The difference between a good pool contractor and an expensive mistake is usually visible before any work starts — it is written (or suspiciously not written) in the quotation. After years of being the second company called, arriving to redo work that was quoted on a WhatsApp voice note, we have strong opinions about what a swimming pool quotation owes you. Here is the checklist, whether you use us or anyone else.
The non-negotiables of a proper pool quotation
- An on-site assessment first. Nobody can honestly quote relining, leak repair or renovation from a photo — shell condition, access and plumbing age all change the number. A price given without seeing the pool is a guess you will pay for later.
- Itemised scope, in writing. Each element separately: preparation, materials, labour, equipment, waste removal. One lump sum hides everything — especially what has been left out.
- The preparation detail. In surface work, prep IS the job — stripping, crack repair, substrate drying, keying. A reline quote that does not itemise preparation is telling you where the corner will be cut; it is the exact failure our Monte Vista case study rescued.
- Materials specified by name and spec. “Fibreglass lining” means nothing; layup layers, resin type and topcoat mean everything. Same for marbelite grade and pump models.
- Timeline with dependencies. Start window, duration, weather-dependency stated honestly — curing needs dry days and a quote that promises otherwise is optimistic on your budget’s behalf.
- Guarantee terms in writing. What is covered, for how long, and what voids it. Verbal guarantees evaporate with the bakkie.
Red flags — walk away when you see:
- Price by phone/WhatsApp, sight unseen
- Big cash deposit before any written scope
- “Prep included” with zero detail
- No physical address, no landline history, no referenceable jobs
- Pressure to sign today for a “special”
Why published prices matter
Here is our bias, openly: we publish real project prices in our case studies — like the 8m x 4m fibreglass reline documented at R54,000–R60,000, photographed start to finish — because a market where nobody publishes numbers is a market where quotes float on what the contractor thinks you will pay. Published work gives you a benchmark before anyone stands in your garden. Ask ANY quoting contractor to show you a completed, priced, photographed job of the same type. The good ones can.
Comparing two honest quotes
When both quotes are properly itemised, compare like with like: same layup spec? Same prep scope? Same guarantee? A R7,000 gap usually lives in one of those three lines — and now you can see it and choose deliberately. The cheapest compliant quote is a fine choice; the cheapest vague quote never is.
What our quotes look like
Every Gibbs quotation starts with a free on-site assessment, and lands in writing: itemised scope, named materials, prep detail, timeline, guarantee — whether it is a R900 pump repair or a full reline. If a line on any quote (ours included) is unclear, ask until it is — a contractor irritated by scope questions is answering a bigger question.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a deposit on pool work?
A reasonable materials deposit against a written itemised quote is normal for big jobs; a large cash deposit against a vague scope is how the horror stories start.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three itemised ones beat five phone guesses. Use the checklist above and thin quotes eliminate themselves.
Is the cheapest quote always a trap?
No — but the cheapest UNITEMISED quote always is. Detail is what makes a low price believable.
Do you charge for quotations?
No — assessment and written quotation are free, metro-wide, with no obligation attached.
