Customer Testimonials

Clients: Craig and Ali Hanagan

Project: Pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, outdoor lighting, fence, and landscaping

Why: They love being outside as a family and they wanted to create a place where they could relax and their kids could play.

Services Used: Design, pool and landscape construction

When Craig and Ali bought their home in Midland, they quickly realized that the only member of the family who enjoyed the backyard was their pet dog, Chip. Chip loved digging and romping around in the bark mulch. The kids, however, were uncomfortably hot playing on the artificial turf, and Ali and Craig didn’t have much reason to even venture outside, although they both consider themselves outdoor people. After one particularly hot Independence Day with family visiting and no relief from the heat, Ali and Craig decided it was time to seriously consider renovating the backyard.

Ali and Craig’s top priorities were to have a spa and a beach entry. The pool that the design team came up with includes both of these and other beautiful features such as the water fountains and a gas firepit. They love turning off the pool lights and the landscape lights and turning on the firepit, watching the firelight dance as they relax in the spa. They were both also pleasantly surprised with how much they enjoy the sound of the cascading water. “We love hearing the fountains in the morning when we’re out drinking coffee. And at night, the fountains also drown out any traffic noise,” Ali said.  

Another sound barrier that the Extreme Exteriors team worked to create was the tall fence. This is also a great privacy screen. The height is proportional to the elevated patio area, where sunbathers can relax or the kids can jump fro into the pool below. A second patio area extends just out from the backdoor and adjacent to the new outdoor kitchen.  Everything was considered, including a grassy area for the kids to play when they’re not enjoying the pool.

Ali is happy that everything went according to plan. She and Craig originally planned on getting other bids for the job, but they were very encouraged with the design plan from the start and felt confident that the Extreme Exteriors team could produce the expected results. “Everything went really well and according to schedule,” Ali said.

The Hanagans look forward to many fun times outside in their new backyard. Long gone are the days when they couldn’t sit outside for more than ten minutes at a time. Whether they’re enjoying a meal with friends, watching their kids play in the pool, relaxing at night in the spa, or simply listening to the gentle sound of the water fountains, they have the backyard that they envisioned and that the Extreme Exteriors team had the privilege to build for them.   

Clients: Larry and Shea Hall

Project: Landscaping and pool, remodeling pool house, adding outdoor fireplace and patio area. Secondary addition of a pool slide and custom spa

Why: Their philosophy of giving is prevalent each day of their lives. Their home is a natural expression of their desire to share happy moments and to help people feel included and loved.

Extreme Exteriors Services Used: Design, construction, outdoor lighting, retail

When Larry and Shea Hall remodeled their home in 2007, they decided they would love to include a pool. Larry planted trees 25 years previously, so they had some beautiful, mature landscaping and plenty of room for the pool. Shea remembers how company president Randy Glenn presented a 3-D rendering of the pool design so they would be able to easily picture how the pool would look with the existing trees. She said, “He brought the design out and we loved it. When it was done, it literally looked just like the picture.” A few years later, Shea and Larry decided to replace their above ground hot tub with a new spa. The spa features jewel stone mosaic tile that matches the new slide. Shea and Larry both really love relaxing in the new spa. Shea especially likes how she has an app on her phone that allows her to adjust the spa’s temperature and lighting.

Shea mentioned that one of the reasons she loves her outdoor living area so much is because she can share it. “We love the way that it’s set up and the size of it. We can easily share it with one person or with 60! We have huge birthday parties for the grandkids. One of our most favorite things to do is host a swim party every year with the coaches and wives from Cooper High School.” She went on to say, “It’s very comfortable and easy to go from the pool to the pool house. The beach entries are great for kids and adults. It’s a little oasis in the middle of farmland!” Shea thoughtfully pointed out that you don’t have to go to Dallas to get a great pool. She has known company owners Randy and Mikea Glenn for a number of years and praises their “great vision and work ethic.” She was extremely happy that during both construction phases she and Larry were presented with a picture, a budget was set, and the end result was exactly what was promised. She and Randy are now talking about an addition to the porch and she’s really looking forward to seeing a design that’s never been done before. She appreciates the unique and original designs that the Extreme Exteriors team comes up with, which makes every home its own kind of beautiful.

• Clients: Don and Cathy Carruth
• Project: Landscaping, pavers, sod, garden beds
• Why: They wanted a low-maintenance look and also wanted their entire home and yard to be more cohesive.
• Extreme Exteriors services used: Design, construction, retail

Don and Cathy’s last name “Carruth” is synonymous with “adventurous”! It’s not often that you meet someone whose driveway is a runway but for Don and Cathy it’s part of everyday life. Don and Cathy can fly just about anywhere only steps away from their front door. Home has been Midland for 26 years, with the exception of two years they spent as newlyweds in the U.S. Virgin Islands, sailing the seas together. Talk about romantic! I would have loved to stay and listen to their many adventures, but I had a brief window of time to catch up with them before they hopped on the plane again.

The Extreme Exteriors team recently completed a full-scale renovation on both the front and backyards, extending to guest quarters behind the main residence. The area that looks most different is the front yard, which is pleasing to Cathy. What was once just dirt has been transformed to include a variety of plants and shrubs giving the front yard a more welcoming appearance. “It’s inviting to come home to,” she said. Cathy is also aware that curb appeal helps with resale value, so if she and Don ever need to sell their home, people will be more interested in it.

In both the front and back yards, easy maintenance was a key element of the design. Xeriscaped beds in both locations with drought-tolerant plants were critical to the Carruths, as they are frequently away and don’t want to worry about plants dying because no one is home to water them. A few unique projects that the Carruths requested were a gated dog run in the backyard, raised flower beds in the garden, and pavers beneath the windows. Cathy was especially happy with how she was able to work with the design team on the pavers. She had suggested pouring concrete so that she or Don would have a stable place to set up a ladder for washing the windows. The design team recommended using the same pavers that we used to extend their back patio. Cathy said the pavers are both helpful and attractive and that it was a good collaboration. Cathy and Don were also happy that the designers recommended a stucco finish over their existing fence. This was done to accentuate the color of the new Austin stone used in their portico. Cathy said the original portico arches failed and they couldn’t rebuild it using brick because their brick color was no longer in production. Thus, white Austin stone was used for the arches. The Extreme Exteriors design team also used Austin stone for border edging, giving their home and property a cohesive look.

When they are home, Cathy and Don enjoy the extension of their patio, where they like to relax in the new Adirondack chairs. “It’s our favorite place to sit and read the paper, have coffee, or enjoy breakfast together.” Cathy also enjoys the sound of the water bubbling nearby in the fountain that the Extreme Exteriors team installed. In describing their experience working with the team, Cathy was very complimentary, commenting on the team’s politeness. “There was an ease about speaking to people, and it was evident that they wanted to do their very best.”

Clients: Ryan and Deidre Stockard

Project: Pool, Sod and Irrigation, Pavers

Why: This is the Stockard’s forever home, and they want it to be a place of comfort and relaxation. Their two sons, Cash and Tucker, love the outdoors, and Ryan and Deidre wanted them to be able to spend plenty of time swimming and playing in the pool.

Extreme Exteriors Services Used: Design, Construction, Follow up Maintenance

Who are the best kinds of friends? The ones you can implicitly trust with your home! Ryan and Deidre are great friends with company president Randy Glenn and his wife Mikea, and there’s a big reason for that. “We have a connection of both being entrepreneurs with an outstanding work ethic. We both understand how to create something that no one else can create, and this builds confidence between us.”  That confidence turned into a very positive experience from start to finish.

Deidre was very pleased that she received in-depth explanations as the pool project took shape. “We were given lots of options and they helped explain what was feasible and what would look good,” she said.  “They were never pushy.” During construction, Deidre said she always received very good information on what was happening next and who would be working at their home. And when the pool was completed, she was very thankful that the Extreme Exteriors team made sure she understood how to use the chemicals, how often they should be used, and when it was safe for her boys to use the pool. She appreciated the feeling she got that the door was always open if she had questions, and that we took the time to make sure they loved the final results. “I always recommend Extreme Exteriors because of the process,” Deidre said.

Although the Stockard’s pool has only recently been completed, they have already enjoyed some memorable events, such as hosting their supper club, celebrating Ryan’s birthday, and getting friends together for Memorial Day Weekend. The pool was especially welcome for Memorial Day, as the area’s lakes were closed due to dangerously high water levels. Everyone who comes over notices that the pool fits right in with their home and that it looks like it’s always been there. That’s one of the major goals that Deidre wanted to achieve. Deidre and Ryan are both very happy that the colors of the pavers, the stone, and the shape of the pool all look natural and match the mood of their home. Deidre’s other “must-haves” were the waterfall and the jumping rocks. The waterfall cascades into the deepest part of the pool, and as the boys grow older, they will never have to worry about hitting the bottom of the pool! Deidre and Ryan look forward to their home being a place where the boys’ friends will want to come over and hang out, especially during their middle school and high school years. In the meantime, Deidre and Ryan are having fun watching the boys experience some swimming “firsts” together, like putting on googles and going underwater.

The Stockards know that this is their forever home, and they thoughtfully considered the place they wanted it to be. They had confidence that Randy and the Extreme Exteriors team had the vision and the skill to make it happen. We’re thankful that Deidre and Ryan recommend Extreme Exteriors to their circle of friends and acquaintances, and that we were given the opportunity to work with such a wonderful family!

Clients: Darla and Chip Bennett

Project: Pool/Spa (Spool), Pavers, Sod, Landscaping

Why: They owned a ranch, where their grandkids visited to go hunting and fishing. Once they relocated to Abilene, they wanted to have a way to entertain their grandkids. They also wanted a way that they could cool down on hot days too!

Extreme Exteriors Services Used: Design, Construction, Follow-up Maintenance

“We could not be happier, everything was very professional.” “The pool was exactly what I envisioned, in fact, it exceeded our expectations. It’s the best money we’ve spent in a long time!” As you can tell, Darla and Chip are thrilled with their new pool! It can be referred to as a spool, because eight spa jets are built in so it functions as a pool or a spa depending on what they want. A remote control adjusts the temperature so it’s very easy to enjoy optimal conditions. For Chip and Darla’s grandchildren who live close by, that means lots of summer fun cooling off in the pool. For their three grandkids who live in Arkansas, they get to enjoy it as a spa when they visit at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Chip and Darla are very happy with the year-round capability that they enjoy with the addition of the spool.

The Bennetts relocated to Abilene from Denver City almost five years ago and thought that their lot was too small for a pool. But one day when Chip was walking around the neighborhood, he saw a spool in one of his neighbor’s backyards and found out that it had been completed by the Extreme Exteriors team. With this information in mind, he contacted us about finding the right design that would work for his home. Chip and Darla were very impressed with the professional design plan they received. Chip appreciated that the plans were to scale and included a key to where the plants would go. They received a competitor’s bid, but he only drew them a pencil sketch on a piece of paper, so Chip and Darla felt that there was no comparison when it came time to choose a builder.

Darla initially thought that the pool would have to be built in their side yard where there was an open space. But in working with the Extreme Exteriors design team, she could see that placing the pool straight outside of the patio doors would allow them to enjoy the backsplash and the fountains even when they were inside.  Once the design plans were finalized, work got underway. “I was really surprised at how fast it got done. They didn’t miss a day of work because of the rain. Once they started, they really knocked it out,” Darla said. Darla was pleased that they could trust the Extreme Exteriors crews to clean up the work site every day, never leaving water bottles or other trash in the yard. She was also happy that the team powerwashed their driveway at the end of the job to remove any lingering dirt that ended up there during construction.

The Bennetts are pleased that they can cool down and relax without having to go anywhere, and that they have something fun for the grandkids to enjoy when they come to visit. They’ve been very pleased with everything from start to finish; from the design, to construction, to the instruction they received on the pool’s control panel and remote control operation. We’re so pleased that the spool was a great fit for their lifestyle and that they are so pleased with the outcome!

Clients: Lori and Michael Cast     

Project: Custom pool and spa, landscaping, updating appliances in outdoor kitchen

Why: They plan to raise their family in this home and wanted to create an outdoor oasis for their children.

Extreme Exteriors Services Used: Design, Construction, and Retail

When summertime hits,  it’s a challenge to find ways to entertain fussy kids who can’t play outside. It’s also difficult for moms who have to pack a million things into a hot car and drive somewhere to cool down. Lori and Michael avoid these scenarios because they have their own gorgeous pool right outside their back door. “Our pool is our own oasis where we have our own privacy, where we can run out and go back in if we want to,” Lori said. “When you’re extremely hot you want to get into the water but you don’t want to load up everything because it feels like you’re taking the whole house with you.”  Lori loves that her little ones, ages 2 and 1, can easily cool off and play in the beach entry while she keeps an eye on them.

The beach entry, as well as many other elements of the pool, were all things she and Michael discussed with Randy when they met with him regarding their design plan. “The selection process was easy because we had thought about it for so long. We told him we didn’t want a square or rectangular pool. We wanted rocks, a waterfall feature, a spa, and we wanted the color to look kind of like the ocean.” Randy took all these elements into consideration when he designed an amoeba-shaped pool with a beautiful blue plaster finish. Their pool also features two deep ends and a beach entry with bubblers where the kids love to play.

Lori and Michael took friends’ advice when they were thinking about everything they wanted for their pool and spa. One helpful suggestion was to create a smooth surface to go around the edge of the spa.  This way if people just want to sit on the edge of the spa and put their feet and legs in their swimsuits won’t get roughed up. They used the spa for the first time a few weeks ago when they invited the kids’ cousins over and had a fun spur of the moment get-together. Lori loves that her home will be a gathering place for her kids’ friends and cousins now and in the future. She plans to host her kids’ birthday parties here and she’s excited that her home will be the “go-to” place when her children want to play with friends.

Of course, the pool isn’t just for the kids. Lori and Michael had a lot of friends over to watch March Madness and enjoy an outdoor cookout. They didn’t go in the pool, but they were able to enjoy the way the pool looked as the lights changed colors.  Everyone who has visited and seen the pool has really been impressed. Lori said they say things like, “Oh my gosh, how awesome is this! Your kids are going to love it!” Or, “It’s so nice, I love the sound of the waterfall.” Lori loves everything about her new pool and would recommend Extreme Exteriors to anyone who is interested in building a pool. “People will always have negative and positive things to say about anyone, but the reason we chose Extreme Exteriors was that everything was very organized. There was a vision as they walked us through everything.  We definitely got what we paid for.”

The Extreme Exteriors team was able to completely finish the backyard with the addition of a new grill and refrigerator in the existing outdoor kitchen. The team also installed new sod and added some simple, attractive landscaping. As the temperature starts to rise, Lori is looking forward to a summer full of fun times with friends and family. She and Michael plan to raise their family in this home, and she’s very happy that they chose Extreme Exteriors to help create their family’s “outdoor oasis”.

Clients: Jeff and Terry Groban

Project: Pool, Landscaping, Irrigation, Retail

Why: Terry has a high-pressure job and she needs her home to be a place where she can relax and unwind.  Both Terry and Jeff enjoy entertaining and want their home to be very inviting to guests.

Extreme Exteriors Services Used: Design, Construction, Retail

For some people home is not much more than a place to throw a frozen dinner in the microwave, toss laundry into the washing machine, and fall asleep on the couch with the TV on. For others, like Jeff and Terry, it’s a lot more than that – it’s a place to host fun parties with friends enjoying delicious, home-cooked meals. It’s also a place to unplug the phone, unwind with a glass of wine and simply relax.

When Terry and Jeff were house-hunting they knew they wanted a place to host friends, as well as a place to unwind from the stresses of the day. The house they found had a wonderful outdoor kitchen. It just needed a pool! “We had a pool at the other house, said Jeff. “Terry loves laying by the pool on the weekends. She has a pretty stressful job and she talked me into building a pool here.”

Jeff spent a lot of time talking to designer Randy Glenn about how the pool and patio should look. The design uses Holland pavers to blend in very naturally with the outdoor kitchen that was already there. The Extreme Exteriors team also helped Terry and Jeff choose new, comfortable patio furniture that enhances the areas around the pool and outdoor fireplace. 

Their home’s location is perfect for them because they have a large lot with no neighbors behind them, so they don’t really have to worry about being the noise level. This makes it ideal for times when they host a lot of people, such as their annual Super Bowl party, where they had about thirty guests over. They also cook out almost every Sunday night with their kids and grandkids.  It also makes it nice for Terry to lay out in the beach entry of the pool and totally chill without noisy neighbors disturbing her peace and quiet. The tranquil atmosphere is only broken by the sound of the water gently cascading from the waterfalls onto the surface of the pool, and that’s relaxing in and of itself!

Jeff described how he originally came up with the idea for the small waterfalls. “I was in Colorado for a meeting on the back side of a golf course. There was a stream running near about six or seven of the holes and I enjoyed the sound of the gently running water. “ Jeff and Randy came up with a plan that included two small waterfalls that can be controlled to increase or decrease the flow of water. The waterfalls add a nice touch of visual and audible interest to the overall look.

It’s early in the warm weather season, and the Grobans have enjoyed the pool a little already and look forward to entertaining a lot more this summer.  Jeff heartily recommends Extreme Exteriors, mainly because the team was at the house almost every day doing something to get the job done. He found that when we said it would be done by a certain time that it was done on time.  Our reliability is something that the Extreme Exteriors team takes pride in, and it’s a quality that sets us apart from the competition. We want our valued clients to know that they can count on us to finish the job right, just like we did for Jeff and Terry!

• Clients: Lee and Lori Owens
• Project: Front Yard and Backyard Landscaping, Outdoor Living, Pool and Spa
• Why: Lee and Lori built their dream home and wanted Extreme Exteriors to create outdoor living spaces that would give life to their new home.
• Extreme Exteriors Serviced Used: Design, Construction, Routine Maintenance, and Retail

Most people would agree that a highlight of  vacationing is seeing things that we don’t get to see every day at home. We always love coming home, but sometimes we miss the beauty of the places we visited. When Lee and Lori Owens asked the Extreme Exteriors team to design their outdoor living space, Lori drew upon her memories of beautiful Mexico and Arizona for some of her inspiration. She also took into consideration how her own tastes had evolved from the time her first pool had been built at her previous home. The result is a breathtaking pool with landscaping that further enhances the overall attractiveness of the entire back patio.

One of the design inspirations was the tall palm trees that Lori truly enjoyed from her times visiting Mexico. The Extreme Exteriors team planted four large palms that really added a dramatic, tropical feel.  Underneath the palms are rose bushes that now show small buds, but will add a lot of pretty color in just a few more weeks. Lori saw this particular variety of rose when visiting Scottsdale, Arizona and wanted them for her home in Abilene.

Lori’s home is a new build and one of the first things a person notices when driving up is the mature trees in the front yard. The trees look like they were part of the property before the home was built. In reality, they were another of Lori’s requests that turned out wonderfully well. Lori asked for mature trees and the design team came up with a plan that looks very natural. A large variety of plants including spiral junipers, pom pom yaupons, Italian cypress, and maiden grass adorn the front yard, and a winding path also creates a warm and welcoming look.

After many months of planning and building, Lee and Lori now have their dream home. The one they plan to grow old in together making wonderful memories with family and friends along the way.  And even if future travel takes them away, whenever they return they will always feel happy coming back to a place that relaxes them, inspires them, and reassures them that they are home.

Greg, Amanda, and Pierce Keys

Clients: Greg and Amanda Keys

Project: Backyard Landscape, Fencing, Patio, Pool and Spa

Why: To celebrate a second chance at life

Extreme Exteriors Services Used: Design and Construction

“Where do you see yourself five years from now?” Have you ever been asked that during a job interview? Sometimes five years go by and things turn out exactly the way we plan, and sometimes life has many unforeseen twists and turns. For Greg Keys, he never would have imagined that when he told Amanda, “Maybe in five years we’ll build a pool,” that they would be fighting for Amanda’s life.  Amanda started having headaches that gradually increased in frequency and intensity until an MRI revealed a large tumor that needed aggressive cancer treatment. They traveled to M.D. Anderson to seek the best possible care for Amanda. While staying in Houston, absorbing the stress and anxiety of cancer treatment, they would retreat poolside at their hotel to relax and unwind. Greg experienced for himself how soothing a beautiful pool can be and so the idea of putting in his own custom pool became more appealing. As Amanda got better and they returned home the pool now took on a whole new aspect – as a way to celebrate Amanda’s clean bill of health and what Greg described as a second chance at life.

With the decision made to add the pool, Greg and Amanda began to pull together pictures and ideas for the Extreme Exteriors design team. “The design process was great,” Greg said. “They were good about keeping us informed on where we were in the process and they made good suggestions along the way.” Greg mentioned how the designers noticed palm trees in many of the design inspiration pictures that Greg and Amanda shared, which is something that they hadn’t consciously considered as they gathered ideas. They liked how the Extreme Exteriors team noticed details like the palms and included them in the design.  They were also very happy with the suggestion to include an in-floor cleaning system. Amanda likes how it cleans the pool so effectively and that this avoids having a large, unwieldy hose lying on the surface of the pool.

Since the pool’s completion, Greg and Amanda have entertained friends more often because it’s a fun place to be together. The photo is a great example of this – they hired a musician, a caterer, and invited a ton of people over to celebrate the pool’s completion. When they’re not entertaining, Greg said he likes to take a patio chair and a book and sit in the beach entry to relax. He and Amanda also built the pool in mind for exercise as well, and he likes to take advantage of the length of the pool for swimming laps.

Greg and Amanda also love how they can adjust the lights at night, creating different moods and enjoying the look of the lights as they play off the water. They also like the lily pads in front of the spa, which was another design feature that they agreed would like great. Overall, the Keys said they’re very pleased with the result and they are happy with the service they received from the Extreme Exteriors team.  At Extreme Exteriors, we like to say that we help create the background to the story of your life. Greg and Amanda’s story has had its share of struggle and triumph, and we hope that as time goes on, there will be many more joyful occasions to celebrate.