, communication throughout, managing our expectations regarding timeline, the weekly servicing, and overall maintenance has been top-notch. Southernwind also owned the installation of the retaining wall, fence, including the automatic gate over the driveway, and putting green as a comprehensive approach, which was beyond valuable. I am especially grateful for Moses, our designer and visionary, and Charlie, our incredible GC. We are so thankful we chose Southernwind and highly recommend them! They completely re-invented our backyard and have brought our family so much joy!

Since I found the Southerwind Pools name on Houszz I thought I should come back here and let people know what you could be getting into. My wife and I feel we have made a grave mistake with Southerwind. We are now 20 weeks in after excavation, on a middle of the road or a little above average pool that we were told would be 12-14 weeks and still no end in sight. I have so many issues I can list I do not know where to start. I guess I will start with what trigged me to write this. Writing a bad review will probably tank the rest of our project but better ours than yours. I feel bad writing this as well as most of the individual were good people but as an entity so frustrating with the amount of $ we are shelling out. Today we were notified that we would be getting plaster tomorrow (Sat) and then acid wash (Sun). I have been asking for a schedule for weeks no luck. Great we are thinking, maybe we will make up some time and get things completed before we miss the second event we had planned this summer (July 4th being first and now family coming in town in 10 days). So everything is good until they ask for final payment. So I ask why do I need to pay the last payment since you have not completed all the tasks the prior payment was supposed to cover. And I am shocked they would expect me to have that cash ready on a moment’s notice. The VP emails me and says he tried to call me but they are having issues with their phones again in the office so I call him on his cell. Not sure why he did not use his cell. No answer and I leave my information. No call back but the project manager lets me know that plaster was cancelled for Sat. 2 weeks ago I am ready to leave for work and I get a text saying irrigation crew is on their way. So, I take a day from work and meet with them. When are they coming I ask? Unknown. They show up at 10am, leave at 1pm saying they are going to lunch. At 3pm I am texting the project manager asking where they went. He tells me they were pulled off to another job and will be back. They show back up at 5pm. Thanks for wasting my time. I can go on and on about stuff from simple things like I cannot get tops to deck drains to tearing up a metal fence with the excavation equipment that took over 2 months to get fixed. I had open plumbing trenches for 3 months, just got sprinklers back on June 27th after being out for 4 months. My wife and I spent many many hours trying to hand water foundation and plants. No oversight on the job site. The paver decking has been installed for about a month now and we have a lot of movement. Some place as much as 2 inches. Pulling away from the pool coping and other concrete or sinking. If you have read this far you probably looking for something that says “joke, this really did not happen”. Sorry to say it has and the saga continues. Please pray for my wife and I that we treat everyone with respect regardless of the issues at hand. John & Sheryl

Very satisfied with the service and quality of work received from Southernwind Pools. We did some renovation on our pool that is approx. 12 years old. Mark R. was great in helping us pick out tile/stone... having the showroom was extremely helpful. Mark was great at giving us our options and honest recommendations. Crews were timely and respectful. Looking forward to having them help us with our outdoor kitchen... Very highly recommend Southernwind Pools.

I cannot say enough good things! We met with a few different companies for a full pool and deck remodel. Southernwind Pools came right in the middle on price. After our first meeting with Mark Robinson, we felt very comfortable and had confidence they would deliver a great product. We liked the fact they have a showroom to view tile, decking and pool surfaces. From beginning to end the communication with Mark was exceptional. He kept us fully informed almost daily and was very responsive to all of our request and questions. We explained some drainage issues that we were having and they worked with us to help re-route drains as part of the remodel. The entire team worked professionally, efficiently and with great attention to detail. We are very happy with the finished product, highly recommend this company.

I move to McKinney from Akron,Ohio 7 weeks ago. I wanted to re-due the older pool, add an outdoor kitchen, and a fireplace with a TV. I interview 4 contractors and selected Mark Robinson at Southernwind. The project started in early June and took about 9 weeks to complete. Mark was on the phone with me EVERY morning to discuss the progress of the work.We completed the entire job, from a remote location. On time and on budget. the pool is the focal point of our home. Outcome could not have been better, andI'ma tough guy to please! Highly rated. If anyone has question, please just IM me. Happy to talk to you about this David in McKinney

Our pool was leaking. It turns out it was the skimmers. These guys charged me $500 for a "leak search" which they say included sonar and such to find leaks. Then $1000 to fix the skimmer leaks. This seemed to reduce the problem for a short while, but then it got worse again. They came out and claimed "Skimmers tears perfect with no issues. You have to have another issue." (quoting from Mark Robinson's email). I told them there is no way that was the case and they came back out and then claimed that my pool had "settled" in the two months since and new cracks had appeared. We do not believe they did not properly fixed the pool the first time and their attitude after the fact was unhelpful. I would not do business with them again.

I did my homework. Called Realtors, queried Yelp, checked BBB, and more. Had 4 companies come out to bid our complete pool overhaul. We chose SWP and are so grateful we did. The process beat our time expectations, the materials and workmanship are the best around. Mark Robinson of SWP did an excellent job. I highly recommend them. Now we love our pool.

We used Southernwind Pools to install new tiles and coping around our pool. It was an fantastic experience! They were great with communication every step of the way and very quick to respond to emails. The work was expert and extremely professional. Our pool looks brand new and it was all thanks to Southernwind Pools! We will definitely use them again in the future.

You may read this review elsewhere. I've posted it at a number of sites because I really want to acknowledge the exceptional work done by Mark Robinson and his crews from Southernwind Pools. Southernwind was recommended to me by USI Remodeling, a company who has handled a couple of major interior jobs for us over the last dozen years. I have a lot of trust in USI, and wanted to use a company that I could similarly trust for our pool renovation, and Southernwind did not disappoint. The project was a complete renovation of a pool about 40 years old. The only original component that wasn't removed/replaced was the gunite shell. Sundeck was replaced with travertine pavers –beautiful! And the replaster looks great. Pool equipment is all integrated and tied into the wireless network –works as advertised. Mark works long hours to stay on top of his jobs, and is very accessible. He was very good at identifying issues that needed to be addressed along the way to make sure that the job was done right, and there were no expenditures that we were not made aware of ahead of time. Mark was quick to respond to texts and emails and is just a “good dude”. So I would heartily recommend Southernwind. They will not be your lowest bid, but you get what you pay for. I had a “budget” re-tile/re-plaster done years ago and that did not turn out well (especially the re-plaster –inferior bonding agent used between gunite and plaster). If you are interested in quality work carefully overseen and completed in a timely manner, Mark and his team will deliver.

Southernwind Pool did an awesome job with our pool installation. We came in with a clear vision and Mike was fantastic at making that vision come to life. He was precise with every detail and made sure we had the design exactly the way we wanted it from the beginning. When it came to installation, Ben was equally awesome with keeping track of all of the trades (and we had many because of all of the terrace work). If something wasn’t right, it just took one call and Ben was on it. There were a few times when I’d see something that didn’t look right and he’d make a special trip over to ensure mistakes weren’t made. We even did an add on landscaping project with their sub contractor and the mix between the pool project and post pool landscape interfaced very well. Overall, the team was outstanding, the only challenge was in the transition to self maintenance and the availability of information about how the system operates. But again, Mike ensured we were satisfied all the way to the end. Big thanks to Southernwind Pool. We can’t wait to enjoy our pool this summer.

Did a ton of research before making our choice and so very happy we chose Southwind. they restored our 20+ year old pool with new plaster,tiles ,lighting, and replaced cracked coping. We love the results. Especially appreciate Mark Robinson who was always available to answer questions at all stages. He also made sure the work was done on time and kept in touch with the progress of the work. I appreciated that he gave us details of what could be expected and planned ahead for unexpected issues so there were no surprises. i appreciated his knowledge and expertise and his insight and recommendations made a huge diffrence in the outcome! We highly recommemd working with Mark

SWP did a complete remodel of our existing pool and designed a new waterfall, river, and shallow pool area to feed into the existing pool. Their work was excellent - all the details were well-planned, coordinated and executed, and the pool looks as great as the design promised. A key factor to choosing SWP was project manager Mark Robinson - he delivered outstanding customer service from day 1 - starting with the bidding process, initial site visit, and answering questions about the work to be done. During the project he was very proactive, anticipated issues, was detail-oriented and was always available and extremely responsive whenever we needed. He maintained a consistent presence throughout the work and when issues arose, worked quickly to resolve them. He was always professional, extremely personable, and he is a big asset to the company and any remodel. We were also very happy with the creative design process and working with designer Mike Calonne, who took our rough vision and translated it beautifully to our yard and our needs.

My project with SP included a pool remodel, new hot tub addition, removal of existing patio cover, new outdoor kitchen w/ patio cover, new fence and new retaining wall. (roughly 110K project). My overall experience with Southernwind Pools was excellent. I actually signed an agreement with another company (pending financing) prior to finding SP and the experience after signing was downright abusive, so I canceled my intent to build and went on an exhaustive thorough hunt for a new provider combing through reviews on Yelp, Houzz, Google and FB. After narrowing it down to 5, I ultimately decided to go with SP for the following reasons: The design process, the owner answered my call on a Saturday (the main line forwarded to his cell phone) and they did what they said they would do in terms of getting back in touch with me after submitting an information form online. (It was astounding how many didn't ever get back to me even when communicating my budget.) The saying "must be present to win" rang true. After filling out the form and proving an extensive list of my expectations, within 10 minutes I received a call from Mark Robinson and we scheduled a consult the next week. When we met, Mark brought his designer with him (Mike Calonne). I explained my biggest concern was the design process. I explained that I wanted a provider who would work WITH me on my ideas, provide professional design services, consult with me on best practices and not rush me through a cookie cutter design process. I wanted a thoughtful designer who would accept feedback and be willing to iterate with me until the space was designed to maximize the available space and exhaust all considerations for placement of the outdoor kitchen and new hot tub. I also wanted one main point of contact to be involved from contract through the build process. I felt confident after the initial consult that SP could deliver on all that was important to me because I could see that Mark and Mike were working together as a team. They also gave me honest answers about my project, even if it was not what I wanted to hear. When I asked about their pricing, Mark immediately told me he was not the cheapest but that the work quality was very high and that they would not cut corners just to appear cheaper. I loved this response as I wanted a quality job above all else. I'm happy to report that the design process was exactly what I expected and Mike is fantastic about thinking outside the box to ensure the design delivers. He worked with my ideas and in the end offered a critical suggestion that made my vision become a reality which was something I would never have thought of on my own. I am truly grateful to him for going on a journey with me with zero ego or attitude! Very collaborative! Regarding the build process; all I can say is that Mark Robinson is a pro. He is extremely educated on the process and knows every single detail that goes into the build process. I found out later that it's because he actually started out building pools when he was a kid. His knowledge is extensive and he could answer any question I had in depth when trying to understanding the progression of the work. SP is VERY fortunate to have him. He is also the hardest working man I think I've ever met. He arrives on the job as early as 5AM, is in constant communication with you via text and phone until late at night and is an absolute pleasure to work with even through the rough spots. So what could have been better? I would say that I could have done a better job reviewing my contract to ensure everything that I expected was in WRITING. There were a few misses in terms of exceptions, but I have to own that as well as SP. Do not rely on "we discussed this", get it in writing so there are no breakdowns in communication. Nothing missed was earth shattering, but could have been avoided if I would have requested a walkthrough of the contract ON SITE. Go slow to go fast. Going through the agreement line by line and physically pointing to the things that the contract is referencing is clear is very important as SP will point to the contract as the source of truth; understandably. I would also suggest that as you get to "points of no return" in the work, that you take a pause with your Project Manager and do a double check of what is about to happen, the features you are expecting, and all of the possible upgrade / field changes that are available to you so it's not too late to get what you really wanted. Lastly, don't get behind on your decision making on tile, colors, plants, pots etc. Before you know it your decision will need to be made and if you are not ahead of the project plan, you will feel a lot of pressure to make decisions as the crews are scheduled and ready to execute. Lastly, I would recommend against having multiple contractors on a job this size, let SP do it all, as you will avoid the stress of coordinating schedules and managing through how to rectify situations where one contractor damages another contractor's work.

Beyond Happy! The team and Southernwind went above and beyond with our backyard renovation. Mark Robinson and Mike Calonne worked with us throughout the entire project to ensure our expectations were met, as well as to accommodate several unexpected "audibles" that we called. Our updated backyard and new outdoor kitchen/living area is amazing!

Southernwind renovated a 30 yr. old pool and waterfall. Great companies are about great people and Mark Robinson, the project manager, was the reason this project was so successful. He offered many alternatives to address issues and reduce cost which resulted in a beautiful pool and surrounding areas. More importantly, Mark precisely scheduled every trade, met with me often to review the project and all the trades were very professional. Mark's exceptional project management skills are the reason I again hired them to landscape the front yard and replace some concrete. Mark demonstrates great interest in his projects and his client's needs and I will continue to give them more work. Southernwind also provides weekly maintenance for the pool and do a great job.

I wanted to give a shout out and thanks to Mark Robinson and Southernwind Pools for the amazing work they did refinishing and updating our pool this summer. Mark is very knowledgeable and really took the time to explain the different plaster options and colors. We chose the Sparkle Quartz Blue Jay finish. I would recommend Southernwind Pools for and remodel, repair or pool service.

After 15 years some of the tiles were starting to fall off. Southernwind came out and replaced all tiles in one day and at a reasonable cost. Very pleased with the outcome.

We used Southernwind Pools to renovate our LARGE 33K (+) pool, which was originally built in 1997. We are impressed with the results. We replastered, removed and updated the coping, replaced the existing tile, filled in our hot tub to become a fire pit area, redesigned to add a tanning ledge and added additional lighting. Southernwind Pools completed the project on time as promised and Mark Robinson, kept in touch throughout the entire process. He was always available to answer any of my questions or concerns. AMAZING!

We used Southernwind pools last year to replace the tile and quartz on an approximately 15 year old pool. Almost one year after the renovation, we are still very pleased with their work. They did a great job. They showed up on time, completed the project according to the (well communicated) timeline and were thoroughly professional. Their pricing was competitive and I would highly recommend them. If you're looking to revamp your existing pool, you should definitely give them a call!

Southernwinds and Mark Robinson, the project manager, were great to work with. the project was on time and on budget. We were very pleased with the outcome and would use the firm again anytime.

We partnered with Southrernwind pools on a major renovation which included updating the existing pool and landscaping in North Dallas. Mark Robinson did an excellent job answering questions, providing guidance and supervising his crews with prompt response to any needs. To sum it up, smooth process, happy client!

I am a retired Full Colonel U.S. Air Force B-52 Bomber Pilot and an admitted extreme perfectionist. I had a state-of-the-art salt water pool built which included wireless variable speed pump/filter control, in-floor automatic pool cleaner, highly custom Badu-jet dual swim jets, and built-in hidden automatic complete pool cover. However, I had never found any suitable pool company to maintain my pool and its components. While recently venting my frustration to the Badu-jet pump motor manufacturer, he recommended SOUTHERNWIND POOLS, INC in McKinney, Texas. I contracted with them to renovate all tile and coping, as well as completely rebuild the swim jet system. The bottom line is that I met my match concerning perfection!!!! From the demo folks, tile/stone masons, and swim jet pros, to the clean-up folks and system start-up pros, I was absolutely amazed!! Everyone accomplished a superb job and in a truly flawless professional manner. In addition, the project supervisor was on site on a regular basis and basically available 24/7 to insure my complete satisfaction throughout the project. I highly recommend these perfectionists to anyone who clearly wants the most outstanding service available in the swimming pool industry.

We just completed the renovation on our 26 year old pool with Mark Robinson of Southernwind Pools and couldn’t be more pleased with the process and the result. We interviewed a lot of pool companies and felt that Mark’s vision and understanding of what we wanted and his companies reputation for first class service were the perfect choice. The crews were fabulous and the warranty service after the pool was completed was great. Just minor issues and completed within days of calling Mary. Mike helped us with the fine points on the design and Mark suggested minor changes to the travertine color and the location of the led lights which we would never have seen on our own. Trust them! Work with them and enjoy the knowledge and service they give you. Love it ! Photos are before and after.

Southernwind Pools is a great choice for you pool remodel. The existing pool at our home had gone through years of neglect. Mark and his team walked us through the entire process, schedule and pricing before ever starting. No surprises, no wasted time or money, and a beautiful result. The pool is unbelievable and is probably working better than it ever did. you cannot go wrong with choosing these professionals to transform you pool into an oasis! Great work, highly recommended.

Southernwind has been a great partner for us, from the sales process all the way through the project and then the service after the work was completed. Mark Robinson created a great design for us and committed to be with us through the entire project - he honored that commitment and we felt completely care for through the process. The finished product was everything we hoped for and the Southernwind team continues to impress with their attention to us AFTER the sale and project was done. Would recommend them to anyone.

We LOVE working with Southernwind Pools. Our pool needed a lot of work and a lot of patience on the part of everyone involved and I never felt like the team was frustrated by my questions. We worked mostly with Mark who is always eager to help and honest with his suggestions. I would highly recommend this company to anyone whether they need high quality monthly cleaning or a remodel. We have been with them since 2012 and will always recommend them to friends and neighbors!

When we were building our first custom home, our builder, Mark Molthan of Platinum Series Homes, recommended Southernwind Pools. John Versfelt and his entire team were so easy to work with and so helpful from the design part all the way to the finish, staying within our budget and finishing on time. We cannot say enough about the professionalism and quality of their work. We also used them for our pool cleaning service, as well. We recently built a new home and wouldn't have considered using anyone else to build our new pool than Southernwind and will continue using them for our pool service company. They may be a little higher priced than other pool companies, but you can be sure you are getting what you paid for and have a high-quality, beautiful pool supported by a staff that is at-the-ready if there happens to be any problem. When the owner of the company gives you his cell phone and tells you to call if you ever have a problem no matter what time or day of the week, you know you're not dealing with just any company. We love these guys!!!!!

In the past several years, we had the opportunity to work with John, Chad, and Moses in multiple projects, and the results have been outstanding with our award winning projects. As a professional landscape design firm, it is important to partner with the right contractors to bring our pool designs to life with expected quality and workmanship for the best possible outcome. For the above reasons, we will highly recommend Southerwind Pools to all of our clients or any design firm who seeking excellent service and an honest approach to their project.

I highly recommend Southernwind Pools and will do so until I am no longer able to speak or write!!! I started off by looking at several different companies and moved forward with 3 different designers. The initial process was very trying for me because I have little free time due to hectic work and family schedules. Ultimately, I chose to work with Mike Calonne at Southernwind because he went way above and beyond the rest: 1) he bent over backwards to accommodate my crazy schedule during the planning and construction phases, 2) listened to my needs and wants and produced a breathtaking design that will entertain my kids and my friends for many years to come, 3) made valuable recommendations to provide the energy efficient and low maintenance solutions I was seeking, and 4) educated me on some pitfalls I would want to avoid no matter who I chose to build my pool. Imagine my delight when the rest of the team was just as helpful, friendly, professional, and accommodating! They took care of absolutely everything and made sure my efforts on the project were minimal – just what I told them I needed. And, despite a very crazy rainy season last fall/winter, they finished on schedule! I continue to be super-pleased with the attention and follow-up I receive from Mike Eastes, their Project Manager, and his team (he even sent me pictures and videos of my project since I was always stuck at work and he didn’t want me to miss out on all of the excitement) and from their Service Manager, Jon Paul Stalnaker, and his team who are all very personable, responsive, and efficient. Even the President of the company, John Versfelt, checks in to make sure we’re happy – truly exceptional customer service and quality!!! My pool is spectacular and stunning, we live in our spa, and we can’t wait to take our first swim next weekend!!!

We interviewed several pool companies before deciding on Southernwind. We had discovered the company through our own research, knowing no one who worked for the company or had any previous experience with Southernwind. Our initial impression of the company was positive after reading the reviews on their website, seeing the projects they had done, and visiting their Facebook page. We were particularly impressed that the company showed off their projects during construction (which most companies do not), and showed themselves to be somewhat vulnerable in doing so. I tracked the comments made from current and past customers for a while and was impressed that they were all positive. We set up an initial meeting with Mike Calonne, a brilliant designer for Southernwind. Mike came to our home, listened to what we wanted in a pool, made suggestions when helpful, and went out back in the yard to survey the landscape. He took it all very seriously, even though he has a great sense of humor, and even always had a few moments to engage our two kids. At this time, we were still talking with two other pool companies. Next, we met with Mike at their office in McKinney. Mike was extremely patient during the entire process. He told us that he would meet with us as many times as necessary to design the pool that was perfect, which he did. By the time we left their office, we knew Southernwind was the pool company for us as we felt they offered the right combination of quality materials, attention to detail, and personal service. We felt they were the right "size" company that we wanted to work with, not one that builds a million pools nor one that builds just a few pools a year. It just felt right to us. I credit Mike with making us feel that way about Southernwind. By the end of the design process, he had met with us on several occasions and communicated with us in between if he needed any clarification from us or if we decided there was something else he should know. He always listened intently to us and made great suggestions but was never pushy on any detail of the design. He left every decision in our hands. They started digging on 12/30/14 and immediately hit solid rock. It took them two days to dig the hole but they ultimately got through the rock. I was nervous that we would incur additional digging charges but we did not. During the process, the project manager, Mike Estes, was also great to work with. Each step of the way, we were informed about what was going on. Mike is a very easy going guy, easy to talk with, and obviously knows a lot about pool building. He communicated very well with us by email and phone and in person. He was always available if we had any questions or concerns. Once the pool was completed, John Versfelt, the company owner and Mike Calonne came by to show us how to operate everything and to answer any questions for us. John is a very personable guy who obviously cares a lot about how his customers are treated and what they think about his company in general. The entire process for us was great, even though we had been warned by friends (that had used other pool companies) that it would be a nightmare and worse than building a home. It was the opposite for us and we feel we have made some great friends at Southernwind. We have referred a neighbor to them who decided to go with Southernwind as well and another friend who is currently in the design phase with them. We are beyond satisfied with the outcome and highly recommend the company to anyone wanting a quality pool built with nice, knowledgeable people who make the process fun and exciting. Our heartfelt thanks to Mike Calonne, Mike Estes, and John Versfelt for making our dream come true.

We love Southernwind Pools! They've done two pools for us, and we'll have them do another if we decide to purchase another home. Mike Calonne, our designer, was especially fantastic. He nailed what we were looking for and was able to show us what our pool would look like from different perspectives (outside view, view of the pool from inside the house, etc) with a 3D rendering in their office on a nice big screen. Very professional. The pool was constructed in a timely fashion with exceptional quality and attention to detail. Not only are we extremely happy with the finished product, but Southernwind has provided top of the line customer service with their weekly maintenance visits and responding to any concerns we have. You will find the owner of the company active on the job site, and always available for questions, long after the project concludes. Highly recommend Southernwind Pools!

We love our pool! Mike was very patient and really took time to listen on the design side. He took the time to learn what we wanted, presented options and was a real partner in working with us to deliver the pool and space that is the envy of our neighbors! John was constantly in touch updating us on the construction piece, process and timelines. Every construction project had it's challenges, ours was no exception. But any time something came up John would loop us in right away with a call or a text. Every challenge was resolved to above and beyond our satisfaction. It's this level of personal service that really say a lot about Southernwind.

Great experience designing pool with Mike. He listened to the ideas of my entire family which were not always on the same page, and helped us find a design that worked for us all. The pool is beautiful and turned out amazingly like the computer representation. I enjoyed working with Mike. Great job!

Absolutely love our pool. We had 3 different designers and like Southerwind's design the best. The build quality is excellent and communication during the process was great. Highly Recommended.

I have used Southernwind Pools numerous times! Michael Molthan Luxury Homes Highly Endorses this firm. The exceeded my clients expectations and should be apart of you backyard experience.