If you are researching Sacramento pool builder reviews before choosing
a contractor, you are making the right move. A custom gunite pool is
one of the largest investments a homeowner makes — and who builds it
matters as much as what gets built. I’m Jim Chandler, a C-53 licensed
pool contractor serving the Greater Sacramento area and Sierra Foothills
since 1990. Every project I take on is designed and managed personally,
from the first CAD drawing to the final walkthrough. The reviews below
are from real clients, sourced directly from BBB, Google, and Houzz.
I’ll let them speak for themselves.
Verify C-53 License #585004 — California State License Board
Verified reviews from:
Verified BBB Business Profile |
Jim Chandler Pools Google Reviews |
Jim Chandler Pools Houzz Profile
Review excerpts below are reproduced from the original
third-party platforms and linked to their source.
Recent Sacramento Pool Builder Reviews
These are the most recent reviews submitted by clients following
completed projects in the Sacramento area and Sierra Foothills.
Every project listed here was designed and built personally by Jim
Chandler.
Tyler Kidd — City of Rocklin
5 out of 5 stars |
Read Tyler Kidd’s Google Review | March 2026
Worked with Jim to design a pool in our small tight backyard. Came out
great. Very happy. Kids love it. And was able to create more space than
expected. Jim was very communicative and returned calls and answered
questions in a timely manner, which is very important to us.
Christie C. — Sierra Nevada Foothills
5 out of 5 stars |
BBB Review | June 2024
We had as near perfect an experience with Jim as our talented, extremely
knowledgeable and experienced contractor to make our swimming pool dream
a reality. We wanted a lap pool with an attached spa and concrete deck
just outside our home on an almost solid rock ridge. Not a simple
request, but Jim was always very upbeat that we could get it done. He
led us through a number of iterations of CAD drawings that were so
helpful to really envision what we would be getting.We broke ground in early August and were swimming on Christmas Eve. Our
county inspector told us he had not seen a pool get built this quickly
in his memory. Jim was there to help every step of the way. He was
always available to answer any questions or concerns and managed his
loyal and very skilled subcontractors so well that it almost seemed
seamless, though I’m sure it wasn’t. We could not be happier with our
completed pool. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and yet extremely
functional. We use it every day and still can’t believe how fortunate
we are to have had Jim as our builder.
Richard Sambucetti — Placer County
5 out of 5 stars |
Google Review | September 2025
Jim designed our pool eight years ago. We were very happy with the
result then and over the years as maintenance questions have come up,
Jim is and has always been available for advice. We wanted a pool with
sophisticated cleaning capability and control of water chemistry. Jim
designed an under floor cleaning system and specified advanced chemical
distribution equipment that has performed very well over the years.
Recently, we had a question about a piece of equipment that needed
repair and his advice trumped that of our regular pool maintenance
people. I recommend Jim for his design ability and willingness to listen
to his clients during the design and construction processes as well as
for his accessibility and advice years after the pool was finished.
Sierra Foothills & Challenging Site Reviews
Hillside builds, rocky ridges, expansive soil, and narrow lots are
specialties that set Jim Chandler Pools apart from other Sacramento
pool builders. These reviews reflect projects where site conditions
required engineering experience and creative problem-solving.
ccme — Sierra Nevada Foothills
5 out of 5 stars |
Houzz Review | January 2024
We found Jim Chandler Pools through Houzz after seeing his wonderful
reviews and beautiful completed projects. My husband and I recently
bought a remote home in the Sierra Nevada foothills and wanted a lap
pool and attached spa built close to the home on a narrow strip of land
overlooking the entire Sacramento Valley to the coastal range.Jim worked with us to make that vision come true through first a series
of really helpful CAD renderings, to working with the county for
permits, to lining up his loyal and very skilled subcontractors. The
entire process was about as stress free as one could hope, and Jim kept
track of every detail, keeping us fully informed the entire time. Our
site being on a rocky ridge made the project particularly challenging,
but the end result made it so worthwhile. Despite the excavation
challenge, we were able to complete the project in a short enough period
of time that the county building inspector was amazed compared with
other pool projects in the area.Watching the incredible winter sunsets from our pool and spa exceeds any
resort experience we have ever had — and it’s all ours on our own
property. Thank you, Jim, for making this happen for us and being such
a fantastic designer and contractor. We can’t recommend you more highly.
Jeff McMenomey — Placer County
5 out of 5 stars |
Google Review | July 2023
We hired Jim Chandler to build our pool in 2022. We had limited options
due to our location and some builders not willing to work in our area.
For the few we found, all had mixed reviews, but the reviews we found
for Jim Chandler were good.Jim was good at working with us from a budget angle, making us aware of
choices that added cost and helping minimize aspects of the build where
we could. The duration of the project was about 7–8 months and was
within the timeline Jim quoted at the outset. Every step of the way Jim
communicated with us regularly to make us aware of what was happening
and confirm our choices. On any day when there were subcontractors doing
work on the project, Jim was here for at least part of the time making
sure they were doing their work according to the plan.Jim is very friendly and mild-mannered which helped reduce our stress
for what would otherwise be a worrisome, expensive major project. If I
was in need of another pool builder in the future, I would definitely
call Jim Chandler first.
Sacramento & Placer County Pool Builder Reviews
Jim Chandler Pools serves communities throughout Sacramento and
Placer County including Rocklin, Roseville, Granite Bay, Lincoln,
Auburn, and the surrounding Sierra Foothills. These reviews are from
homeowners who chose Jim Chandler for their custom gunite pool
projects.
Olivia Balcao — City of Sacramento
5 out of 5 stars |
Houzz Review | April 2022
When we purchased our retirement home we wanted to build a pool that we
had been wanting for years. We researched various pool building companies
for over a year and we reached out to several in order to make our
decision. Without a doubt Jim Chandler Pools was the most responsive.Jim made sure to coordinate with all of the contractors involved in our
complete backyard renovation. He advocated for us to make sure that our
renovation and the pool met all of our expectations. He had assured us
that he was hands on and would be with us every step of the way — which
was absolutely true. Jim would be on site for each step to ensure
everything was done to his expectations. He paid attention to every
detail.We absolutely love our pool and we couldn’t be any happier with the
experience of working with Jim. We were anxious in the beginning because
of the many horror stories we had heard from others. None of that
existed with Jim. We highly recommend Jim for both the pleasurable
experience and the quality of the work.
Houzz Verified Reviewer — Woodland Area
5 out of 5 stars |
Houzz Review | April 2021
This was our first pool, so we wanted to make sure we selected someone
who is a good pool designer and builder. We spent many hours researching
and carefully reviewed all the pool builders in our area. Many of the
local pool companies had mixed reviews. When I researched Jim Chandler
Pools, all his reviews were good across several different websites.During Jim’s first meeting with the City’s Planning department, he found
out we had very expansive soil — a problem when installing pools. Jim
explained the extra costs, and recommended changes to our design to help
cover the unexpected costs. Jim would be on site for each step to ensure
everything was done to his expectations. All the contractors Jim uses do
great work — on time, very professional, and they cleaned up after
completing their work.We are very happy we chose Jim Chandler Pools. He really enjoys his job
and it shows with the completed product. I am sure there are cheaper
pool builders out there, but if you want it done right then I highly
recommend Jim Chandler Pools.
Why Homeowners Recommend Jim Chandler Pools
Across more than three decades of custom gunite pool construction in
the Sacramento region, the themes in these reviews are consistent:
personal attention, on-site presence, honest communication, and
results that hold up for twenty years or more. These are the qualities
that define a pool builder worth trusting with a major investment.
Houzz Verified Reviewer — El Dorado County
5 out of 5 stars |
Houzz Review | November 2018
From our first meeting Jim’s attention to detail was spot on. I met a
man who truly loved what he did. It wasn’t a sale from our perspective.
It was about building a memory that would last us a lifetime. Jim spent
countless hours designing our beautiful pool and backyard. We had a very
strict budget and Jim worked very hard keeping us on track. He was here
for every major part of the project. I would recommend Jim over and
over. Our pool is amazing. Thank you Jim for all your time, effort, and
friendship.
Richard Sambucetti — Placer County
5 out of 5 stars |
Houzz Review | June 2017
Jim Chandler was the perfect choice for us. He is not your run of the
mill “custom pool” company. He is a pool designer first and a very
competent and knowledgeable builder once the design is finished. Jim
gave us personal attention from the start, listening to our ideas and
explaining options until he achieved a design that met our wishes. His
construction team was professional, timely, and built a high quality
pool. Jim was responsive and friendly to the end. If you’re looking for
your dream pool, please give Jim a call. We are very happy with both the
process and the end result.
Dynamic Designs Landscape — City of Rocklin
5 out of 5 stars |
Houzz Review | June 2017
Jim Chandler is a great pool builder. He listened to what I wanted and
designed a pool that has brought my family endless joy. He has a great
group of subcontractors that he has long relationships with and they are
excellent. My pool is 20 years old and has never needed replastering.
My neighbors that used other pool builders have all had to replaster
their pools.A pool is one of the most expensive investments you can add to your
home. Work with a builder with credibility and creativity. Jim Chandler
is your guy.
Jim Chandler Pools Reviews — Summary
Every review on this page reflects a project I designed and built
personally — from small backyard pools in tight Sacramento lots to
challenging hillside vanishing edge builds in the Sierra Foothills.
Reading through Sacramento pool builder reviews is one of the best
ways to evaluate a contractor before making a commitment. I welcome
that scrutiny. If you’re researching custom gunite pool builders in
the Sacramento area or Placer County, I’d welcome the chance to talk
about your project.
About Jim Chandler Pools
Jim Chandler Pools has built custom gunite swimming pools for more
than 35 years throughout the Greater Sacramento region and Sierra
Foothills. The firm specializes in hillside construction and engineered
vanishing edge pools.
As a second-generation pool builder, I bring deep technical knowledge
to every project. I previously served as a paid Swimming Pool (C-53)
Subject Matter Expert panelist for the California Contractors State
License Board (2012–2017). That experience strengthened my understanding
of engineering standards and regulatory compliance.
I focus on challenging sites where others hesitate. Hillside
construction is my specialty. Complex structural conditions are my
expertise. Projects requiring more than standard construction are where
I do my best work.
Serving Sacramento, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Auburn, Grass Valley,
Colfax, Folsom, and El Dorado Hills.
California Contractor License #585004
Schedule a complimentary consultation | (916) 624-5296
Every pool on this page started with a single conversation.
Ready to talk about yours?
See Recent Pool Projects |
See the Colfax Vanishing Edge Case Study |
About Jim Chandler — Expert Pool Builder