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Distinctive Pools installs and maintains in-ground pools out of Rehoboth, a family-run shop the company says Michael Borges has owned and operated since 2005. It's BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, and on Google its 14 ratings average 4.1 stars. The detailed reviews back a real strength: reviewers who've had their pools for years single out Mike himself for staying reachable — a 2024 review, from a customer four years into pool ownership, says he answers both calls and after-hours texts and has personally taught them pool maintenance. Another 2024 review calls his installation work dependable and precise. But two specific, detailed complaints are worth reading closely. A 2025 review describes the company no-showing a scheduled pool opening, then discovering the pool had lost most of its water over the winter and taking two weeks to respond to a follow-up question about the replacement liner. A 2022 review describes a liner installed in 2020 that began rippling and pulling away from the walls within a year — after 15 trouble-free years with the prior liner — with no response to repeated calls for help. Both complaints center on the same theme: what happens if something goes wrong after the install, rather than the installation itself. Before signing, it's worth asking directly what the warranty covers on liner work specifically and getting a firm commitment on response time for post-install issues — the parts of the job that, on this record, haven't always gone smoothly.
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! If I could give zero stars I would! On May 9 2025 Mike's crew came to open our pool (after being a no show on the original date to open earlier in the week) and we found out the pool had leaked just about all of the water over the winter. It was determined that we needed a new liner. Mike informed us that it would be 2 weeks for a liner replacement. We immediately (same day 5/9) decided on a replacement liner and asked that it be ordered. We had a question about the stairs in our pool and wanted to know if they could be updated. It took Mike until 5/22 to get back to my husband with a quote on the stairs - which we were not going to end up doing due to cost. At that time Mike indicated he was ordering liner and my husband gave him a deposit - told it would be two weeks for it to arrive. The week of 6/2 Mike informed us that the liner would be arriving at the end of the week and he would pick it up as soon as it arrived. Since we didn't hear from Mike towards the end of the week my husband reached out to him again for a status update. No reply that week. The following week on 6/10 Mike finally replied and indicated that it was going to be at least three weeks before he could get us the liner and suggested trying another company. We also learned that he never ordered the liner in May when he told him to move forward to order and paid a deposit. This is completely unacceptable service and reflects extremely poorly on him as a business owner. Do not trust this company as unfortunately, Mike is a liar, unprofessional, and unreliable. Stay away.
Hands down the best pool installers around! I have had my pool for 4 years now and I couldn’t be happier. Mike and his staff have been right there answering questions and teaching me how to maintain every aspect of owning my pool. He answers not only the phone when I call but also texts after hours. Thank You Mike for your professionalism and your continued support with everything and anything I throw at you. Glad I met you!!
Perfectionist is just a few character traits that Mike holds when building and installing swimming pools. Dependable and trustworthy . There is not a job out there he cannot do! So if you want a swimming pool done correctly, this is the guy you should call. They say action speak louder than words and with Mike he’s all about action!!!
Very professional , great customer service and best price around Would highly recommend. If you want a great pool contact distinctive pools
Great service. A+
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Certified attributes are verified against the public registry. Others are the business's own statement.
Added 2 new photos
Added 7 new comments, added 40 new photos, established 2.5 rating
Service manager Greg, praised for years4.5
Handles renovations and challenging existing pools4.2
Neglected pool revivals4.1
Verified license4.4
Repairs described as reasonably priced3.2
Inground pool builds3.7