Updated August 2026
Pool Cover RFQ Checklist
An RFQ that only says "automatic cover for a rectangle" produces prices you cannot compare. Send geometry, track family, housing, drain, drive, and who owns electrical. This page is a first-party template so two quotes cover the same job. It is not a manufacturer form and not a contract.
RFQ template
Attach a plan, a section through the cover end, a coping detail, and photos if the deck exists. Paste the fields below into your request.
| RFQ field | What to send | Why quotes diverge without it |
|---|---|---|
| Project type | New build or retrofit | Track family changes |
| Finished dimensions | Length pair and width pair | Fabric and roller change |
| Shape notes | Spa, freeform, vanishing edge, raised walls | Coverability was assumed |
| Track family | Undertrack, top track, or recessed | One bid hides the rail, the other cannot |
| Housing | End, size, lid, drain destination | Site work is missing from the low number |
| Drive | Electric or hydraulic, pack or motor space | Line runs appear as extras later |
| Electrical owner | Who pulls the circuit and disconnect | Commissioning is not in the cover price |
| Safety claim | Required or not, and what evidence | One bid is a tested system, one is not |
| Included work | Commissioning, owner briefing, freight | Punch-list gaps |
Questions to ask every bidder
Ask how the cover is serviced without tearing the lid finish, what happens if the pool is out of square, and whether the quote includes limit setting with water at operating level. If a safety-cover claim is in the bid, ask for the evidence that applies to this model and install.
- Same track and housing on every quote you compare
- Named electrical or hydraulic provision
- Warranty documents you can read before deposit
- No "or equal" that silently drops drainage
What not to do
Do not pick the lowest equipment line and assume site work is included. Do not send excavation numbers as finished dimensions. Do not ask five bidders for five different track families and then rank the prices.
What to read with this page
Use the parent hub for the product family, then stay inside this cluster for the decision you still have open. The related cards below are the three pages that usually settle the next question without sending you back to a generic search.
If travel is already unsafe, leave the guide and open repair. If you are still planning a system, work through the planning checklist and bring the answers to the people who will measure and install it.
Lines that make two bids comparable
Force every bidder to answer track type, lid, drain, drive provision, commissioning, and exclusions. A low number that leaves those blank is not a save.
Questions
- Should I use the planning checklist or the RFQ?
- The planning checklist is for your own decisions before you talk to anyone. The RFQ is what you send to installers when you want comparable bids. Use the checklist first.
- Should I name a brand in the RFQ?
- Name the performance and the site provisions first. Brand-only RFQs hide track and housing differences.
- Should I share one bidder's price with another?
- Share the scope list. Shopping a number without the same exclusions teaches the next bid to hide costs too.
Parent hub: For Pool Builders