A Pool, Raised Spa & Fire Pit in St. Johns: Why James O. Chose Castle Pools After 10 Bids
“Castle Pools gave us what we asked for without trying to sell us what we did not need.”
Designed Around How the Family Actually Uses the Backyard
James O. and his family in St. Johns County came to us with a detailed base design and a clear idea of what they wanted: a pool and raised spa that fit into a larger backyard plan, built by a team they could reach directly. A year after completion, they wrote up their experience and gave us permission to share it. The words below are theirs.
Ten Bids, One Decision
“Before selecting a builder, we conducted a thorough bid process involving 10 different pool builders in the area. Price mattered, but we were not simply looking for the lowest bidder. We wanted the builder who offered the best overall value, understood exactly what we were trying to accomplish, and gave us confidence that the finished product would be done right.”
James O., St. Johns
Andrew handled the estimate and the construction side. In James’s words, his proposal “ultimately provided the best value of all the bids we received,” and “just as important, he gave us confidence in both his knowledge and his approach.”
“We came into the project with a very detailed base design and definite ideas about what we wanted. Andrew listened instead of trying to redesign the project around what was easiest or most profitable to sell.”
James O., St. Johns
A Husband-and-Wife Team, Not a Sales Funnel
Kari worked with the family on finishes and design selections while Andrew ran construction and the mechanical side. Together they worked through finishes, lighting, heating, chilling, and automation.
“One thing we particularly appreciated was that they did not oversell us. There are plenty of bells and whistles available when building a pool, and several builders were happy to push them. Andrew and Kari helped us determine what would actually improve the pool and what simply was not necessary.”
James O., St. Johns
Two valves instead of a second pump
To get the automation behavior the family wanted, Andrew added two automated valves that were not in the original base price. That let the system do what they needed without a second pump.
“Rather than selling us another expensive piece of equipment, he found a smarter and more efficient way to accomplish the goal.”
James O., St. Johns
Still involved a year later
The relationship did not end at final inspection. Castle Pools is now adding a gas heater so the spa heats quickly in the colder winter months, another round of fine-tuning the system around how the family actually uses the backyard.
The Fire Pit They Expected to Wait a Year For
The fire pit was part of the family’s master plan, but they expected to build it about a year later. During pool construction, Andrew and Kari saw that the existing pavers on site could be repurposed and folded the fire pit into the ongoing work.
“Castle Pools was able to incorporate the fire-pit project into the ongoing construction for a fraction of what it would have cost to bring a contractor back and build it separately later. Instead of discarding perfectly good materials, they turned those pavers into an elegant gathering area that looks as though it was always intended to be part of the project.”
James O., St. Johns
Coordinating with the rest of the backyard
The pool was one of several projects happening at once. Andrew worked around the other contractors, kept the schedule moving, and steered decisions without turning each one into an upgrade.
“The project stayed on schedule, communication remained good, and everything ultimately came together as one cohesive backyard rather than a collection of unrelated projects.”
James O., St. Johns
“Bigger Does Not Automatically Mean Better”
“We have noticed an increasing number of larger, out-of-town pool companies entering our area. Some have impressive advertising and are quick to promote every available upgrade and feature. But bigger does not automatically mean better. With Castle Pools, we were able to work directly with Andrew and Kari, a local husband-and-wife team with strong ties to our community. We knew who was responsible for our project, we could reach them when we needed them, and they took a personal interest in getting it right.”
James O., St. Johns
“A year later, we are still extremely happy with our decision. Andrew and Kari gave us what we asked for without trying to sell us what we did not need, and they exceeded our expectations in quality, schedule, and customer service. We would choose Castle Pools again.”
James O., St. Johns
Building in St. Johns County? See how we handle permits and HOA review in St. Johns County, or read how a Castle Pools project works from first call to first swim.
Start With a Free In-Home Consultation
Andrew will walk your yard, listen to what you actually want, and give you a design and an itemized quote. No pressure, no upsell.