7 Questions to Ask When Getting a Pool Quote

A pool quote is a document that will shape the next several months of your life and tens of thousands of dollars of your money. It deserves more than a quick glance at the bottom line.

The problem is that most homeowners do not know what to ask. Pool quotes are not something you see every day. The terminology can be unfamiliar, the line items can be confusing, and it is hard to know what is normal and what is a red flag.

These seven questions will give you the information you actually need to make a confident decision. They are not designed to catch companies in tricks. They are designed to give you clarity about what you are buying, who you are buying it from, and how the project will unfold.

Why do these questions matter?

A pool is one of the largest purchases most families make outside of a home or a vehicle. Unlike those purchases, there is no standardized format for a pool quote. Every company presents their pricing differently, includes different items, and structures their contracts differently.

That means two quotes for $85,000 can represent very different projects. One might include the patio, fencing, and a variable-speed pump. The other might cover only the pool and basic equipment, with everything else as an extra.

These questions level the playing field. They help you understand what you are actually getting so you can compare quotes on equal terms.

1. What exactly is included in this quote, and what is not?

This is the single most important question you can ask. It should be your first question every time.

A pool project has many components, and not every company includes all of them in their standard quote. Ask for a line-item breakdown that shows every cost separately.

Here is what a complete pool project requires:

Item	Should Be Listed	Typical Cost (CAD)
Pool shell (manufacturer, model, colour)	Yes	$25,000 - $45,000
Delivery and crane	Yes	Included in shell or $2,000 - $4,000
Excavation and backfill	Yes	$8,000 - $15,000
Plumbing	Yes	$3,000 - $5,000
Electrical	Sometimes missing	$3,000 - $6,000
Equipment (pump, filter, sanitizer)	Yes	$5,000 - $8,000
Patio or decking	Sometimes missing	$12,000 - $35,000
Fencing	Sometimes missing	$3,000 - $8,000
Permits and inspections	Sometimes missing	$500 - $1,500
Grading and landscaping restoration	Sometimes missing	$2,000 - $8,000
Soil removal	Sometimes missing	$1,500 - $4,000

If any of these items are listed as "not included," that is not necessarily a problem. But you need to know about it so you can budget for it or arrange it yourself.

Why this matters

A $70,000 quote that excludes the patio, fencing, and electrical is not actually a $70,000 project. It is a $95,000 to $105,000 project once you add those items. Knowing what is excluded before you sign prevents that surprise.

What a good answer sounds like

A trustworthy company will walk you through every line item, explain what each one covers, and clearly state what is excluded. They should not be defensive about this question. It is a reasonable thing to ask.

2. What is the timeline from start to finish?

Ask for a specific timeline with milestones, not just "about three weeks." You want to know:

• When can the project start?
• How many days will the excavation take?
• When will the pool shell be delivered and set?
• When will the plumbing, electrical, and equipment be installed?
• When will the patio be poured or laid?
• When will the fencing go up?
• When will the pool be filled and ready to swim?

A typical fiberglass pool installation takes 2 to 4 weeks of active work. But the total timeline from signing to swimming can be 4 to 8 weeks or longer, depending on permit timing, weather, patio curing, and the company's schedule.

Why this matters

If you want to be swimming by Canada Day, you need to know whether that is realistic before you sign. A company that is honest about their schedule will give you a realistic timeline. A company that promises everything will be done in 10 days may not be accounting for inspections, weather delays, or patio curing time.

What to watch for

Ask what happens if the timeline slips. Is there a penalty? What are the most common causes of delays? How will they communicate schedule changes? Good companies keep you updated regularly. You should not have to chase them for information.

3. Who handles the permits and inspections?

In London and most Ontario municipalities, pool projects require permits. The City of London requires a pool fence permit before any work begins. Electrical work requires an ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) inspection. Some areas require additional building permits.

Ask specifically:

• Does your company pull all the necessary permits?
• Is the cost of permits included in the quote?
• Who schedules and attends the inspections?
• What happens if an inspection does not pass?

Why this matters

Permits protect you. They ensure the pool is installed safely, the electrical work meets code, and the fencing meets municipal requirements. If your pool company does not handle permits, you are responsible for pulling them yourself. That is doable, but you need to know it upfront.

Some homeowners skip permits to save money or time. This is risky. If you sell your home later, an unpermitted pool can cause problems with the sale. And if something goes wrong with unpermitted electrical work, your insurance may not cover it.

Typical permit costs in London, Ontario

Permit Type	Approximate Cost (CAD)
Pool fence permit	$200 - $500
Building permit (if required)	$300 - $800
ESA electrical inspection	$200 - $400
Total	$500 - $1,500

4. What warranties come with this project?

A pool project involves three different types of warranty, and they come from different sources. Ask about each one.

Pool shell warranty

This comes from the manufacturer, not the installer. Most reputable fiberglass pool manufacturers offer a structural warranty of 25 years or more. Some offer a lifetime structural warranty. The gel coat surface warranty is typically shorter, often 10 to 15 years.

Ask the company which manufacturer they use, how long the structural and surface warranties are, and what is covered under each.

Equipment warranty

Pumps, filters, heaters, and salt systems come with manufacturer warranties, typically 1 to 3 years. Ask which brands are being used and what the warranty terms are. Some premium brands offer longer warranties.

Workmanship warranty

This is the installer's warranty on their own work: the excavation, plumbing, electrical, patio, and everything else they do on site. Workmanship warranties vary widely between companies, from one year to five years or more.

A longer workmanship warranty gives you recourse if the patio cracks, a plumbing joint leaks, or the backfill settles in the first few years.

Why this matters

Warranties are your safety net. If the pool shell has a manufacturing defect, the shell warranty covers it. If the pump fails in the first year, the equipment warranty covers it. If the patio cracks due to improper base preparation, the workmanship warranty should cover it.

Get all warranty terms in writing. Verbal promises about warranty coverage are worth nothing if there is a dispute later.

5. What is the payment schedule?

Every pool company has a payment schedule that outlines when payments are due and how much is owed at each stage. Ask for the full schedule before you sign.

A reasonable payment schedule ties your payments to completed milestones. Here is a common structure:

Milestone	Typical Payment
Contract signing	10% - 20% deposit
Pool shell delivered to site	25% - 30%
Pool set, plumbed, and backfilled	25% - 30%
Project completion (patio done, pool filled)	20% - 30% (final payment)

What to watch for

• Large upfront payments. Be cautious if a company asks for more than 25% to 30% before any work begins. A reasonable deposit is 10% to 20%.
• Full payment before completion. You should always hold back a final payment until the project is done and you are satisfied. This gives you leverage if there are issues to resolve.
• No milestone structure. If the payment schedule is just "50% at signing, 50% at completion," there is no accountability in between. Milestone-based payments protect both you and the company.

Why this matters

A payment schedule that is front-loaded (most of the money paid before work is done) puts you at risk. If something goes wrong or the company goes out of business mid-project, you have already paid for work that was not completed. Tying payments to milestones keeps the incentives aligned.

6. Do you use subcontractors for any of the work?

Many pool companies use subcontractors for parts of the project. That is normal and not a problem by itself. But you should know who is doing what.

Common subcontracted work includes:

• Electrical. Must be done by a licensed electrician in Ontario. Many pool companies subcontract this.
• Concrete or patio. Some pool companies have their own concrete crews. Others subcontract to a concrete company.
• Fencing. Often subcontracted to a fencing company.
• Landscaping. Sometimes subcontracted, sometimes done in-house.
• Gas line. Must be done by a licensed gas fitter if you are adding a gas heater.

Ask these follow-up questions about subcontractors:

• Are the subcontractors licensed and insured for their trade?
• Who is responsible if there is a problem with the subcontracted work?
• Does your warranty cover their work?
• Do you use the same subcontractors on every project, or does it change?

Why this matters

If the concrete patio cracks after six months, you need to know who is responsible for fixing it. If the pool company subcontracted the patio, will they handle the warranty claim, or will they tell you to call the concrete company directly? A good pool company stands behind all the work on the project, including the subcontracted portions.

7. Can I talk to homeowners you have built pools for?

This is the question that tells you the most about the company, and the one that companies with a good track record are happiest to answer.

Ask for the names and phone numbers of two or three homeowners they have installed pools for in the last year or two. Not testimonials on a website. Actual people you can call and talk to.

What to ask those homeowners

• Were you happy with the finished pool?
• Did the project stay on schedule?
• Were there any surprises or extra costs that were not in the original quote?
• How was the communication during the project?
• If something went wrong, how did the company handle it?
• Would you hire them again?

Why this matters

A company that has done good work is proud of it and happy to connect you with past customers. A company that avoids this question or cannot provide references should give you pause.

Online reviews are helpful but limited. A 10-minute conversation with someone who has been through the entire process gives you a much richer picture of what working with the company is actually like.

What if they only provide references from years ago?

That could mean they have not done many recent projects, or it could mean recent customers had issues. Ideally, you want to speak with someone whose pool was installed within the last 12 to 24 months. That is recent enough that the experience is fresh and any warranty issues would have surfaced.

Bonus questions worth asking

These seven questions cover the essentials. But if you want to go deeper, here are a few more worth asking:

• What happens if you find rock or unexpected soil during excavation? Some companies include a rock clause in their contract that adds cost if they hit rock. Ask what that clause says and what the additional cost would be.
• Do you carry liability insurance and WSIB coverage? Both protect you if something goes wrong on your property during construction. Ask to see proof of coverage.
• Who will be my main point of contact during the project? Will you deal with the owner, a project manager, or the crew foreman? Knowing who to call with questions matters.
• What is your process if I am not happy with something? A company that has a clear process for handling concerns is more likely to resolve issues quickly.
• Is HST included in the quote? On a $90,000 project, 13% HST adds $11,700. Make sure you know whether the quoted price includes or excludes tax.

How to use these questions

You do not need to sit across the table and fire all seven questions like an interrogation. Bring this list with you, work through them naturally during your meeting, and take notes on the answers.

If you are meeting with multiple companies, use the same list for each one. That way you have consistent information to compare when you are making your decision.

The companies that give you clear, detailed, and confident answers are the ones that have nothing to hide. They have done this before, they stand behind their work, and they understand that an informed homeowner is a good customer.

Frequently Asked Questions