When a backyard build goes wrong.
Unfinished work, failing plaster, blown-out coping, or a contractor who took money and disappeared. AE evaluates Arizona backyard projects that have gone sideways and lays out a realistic path forward — even when that path isn't the one you hoped for.
The four most common situations.
Abandoned pools
Excavated and walked away. Plumbing roughed in but never gunited. Gunite shot but never plastered. We pick up where the original builder stopped and finish to AE standard.
Failed workmanship
Cracking plaster, blown-out coping, leaking shells, decking that's already failing. We diagnose root cause — install error, materials, soil, or drainage — before quoting a fix.
Unpermitted work
Pools, gas lines, or electrical installed without permits. We help homeowners understand exposure, what can be brought up to code, and what has to be rebuilt.
Half-finished backyards
Pool done, decking missing. Pergola framed, never finished. We complete the scope — and rework anything that wasn't built to last in Arizona.
Diagnose first. Quote second. Build third.
01 — Honest evaluation
On-site walk with a senior PM. Photos, measurements, and a written diagnosis of what was done, what's salvageable, and what isn't.
02 — Scope & budget
Realistic range for the finish-out, broken down by trade. We'll tell you if the cheapest path is still expensive — and we won't oversell a rebuild if a rescue will hold up.
03 — Build with one team
AE assumes the project under a new contract. Permits pulled in AE's name. Named PM, documented project updates at appropriate milestones, and AE crews doing the majority of the work.
04 — Warranty on what AE touches
AE warranties the work AE performs — finishes, plumbing rework, electrical, structural fixes — under our standard terms. We document what's pre-existing so you know exactly what's covered.
Honest about the limits.
We've seen what happens when families are left with unfinished work or a contractor who walked off. We take rescues seriously — and we're upfront about what's possible.
- —We can't recover money paid to another contractor. That's a legal matter — we can refer Arizona ROC complaint resources.
- —We can't always save every component. Sometimes a failing shell has to come out. We tell you that before you spend money diagnosing further.
- —We don't take on every rescue. If the cost-to-finish exceeds the cost of a new build by a meaningful margin, we'll say so — and recommend the better path.
What to have ready.
- • The original contract and any change orders, if you have them
- • Payment history (how much paid, to whom, on what dates)
- • Permit numbers or jurisdiction (Peoria, Surprise, Scottsdale, etc.)
- • Photos of current state — including any failure points
- • What the original scope was supposed to deliver
Missing some of this? Bring what you have — we'll work with it.
Ready for a real evaluation?
Send photos and a short description — we'll schedule the on-site walk within a week.