How to read a pool & outdoor-living bid.
We wrote this so you can buy from anyone — not just us. Start by deciding how many contractor bids should you get? If you have three bids in front of you and one is far cheaper, the gap may be explained by the line items below — sometimes scope that is missing, sometimes legitimate differences in materials, access, scheduling, warranty or risk. Verify it line by line and ask, in writing, why the lines differ.
'Included' alone does not identify the specification. Ask the builder to spell it out.
Square feet, linear feet, BTU, PSI, gallons. Numbers cap risk; adjectives don't.
Structure, surface, equipment, and labor can be four different timelines. Ask for all four in writing.
The pool you can't see after gunite day.
| Line item | What it actually is | What a vague bid says | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunite / shotcrete strength | Compressive strength of the pool shell | Not listed at all | The design strength stated in writing, matching the engineered plans for your pool, with the testing the plans call for |
| Rebar grid | Steel cage that holds the shell together | 'Steel included' | Bar size and spacing stated, matching the approved engineered drawings for your project |
| Bond beam | Reinforced beam at the top of the pool wall | Not specified | Dimensions and reinforcement stated, matching the approved engineered drawings |
| Plumbing diameter | Suction and return line size | 'Plumbing included' | Line sizes stated per run, sized to the equipment and flow rates in the plan |
| Skimmers | Surface cleaning intake count | 'Skimmer included' | Count and placement stated, sized to your surface area and plan |
What's actually behind the equipment-pad fence.
| Line item | What it actually is | What a vague bid says | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump | Brand + variable speed | Single-speed or 'builder grade' | Pentair IntelliFlo3 VSF or Jandy ePump VS — by model number |
| Filter | Type + media capacity | Cartridge, no size listed | DE or large cartridge (~520 sq ft) sized to the pump flow rate |
| Heater | BTU + fuel type | 'Heater included' | Pentair MasterTemp 400K BTU (gas) or 140K (electric), brand named |
| Automation | Smart control + app | Mechanical timer | Pentair IntelliCenter or Jandy iAquaLink, with a per-device list |
| Sanitization | Chlorine system | Chlorine tabs / floater | Salt cell (Pentair iChlor / Jandy TruClear) sized to pool gallons |
What the family will touch every day.
| Line item | What it actually is | What a vague bid says | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior | Plaster / pebble / quartz finish | 'White plaster' | Named product (Pebble Tec, Pebble Sheen, Wet Edge, NPT) with color |
| Waterline tile | Linear feet + product | 'Tile included' | Quantity in linear feet + tile SKU + grout color |
| Coping | Material + edge style | 'Travertine coping' | Stone type + thickness + edge profile (bullnose, eased, drop-face) |
| Deck | Material + square footage | 'Concrete decking' | Sq ft, finish (broom, salt, acid wash, pavers), expansion-joint layout |
The contract terms worth reading closely.
| Line item | What it actually is | What a vague bid says | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment schedule | Deposit and progress payments tied to construction stages | 'Deposit due at signing', no stages named | Deposit, progress payments and the stages each is tied to, written out. Qualifying owner-occupied residential in-ground pool and spa contracts follow the stage caps in A.R.S. §32-1158.01; AE's own practice is 15 / 25 / 25 / 25 / 10 |
| Change orders | Pricing method + approval process | 'Time and materials', no rate or approval step stated | Written pricing method, how markup compares to the base contract, and written approval before work continues |
| Permits & engineering | Who applies, who pays, when | 'Permits as required' | Named party applies, cost itemized, engineered documents delivered before the dig |
| Schedule | Start / substantial-completion target | No dates | Calendar start, milestone dates, weather-delay policy in writing |
| Warranty | Structure / surface / equipment / labor | '1 year', no scope or exclusions stated | Each of the four terms stated separately in writing, with exclusions and transferability, and manufacturer terms passed through |
Official sources and limits
- A.R.S. §32-1158 — written-contract requirements: stated deposit, progress payments and construction stages.
- A.R.S. §32-1158.01 — payment stage caps for qualifying owner-occupied residential in-ground pool and spa contracts.
- A.R.S. §32-1121 — the limited licensing exemption, including the under-$1,000 aggregate contract price, permit and anti-splitting conditions.
- roc.az.gov/before-hire — Arizona ROC before-you-hire guidance.
- roc.az.gov/license-classifications — current classification descriptions and scopes.
- Contractor verification checklist — how to read an official Arizona registrant record yourself.
- Contractor check & proposal scorecard — the full homeowner path from license check to proposal comparison.
Reviewed September 14, 2026. Current official records and current law control. Structural, plumbing and equipment details for any specific pool are set by the approved engineered plans, the signed scope, manufacturer instructions and the authority having jurisdiction. General educational information only — not legal, engineering, code, insurance or contract advice.
Send it over — we'll mark it up free.
Email the PDF to support@aeoutdoorliving.com and we'll redline it against the checklist above. We'll tell you honestly whether it's a fair number for the scope — even when the answer is "take that bid."