“Our goal is to do a quality job. When we leave there, we want that pool to sell us another one.”
—J.L. Thompson

Building a Locally-Owned Father-Son Family Business:
Contractors ask other contractors who they would recommend and J.L. Thompson Construction is well-respected in the industry, which continues to earn repeat business. J.L Thompson Construction’s pool business has thrived for 42 years based on word of mouth referrals due to their reputation for attention to detail and quality construction.

Owner J.L. Thompson got his start by doing a favor for a friend. “I used to be in the grading business and this buddy of mine wanted a swimming pool dug. I went over there and dug the pool for him and it took about 2 hours. The pool builder asked me to come to work for him.”

Since that first project, he and his team, which eventually grew to include his son Bryan Thompson, have created every type of pool, rainfall, mushroom, geyser, playground, fountain and custom water feature imaginable. Costs range from $60,000 to $500,000, but most commercial projects want a Junior Olympic size pool. Pools are built year-round and a small residential pool can be done as quickly as one week with larger projects taking four to five weeks. With a dozen employees and over 200 subcontractors, most projects will have between three and 20 people on site depending on the phase of construction.

Bryan has grown up learning the business and took over in 2014. “I am very proud of my son Bryan,” proud father J.L. said. “All the contractors get along with him and he has run the construction end with no problems.”

This father-son family business can handle all size projects and specializes in community, apartment complex and hotels pools.

Expertise:
With so many years of pool construction in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, it is no surprise that J.L. Thompson Construction has earned positive recommendations from building contractors all over town. “We just need the four corners. The contractors know they don’t have to watch over us,” J.L. explained the level of trust earned through so many years of quality work. “We help watch over the whole project to make sure that everything that needs to be covered is.”

J.L. Thompson Construction can draw the pool design, knows the environmental and building codes and can send it in for review and get approval from the architect – making the process completely turnkey.

“It doesn’t matter what it is; I can build it. It doesn’t matter where it is; I can build it. I have got pools in swamps and sitting on pylons,” J.L. said. “I can figure out what size pump and pipe size because I have been doing it so long.”

Quality:
“We are going to build it right, or we aren’t going to build it.” J.L. Thompson Construction doesn’t cut corners. “I don’t want someone hurt over a 50-cent grounding clamp,” J.L. said. “When we move into a job, we take pictures every step of the way.” All projects, whether corporate or residential, are treated with the same level of attention to detail and photos are taken at every step to document the quality of size and strength of rebar, PVC piping, grounding and steel ties.

“We save people money by knowing the law.” J.L. said he has helped get a lot of code improvements passed because he has attended State Legislative sessions, listening sessions and has been able to help all of customers by being knowledgeable about environmental and building codes.

With an A+ record with the Better Business Bureau, the reputation of quality work is well deserved. J.L. said, “I have been in business all these years, and I have yet to have a complaint.”