About Randy Beard

Randy Beard is a California swimming pool, landscape and hardscape construction expert. He has worked in the swimming pool trade since 1979 and now provides forensic construction analysis, written reports, deposition testimony and trial testimony in construction defect disputes, along with project consulting for owners. He is based in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and works for plaintiff and defense counsel, insurers, homeowners associations and property owners.

Building background

Randy started out servicing and repairing pools, then spent decades building and running a full pool construction company of more than 60 employees, with its own masonry, tile, plumbing and steel crews. That hands-on building background is the basis of his forensic work: his opinions come from having built, repaired and rebuilt the same kinds of pools, decks and walls he is now asked to evaluate.

Licenses and industry roles

• California contractor license #871188, classifications C-53 (Swimming Pool) and C-27 (Landscaping), issued 2006 and current. The license can be checked on the Contractors State License Board website.
• Former investigator for the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), for several years.
• Conducted plaster inspections for the National Plasterers Council for several years, called out to assess plaster problems around the state.
• Chapter president of the Independent Pool and Spa Service Association (IPSA) for multiple terms.
• Has taught hydraulics to city building inspectors, and pool equipment and water chemistry to Orange County Health Department inspectors.

Testimony experience

Deposition testimony in more than 100 matters, and trial testimony before juries in Los Angeles Superior Court (Van Nuys) and San Diego Superior Court. Randy has been retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel. A case list is available to retaining counsel on request.

Areas of expertise

• Swimming pool and spa construction defects: shell cracking, leaks, hydraulics, equipment failures
• Pool plaster and interior finishes: discoloration, spotting, streaking, delamination and start-up problems
• Hillside, vanishing-edge and perimeter-overflow pools, and their soil and geotechnical interfaces
• Landscape and hardscape: pool decks, pavers, masonry and retaining walls, sub-grade drainage
• NEC Article 680 equipotential bonding and grounding, and California Title 24 pool heating requirements

Recognition and media

Two of Randy's pools were featured on HGTV's The Big Splash, rated #1 and #8 in the nation. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, Luxury Pools, Luxe Magazine and Pool and Spa News.

Teaching and video

Randy publishes a free library of teaching videos on pool construction defects, code compliance and design, used by attorneys, plan checkers and builders. He also works with VarX, his separate forensic video studio, to turn complex construction failures into clear visual exhibits for deposition, mediation and trial.

Next step

See rates and terms, download the CV (PDF), or start a conflict check.