My Sky Blue Pools Pool Nightmare

I got Johan Bothma, owner of Sky Blue Pools in Krugersdorp to redo my pool in Wilro Park around February 2018. Just a mere 7 months later, I sent him the first photo showing that the new marbelite on the step was already dissolving. He said it’s not an issue and I should just keep him updated. I then got in touch with him again in November 2018 saying its getting worse, he promised they will come and fix it as soon as possible. I followed up again on the 8th of February 2019, same story, they will come and fix it. He always tells you he will come a day or two later and then just don’t pitch up. No excuses made, no rescheduling of a new date, just don’t pitch up and leave you waiting. At this point, I sent him another photo showing an obvious hole forming on the step. He promised he will come and fix it... Nothing.

I then followed up again on the 16th of September 2019. Again, the hole is now much bigger and he once again promises to come and fix it. Nothing... I then followed up again on the 26th of September, they eventually come and fix it on the 28th of September 2019, a full year and three months after the first photo was sent to him. My expense to drain water but the step is now “fixed”. They only redid the marbelite on the step, I then showed them on the day that I am concerned that the marbelite still seems to come off everywhere else too as it still makes a black residue when you rub it with your finger.

On the 27th of January 2020, I sent him a photo of another new hole that appeared elsewhere in the pool. Johan Bothma blamed the supplier of the marbelite, he said he will get them to come and have a look. Never heard from him again... I followed up again on the 13th of November 2020 and he said he will come and have a look. Never heard from him again...

On the 13th of January 2021, I followed up again and said I am going to drain the pool as there are holes and they must come and fix it already. I could literally feel a deep gash in the deep side of the pool with my foot. I drained the pool as they said they will come and fix it and I can remove the water in the meantime. At this point, I still gave them the benefit of the doubt as all I wanted was for my pool to be fixed for once and for all. We had some rain for about 2 weeks shortly after I drained and then I started following up again. Constantly making appointments saying they will come and then simply don’t pitch up. This is the modus operandi of Sky Blue Pools and Johan Bothma.

On Friday the 21st of February 2021, a guy finally pitches up to come and “fix” the pool. They closed the holes with cement and started painting a thing layer of marbelite over the pool immediately after. I told the guy that they have to wait for the cement to dry as you can’t paint over wet cement. He said don’t worry the cement can be painted over when wet as it dries extremely quickly. They then proceeded to paint over the wet cement just 2 min after closing the holes. He said I must fill the pool with water later that same evening. I followed his instructions and the moment the water touched the cement, the thin layer of marbelite paint popped open exposing the hole again. I sent Johan Bothma a photo and asked them what the plan is as we are now back to step 1. This entire fix was an absolute joke as the thin layer of marbelite would have come off in a few weeks anyway. Good thing this happened otherwise I would have had to drain the pool for a third time soon. The guy just mixed some cement, bonding liquid and a little bit of black marbelite powder and then used a paint brush to paint on one single layer over the mess they made the first time. I asked the guy how a single layer of this mixture will solve the problem and he said should not worry, it will last for years. Now that it’s dry, it’s very clear they missed a lot of places anyway. Since then, they have made more appointments for them to come and fix the pool. Always telling me they will come the next day, the next day, the next day. Now the thin layer they painted over to try and disguise the problem is simply starting to peel of from the sun as my pool is still standing empty because they have not been back for a few days.

On the 17th of February 2020, they drop a guy off at my gate with a can of Univeral Uni**** paint. He now wants to know from me what to do... He was planning on painting over the massive holes and even the peeling layer of marbalite just to hide the damage. I told him he can't paint the pool as the holes are not even fixed yet. He did not even bring cement with him to the site. He left without doing anything.

The next day, they come to “fix” the hole again. The guy did not even bring a trowel and tired to float the cement with his hands. On the 28th of February, I noticed the cement done on the 18th of Feb is once again coming loose again. This is because they do not come back to finish the things they start. I am so frustrated by this situation, it’s extremely disappointing to have put trust in this team and then get treated this way. Since the 18th of Feb, I have sanded off most of the marbalite myself as I knew they where probably not going to do it. While I waited for them to come back, I decided to phone the company on the bucket of paint to ask them about the product they are about to use. Needless to say, it’s not the correct product for pool application and if they painted this product on my pool it would have peeled in a week. They did not intend on using a primer or sealer and simply wanted to paint a black layer of waterproofing used for roof/walls on my pool surface. Luckily I stopped them as the provider of the product said it would have been yet another disaster. – I asked Johan what is going on and he told me the product in the container is not the product shown on the paint bucket, they poured in another product used on another pool. Needless to say, on the 1st of March the foreman said he is coming to fetch the paint as he took the wrong product... Trying to get hold of Johan Bothma to discuss the issue often seems impossible. He does not answer or phone back when I call him. He does not respond to message and simply ignores me. After 3 years of being an absolute gentleman about this entire situation, this is how Sky Blue Pools handle themselves. They eventually came to fix the pool by painting on a rubberized layer that lasted on the 2nd of March 2021. They did not acid wash or treat the cement with any form of primer. I also noticed they painted over freshly sanded dusty areas without even cleaning the surface, I had to ask them to redo some areas as they paint did not stick to the surface of the pool. This temporary fix lasted until the 8st of April 2021, just over a month later I noticed it started peeling. I informed both Johan and Natasha and did not receive any response.

I have now decided to use another pool company to fix this mess as Sky Blue Pools have no idea how to renovate a pool. I have drained my pool 3 times at my cost over and above the renovation cost paid to them, I won’t drain it for them again.

I strongly urge you to consider using another company for your pool renovation or construction jobs as Sky Blue pools are unquestionably clueless about what customer service is. Luckily I have the entire 3 year Whatsapp conversation proving all of the above. I have been ridiculously polite every step of the way and have been taken advantage of...

Use Skyblue Pools at your own risk.