Premier 1 Pool and Patio Reviews: What to Check Before Hiring

Premier 1 Pool & Patio is a Northeast Ohio-based pool and outdoor living contractor (Stow, OH) that builds inground pools, spas, patios, and custom outdoor spaces primarily across Summit County and northern Portage County. Based on the available verified customer reviews and the company's stated processes, they show real strengths in communication and site professionalism, but they are a young business (incorporated December 2023) and are not BBB Accredited, so your due diligence steps matter more than usual here. Here is everything you need to evaluate them before signing.

What Premier 1 Pool and Patio actually does

Premier 1 Pool & Patio is a family-owned contractor run by Genaro and Erica Perez, operating out of a physical showroom at 3310 Kent Rd, Unit 7, Stow, OH 44224. Their phone number is (330) 808-1112 and their primary project email is [email protected]. The company also appears in municipal contractor records under a Macedonia, OH address (1522 Elizabeth Lane, Macedonia, OH 44056), which is the address tied to their registered trademark. Both addresses are the same legal entity, so do not confuse the different locations as different companies.

Their core offering is inground pool construction in three formats: gunite (custom-shaped concrete), fiberglass (pre-fabricated shell), and hybrid (a combination of both). Beyond the pool itself, they build integrated spas, waterfalls, deck jets, bubblers, tanning ledges, automatic safety covers, saltwater chlorination systems, LED lighting, smart home automation, and custom rock and fire features. On the patio and outdoor living side, they handle decking, landscaping tie-ins, and material selection through their showroom (tile, stone, coping, decking options). The brand positions itself around the phrase 'The Ultimate Choice for Luxury Pools and Outdoor Living,' which is a registered trademark, so expect pricing to reflect a premium-tier positioning.

Where they serve

• Akron, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent, Tallmadge
• Munroe Falls, Twinsburg, Aurora, Macedonia, Bath
• Fairlawn, Copley, and surrounding Summit County and northern Portage County communities

If you are outside these areas, call and ask directly. Their stated service area is fairly specific, and hiring a contractor who has to travel significantly outside their normal zone can introduce scheduling issues you do not want on a multi-week or multi-month pool build.

How to read Premier 1 reviews without getting fooled

The first thing to sort out when reading any reviews for Premier 1 Pool & Patio is whether the review is talking about this specific company or one of the many similarly named pool contractors that exist across the country. Search for 'Premier Pool and Patio' or 'Premier 1 Pools' and you will find unrelated businesses in other states. To confirm you are reading the right reviews, cross-check the reviewer's location against Northeast Ohio, look for mentions of Genaro, Erica, or Dennis (staff named in on-site reviews), and verify contact details (330-808-1112) match. Do not let reviews from a Florida 'Premier Pools' or a California 'Premier 1 Patio' pollute your research.

Premier 1 hosts a reviews page directly on their own website. On-site testimonials have an inherent credibility gap because the business controls what gets published. That said, the reviews on their site include specific names, dates (going back to March 2024 through at least May 2025), and concrete project details rather than just generic praise, which makes them more useful than anonymous star ratings. Still, cross-reference them against third-party platforms. Their BBB profile (opened May 2024) is the most useful independent data point right now. The BBB notes they are not accredited, which simply means they did not apply for or pay for accreditation, not that they have complaints.

When you read any pool contractor review, weight these signals over star ratings alone: Did the reviewer describe a specific phase of the project (excavation, plumbing, finish work)? Did they mention timelines, change-orders, or budget? Did they name crew members or a project manager? Vague five-star reviews ('Great experience, highly recommend!') tell you almost nothing. A four-star review that says 'tile on the tanning ledge lifted at year four but they came back and fixed it' tells you far more about how this company handles post-build issues.

What verified customer reviews actually say

What customers consistently praise

• Communication: Multiple reviewers, including a verified customer named Ted R., specifically praise being 'kept informed at every stage' with no surprises.
• Site professionalism: Crew described as punctual and leaving the worksite 'clean and tidy each day,' which is genuinely notable on a pool build where excavation creates significant mess.
• Transparent pricing: Ted R.'s review explicitly mentions 'no surprises or hidden costs,' a signal that their written estimates were honored.
• Workmanship quality: Nicole A. (May 2025) describes 'absolute quality work' on a concrete pool and names the principals (Erica, Genaro, Dennis) by name, suggesting personal involvement in the project.
• Post-build responsiveness: One review describes a tile issue on a tanning ledge that developed on a gunite pool, and Premier 1 scheduled the repair 'in between jobs.' The reviewer was satisfied with the outcome.

What to watch for (gaps and cautions)

• Young company: Incorporated December 2023, meaning they have roughly two years of operating history as of mid-2026. They likely do not have a decades-long track record of how their pools age.
• Limited independent review volume: Most available reviews are on their own website. A larger third-party review pool (Google, Houzz, BBB customer reviews) would give more confidence.
• Not BBB Accredited: This does not mean they are problematic, but it means BBB has not independently vetted their business practices.
• Post-tile issue signal: The tanning ledge tile story is actually a mildly positive signal (they came back and fixed it), but it also tells you tile adhesion on horizontal water-line surfaces is something to ask about specifically during your consultation.

Workmanship quality: what to look for in their project details

Premier 1's stated build process for inground pools follows a logical and professional sequence: design consultation with a 3D design preview, then permitting and engineering, then excavation and structural build (gunite application, plumbing rough-in, tile, coping, and interior finish), then decking and landscaping, and finally a 'Pool School' walkthrough before you swim. That last step matters more than it sounds. A contractor who walks you through equipment operation and maintenance on day one is far less likely to leave you with an equipment problem in year two.

When evaluating workmanship claims, ask to see photos from completed projects across different pool types, particularly gunite pools, since those are the most labor-intensive and where craftsmanship variation shows up most clearly in the finish work (plaster, tile lines, coping joints). Ask how long the gunite shell is cured before tile work begins. Ask who applies the interior plaster finish and whether it is an in-house crew or a subcontractor. Premier 1 emphasizes 'one in-house team,' but it is worth confirming which specific phases use subcontractors, if any.

These timelines are Northeast Ohio averages and will vary based on weather, permit turnaround, and your municipality's inspection schedule. Do not treat them as guarantees. Ask what has caused delays on past projects and how those were communicated to the homeowner.

Communication, scheduling, and what customers actually experience

The most consistent positive theme across Premier 1's verified reviews is communication. Multiple customers describe being kept informed at every stage and point to the principals being personally reachable. On a multi-month gunite build, that kind of touchpoint matters enormously. Gaps in communication are where most pool contractor disputes start: a homeowner does not know when excavation is happening, crew shows up unexpectedly, or the permit delay is not explained and the project just goes quiet.

Before you sign, ask directly: who is my single point of contact once construction starts? Premier 1 markets a 'one team, one point of contact' model, which is exactly what you want in theory. Ask whether that contact is Genaro, Erica, or a designated project manager, and what their typical response time is to questions during the build. Also ask how they communicate: phone, text, or a project management app. Some contractors use apps like Buildertrend that give homeowners real-time progress photos and schedule updates, which is an upgrade over a weekly phone call.

On scheduling, get the expected start date and the anticipated phase sequence in writing before you pay your deposit. Ohio pool season is compressed by weather, so delays that push excavation into fall can cascade into the following spring. Ask what their typical backlog looks like and how many projects they run simultaneously.

Pricing, permits, warranties, and change-orders

Pricing transparency

Premier 1 brands itself on 'transparent pricing' and 'no surprises or hidden costs,' which is the right promise but needs to be backed up by the actual contract you sign. Before you pay anything, get an itemized written estimate that breaks out excavation, gunite or fiberglass shell, plumbing, electrical, tile, coping, interior finish, decking, equipment, and any custom features separately. A lump-sum quote makes it impossible to understand where costs change if scope changes.

Change-orders

Change-orders are where pool projects go sideways on cost. Ask specifically: what triggers a change-order? Common legitimate change-order causes include hitting unexpected rock during excavation, soil conditions that require additional engineering, or homeowner-initiated scope additions. Less legitimate is getting surprised by costs that should have been foreseeable, like permit fees or utility locate fees. Premier 1 claims to handle all of that upfront, but read your contract to confirm permit and inspection fees are included in the stated price.

Permits and code compliance

Premier 1 explicitly states they handle Ohio permitting, utility locates, HOA approvals, and neighbor notifications, and they note that Summit County municipalities typically require both a pool permit and a separate fence permit. This is a legitimate and useful service because permit logistics in Northeast Ohio vary by municipality and can add weeks if mishandled. Confirm in writing that the permit fees are included in your project price, who is named as the permit holder, and who is responsible if an inspection fails and requires rework.

Warranties

Get warranty terms in writing before signing anything. Ask separately about: the structural warranty on the pool shell (gunite pools typically carry longer structural warranties than fiberglass); the equipment warranty (pumps, heaters, automation systems are usually covered by manufacturer warranties that the contractor passes through to you); and the workmanship warranty on tile, coping, decking, and finish work. The tanning ledge tile issue in one review is a useful prompt to ask specifically about horizontal tile adhesion and what their warranty covers for tile lifting or cracking in the first three to five years.

Your checklist before hiring Premier 1 (or any pool contractor)

1. Confirm entity identity: Verify you are dealing with Premier 1 Pool and Patio, LLC, based in Stow/Macedonia, OH, phone (330) 808-1112. Do not confuse them with similarly named pool companies in other states or regions.
2. Check their Ohio contractor license: Ask for their Ohio home improvement contractor registration number and verify it is active through the Ohio Attorney General's office or OCILB.
3. Visit their showroom: Their showroom at 3310 Kent Rd, Unit 7, Stow, OH 44224 lets you see tile, stone, coping, and decking options in person. This also tells you whether the business operates professionally from a physical location.
4. Request references from completed projects: Ask for three to five homeowners who had similar pool types (gunite if you want gunite) completed at least 12 months ago. Call them and ask specifically about communication during the build, whether the final cost matched the estimate, and how the company handled any issues after completion.
5. Get an itemized written estimate: Line-item breakdown for every phase, including permits, inspections, utility locates, and all equipment.
6. Ask about change-order policy in writing: What triggers a change-order, how are they priced, and what requires written approval before work proceeds?
7. Confirm the permit holder and fee inclusion: Who pulls the permits, who is legally responsible if work fails inspection, and are permit fees already included in your quoted price?
8. Get warranty terms in writing: Separate structural, equipment, and workmanship warranties with specific durations.
9. Ask for their current project backlog and your expected start date: Do not accept a verbal estimate. Get the proposed start date and phase timeline in writing.
10. Read their BBB profile: As of mid-2026, they are not BBB Accredited but have a profile open since May 2024. Check for any complaints and how the company responded.
11. Compare at least two to three contractors: Use a review aggregation site to shortlist alternatives like those reviewed under similar contractor profiles in your area to benchmark pricing and approach.

How Premier 1 compares to other outdoor living contractors

Premier 1 sits in the premium tier of Northeast Ohio pool builders by design: their branding, showroom, and in-house team model are all positioned to justify higher pricing. That model, when it works, delivers better project continuity than contractors who rely on multiple subcontractors for different phases. The tradeoff is that a younger company with a tighter team can also face capacity limits. If they are running several large gunite builds simultaneously, that 'one point of contact' promise gets harder to honor.

If you are comparing them against other regional contractors, you will find useful context in reviews for similar outdoor living companies. If you want to judge fit fast, look for recent outdoor living pool and patio reviews that cover both the patio work and the pool build, not just general impressions. Contractors that operate with comparable full-service models elsewhere in the market can give you pricing and process benchmarks. If you want deeper insight, the same kind of pool and patio design reviews guidance can help you evaluate layout, materials, and overall outdoor living functionality. Reading through profiles for companies like Prestige Pool and Patio or ProBuilt Pool and Patio gives you a useful comparison lens for how different contractors handle communication, permitting, and post-build warranty claims across the outdoor living space. The patterns you see across multiple contractor reviews are often more reliable than any single five-star testimonial.

Bottom line: is Premier 1 worth hiring?

For a Northeast Ohio homeowner in their service area, Premier 1 Pool & Patio looks like a legitimate, professionally operated contractor with real strengths in communication and site conduct. The verified reviews are specific, the principals are named and identifiable, and their stated process (from 3D design through Pool School handoff) reflects how a well-run pool company should operate. The main caution is that they are a young company, two years in as of mid-2026, and you are making a significant investment that needs to hold up for fifteen to twenty years. That is exactly why you need multiple references from completed projects, written warranties, and an itemized contract before you hand over a deposit. Do that homework, and Premier 1 looks like a reasonable shortlist contender for a premium outdoor living build in Northeast Ohio. If you are specifically looking for probuilt pool and patio reviews style details, focus on the project-specific notes, named staff, and what happened after the build Premier 1 Pool and Patio reviews.