California’s Gunite & Pool Plastering

Jose & Dawnel where a pleasure to work with, they did a complete remodel on my pool including water fall features .I did get 3 other bids on the pool, and I felt that they had the crew to get the job done and the price was right. I would recommend them.

Completely unsatisfied with this company!!!
We entered into a contract with California’s Gunite (CAG) to resurface our pool with plaster/​pebble, fix and reinforce any pool shell cracks, install new granite tile, install new stone coping, and to install a new pool skimmer in September 2013.
Their negligence in installation of the pool skimmer and neglect in responding to our repeated concerns about an immediate loss of pool water upon filling, have caused us significant property damage. This damage includes heaving and cracking of approximately 50% of our brand new (4 week old), over 1000 square feet concrete pool decking. They attempted to install/​fix the skimmer three times but is still leaked. They denied that it was leaking multiple times. We finally got them to bring in a 3^rd party leak detection company that confirmed the leak. We had another company redo the skimmer and have had no problems ever since.
We had numerous other instances of poor workmanship, including, 1) installing the wrong color coping stone, 2) improper coping stone installation including cracked and poorly cut, thin, weak stones, 3) improper installation of new pool light, 4) new step extension built blocking water return plumbing fixture, 5) missing grout in tile/​coping, 6) cracked tiles, 7) inadequate support for coping stone at mouth of skimmer, 8) plaster dust left on inadequately protected concrete decking during plaster install, 9) installing the original new skimmer non-​level, and 10) inaccurate quote regarding cost of old plaster removal (adding $ 750 to our cost after signing original contract).
We also documented over a dozen instances of «no-​shows» even though CAG confirmed we were on its schedule. There was no follow-​up communication for days in a row from CAG. We have communicated with multiple individuals at CAG on numerous occasions to address this pattern of poor communication, poor quality of workmanship, as well as multiple, unexplained delays. In addition, there have been multiple occasions in which we received mis-​information regarding the pool remodel, such as informing us something had been done a certain way when indeed it had not.
I would warn any potential customer that this pattern of neglect and poor communication was the norm with this company. Incredibly frustrating!
Honestly, I wish I could give zero stars.
UPDATE (response based on CAG reply):
The above review is an honest account of our experience with this company meant for the consumers to be informed when making a decision about a pool company. It is not meant to get anything else out of CAG. But rather inform the public about a hellish 4 month experience that we had trying to deal with this company.
Juan is correct that both parties signed an agreement in Dec 2013. That agreement included us getting a refund for part of the cost of the project to cover the cost of the damages and to replace the still leaking skimmer. The agreement also relinquished CAG responsibility (i.e. no more warranty) for the «Pool Shell, Waterline Tile and Coping.» That stipulation was requested by CAG AND the wording of that specific item in the agreement was provided by CAG as part of the negotiated agreement. Once this agreement was met and after dozens and dozens of hours calling, meeting in person, emailing with this company throughout this 4 month ordeal, there was nothing left to say at that time. After all was signed, they wanted to meet one last time to «talk,» we declined.
Juan is also correct that we contacted him last week regarding a crack that appeared in the plaster/​pebble (pool surface) after 1.5 years since it was installed, for which the 3 year warranty was NOT outlined in the agreement as being forfeit. We have not approached CAG regarding the items covered in the agreement (i.e. «The pool shell» = the rebar/​gunite, nor the «Waterline Tile and Coping.» They are refusing to do anything with the plaster/​pebble (pool surface) despite it not being part of the agreed upon document. We contacted him via email so that we could send the pictures of the crack and in that email provided both our home and cell phone numbers.
Another example of this company, not honoring their responsibilities.

Beware. I see other client have shared my experience. Once California Gunite has your money you are dead to them. California Gunite got the contract to completely redo the pool of a house in Concord, CA, that I had bought in 2003. it was a mess. Rebar was rusting through the bottom. The surround was fake 1970s concrete rock (sharp!) In 2005 I sought a complete overhaul. So long as there was money waiting for the completion of the job, CG was on the job.
A few weeks after I wrote the final check I noticed a patch of tiles that had been overlooked in the grouting process. I must have called 20 times and emailed 10. Radio silence.
Recently I noticed some ridges developing in the bottom — mostly in the shallow end. I’m no pool expert but I phoned CG to see if I could get an expert to take a look and make recommendations. My needs must have been misunderstood because I got a callback in a flash from a saleswoman. When I explained the problem she said, «We don’t do repairs. I don’t even know who to refer you to.» When I said I just wanted a flyby and a recommendation, she said she would email the owners.
This is the email she sent to Jose and Juan:
Hi,
This came to me as a lead, I called to get more information. This is not a remodel lead, but a customer you redid in 2005. He thinks he has regular plaster and wants repairs to the plaster. I explained that there was a three year warranty and it is no longer under warranty. He wanted to know if we could help him with this problem. I told him I would forward his request to you and that you would determine whether or not we could help him repair the plaster.
She had underlined the word «repairs» like it was a dirty word but the formatting didn’t come with the copy-​and-​paste. I had not asked for «repairs!» (Underlined) I asked for an opinion.
You can guess what happened: Radio silence.
I waited and waited and I emailed and emailed. The last one said basically «if you’re done with me, at least give me a call to say so. Then I’ll move on.»
Again, radio silence. I would call their customer service abominable. .. if they had any customer service. No stars for this bunch.
Late note: 2 hours after this review was posted and I emailed the owners and the saleswoman the link to the review. .. I got a call from Juan. I told him I’d moved on.

How do you get California Gunite to call you back? I’ve been calling for a month and half to ge them to repair their work. They say, oh let me call you back in ten minutes, five minutes, tomorrow, I PROMISE. and never ever do they call back. I am so frustrated!!!

California’s Gunite & pool plastering exceeded our expectations, responded to our requests and questions, and gave valuable advice when planning our pool renovation. Ron Tatti (Sales Manager) and Jose Arellano (Project Manager) were most helpful throughout the project and were always available for consultation. Each workgroup respected our property and cleaned up the area before departing at the end of the day. Thanks Ron and Jose for a job well done. We love our new pool!

I heard great things about these folks so I invited them in the bidding process. The local South Bay based sales person was rude and arrogant — they were eliminated. We contacted the owners and forwarded the obnoxious email to them, but they didn’t seem to care either. No one contacted us.

We had CA Gunite resurface our pool, along with new tile, new plumbing and new equipment. As far as the work itself goes, I would’ve given them a 5 star. The crew always showed up on time, did their job and never left a mess. Jose Arellano was always there, answered every question and was very attentive to our needs and questions. Our pool was finished in less time than they predicted. Up until this point, it was an amazing experience and we couldn’t have been more happy. Our problems started after the work was completed. We had a new cleaning system installed (we went from an in-​floor cleaning system to a pressure sweep) AND we had all new equipment put in. This included a new adapter that was supposed to make our new equipment outside «talk» to our VERY old in-​house unit that is on the wall in our kitchen. Once our pool was full of water, Jose was supposed to show us how to use our new sweep and verify all our new equipment was working properly. We met with Jose and our newly hired pool guy (that we hired to do chemicals only). Jose assumed our pool guy was going to show us everything and admitted that when it comes to equipment, he is not knowledgeable. What followed were WEEKS of trying to get Jose to get someone over to our house that KNEW what he was talking about and show us how to use all this new equipment, plumbing and adapter. Jose would not answer emails or phone calls. We tried to get a hold of him daily to get these issues resolved but he would not respond. We finally stopped calling him and started calling Martin, who is in charge of scheduling and he took care of everything. Martin said Jose did not inform him of what was going on and if he had, it would’ve been taken care of. The bottom line is, when we were paying CA Gunite, all was well with the world and our needs were #1. Once the pool was done and the money stopped, Jose could not have cared less about what was happening. It is such bad business to offer new equipment/​installation to someone who is paying for it, yet you know nothing about that equipment or how to show your customer how to use it!!! It left a horrible taste in our mouths and the stress it caused us was terrible. Although the work on the pool is amazing, we would NOT recommend this company.

Last year in October 2011 I was looking for someone to do a depth conversion in my pool. It was 3 ½ feet to 8 ½ feet and it did this very quickly. There was very little shallow end. The pool basically was for swimming. Children couldn’t play in it because there was no area to stand unless you where a very tall adult.
After getting several estimates I decided to use California Gunite. They gave me a very good price and Kelly the salesman and Jose the foreman where both great to work with. Kelly helped me redesign the pool. I added a Acapulco Bench (or some people call it a Shamuu Shelve) in the shallow end. Redesigned the stairs, and added a step out in the deep end. It was almost like building a new pool. The pool is 2 ½ feet at the Acapulco Bench and the deep end is 5 1/;2 feet. It is a great pool to swim and play in. My grandson loves the Acapulco Shelve because he can stand on the shelve and play without the water going over his head. I can put a lounge or a chair on it and read a book while sitting in the water.
I have to say this is the best money I have spent in my house since owing it these last 10 years. We rarely used the pool before, but now it is always around 85 degrees. (I have solar panels which didn’t keep the pool warm before) Plus the pool looks GREAT and California Gunite did a great job.
I would suggest if your looking to redo your pool give California Gunite a call.

Looking for swimming pool repairs & renovations? Our pool had cracks and water was leaking into the ground behind the gunite & plaster. We had the cracks repaired and the pool renovated. Now it’s something I can proudly show to our friends and family!
I can’t rave enough about the work done on our pool by California’s Gunite. Their supervisor Jose Arellano was the best! He’s a workaholic, working even though he was running a fever and not feeling well at all during the Christmas holiday season. Jose was quick to respond to my many questions and concerns. The workers came in crews, each with their own specialty … demolition, installing rebars, installing the gunite, masory and lastly plastering. I think well enough of this company to put my facebook pictures in this review. You can see the progress on my pool repair at:
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Ron Tatti, Manager of Remodel Sales, (925−960−9500×228) is honest, personable and true to his words. I could have gotten a slightly better price with another company, but Ron and Jose conveyed honesty that gave me peace of mind that they were doing the best job for me!
Update 6−27−12: I read Paul A. review of this company with interest. I concur that the water level in our renovated pool is not completely level with the tiles. But I had cracks repaired not a new pool put in. The pool itself is like a bowl that sits in the ground, if the ground shifts (as it does in earthquake country that we live in), the pool bowl will also shift and perhaps tilt. The difference in our pool is maybe a half inch difference, but the tiling that was done followed the decking we have around the pool which had settled a little in one corner. It would have looked worst to have leveled tiles (and water) which did not match our decking.
To California’s Gunite credit, we had an earthquake since we had the pool renovated and a small crack appeared by our steps. Even though California’s Gunite cannot warrant against new cracks because of earthquakes, they came out promptly and repair this crack without further cost to me.
I’m happy with our renovated pool and it makes me content to sit outside and admire the workmanship and look of our pool.