We chose System Pavers because they were the premium option. They were also the highest bid we…read morereceived (around $38,000), but we believed we were paying for quality, expertise, and project management. Their sales presentation was impressive, and we were told they would coordinate everything for our pool patio remodel.
Unfortunately, our experience looked nothing like the polished videos we were shown.
The project stretched from February 5 until May 14 and required constant homeowner involvement. Instead of having a project manager ensuring the work met quality standards, I felt like I became the project's quality-control inspector, inspecting every stage of construction, discovering mistakes, documenting issues, and asking for them to be corrected. I expected to hire a contractor. Instead, I spent three months acting as the quality-control inspector for my own project.
During the project we dealt with broken pool pipes, damage to our pool aerator, fill tank, and underground plumbing, uncapped sprinkler lines beneath the patio, missing weed barriers, uneven pool coping, improper edging, damaged landscaping, and extensive construction debris left throughout our property and neighboring yards. In addition, several pieces of our personal property were damaged or destroyed, including a broken pool net, broken garden hoses, a seven-foot wooden shade post that workers used as a cutting surface, and a planter that was thrown away after crews moved retaining wall blocks to drive equipment through our yard. We also endured weeks of piles of pavers, dirt, rocks, and construction materials stacked in front of both our home and neighboring properties, along with plastic bottles, McDonald's bags, and other food waste left behind by crews.
One thing that became obvious was the lack of communication between departments. The salesperson promised certain things that the installation crews clearly never knew about. For example, we specifically discussed reusing our landscape rock, but it was thrown away during demolition because that information never reached the crew.
Customer service became increasingly frustrating. When we emailed management documenting workmanship concerns, we received little response regarding the actual problems but had no trouble receiving payment requests. During one phone call, the project manager told us, "We thought the ship had sailed on customer service." Hearing that after months of issues was incredibly disappointing.
One issue that really damaged our trust involved the sprinkler system beneath the patio. When water started shooting through the middle of the new pavers, we were initially told the lines had definitely been capped and it must simply be leftover water. Once someone inspected the problem in person, the response became, "Oh, we must not have capped them."
Because multiple pool components had already been damaged during demolition, I insisted on having the underground plumbing pressure tested before resurfacing the pool. That test found additional damage that required repair before the pool could be completed. Had we not pushed for that testing, the pool company told us hidden leaks could have remained beneath newly installed plaster.
Near the end of the project, I refused to sign the Certificate of Completion until the remaining work was finished. I was initially told work would have to be delayed if I didn't sign first. After refusing, management then said they would finish the work regardless of my signature. That experience left me questioning why there was so much pressure to sign paperwork before the project was actually complete.
To be fair, not everything was negative.
The second project manager, Jose Corral, completely changed the direction of the project. He was knowledgeable, honest, respectful, and immediately recognized many of the quality issues that had been overlooked. He worked hard to make things right and deserves recognition because he was the one person who consistently treated us like valued customers.
I understand that construction projects can have unexpected challenges. My frustration isn't that everything didn't go perfectly--it's that we paid premium pricing and repeatedly had to advocate for issues that should never have occurred in the first place.
Looking back, I don't regret investing in our home--I regret having to spend three months acting as the quality-control inspector on a premium-priced project. Homeowners shouldn't have to monitor every phase of construction just to ensure the work is completed correctly.
If you're considering System Pavers, keep detailed written records, photograph every phase of the project, inspect everything before it gets covered up, and don't sign completion paperwork until every punch-list item has been completed. I sincer
