Swimming Pool Construction Contract Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a swimming pool construction contract. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete pool contract states

Dimensions and depth — length, width, shallow and deep depths, and total square footage of water.
Shell and finish — shell type (gunite, shotcrete, fiberglass, vinyl) and interior finish named.
Equipment by brand and model — pump, filter, heater, cleaner, and automation — each named.
Payment schedule by phase — each payment tied to a completed construction phase (dig, steel, shell, finish).
Decking, fencing, and electrical — whether each is in this contract or quoted separately.
Excavation and soil — haul-off of dirt and what happens if rock or water is hit.
Permits and inspections — who pulls them and whether fees are included.
Timeline and delays — estimated start and completion, and how weather or permit delays are handled.
Warranties — structural, equipment, and finish warranty lengths, each stated.

What's commonly not stated

Rock and hard digging — extra excavation charges are often priced only after the dig starts.
Barrier and safety requirements — fencing or alarms required by local code may be left out of the price.
Electrical and gas runs — the distance from the panel or meter can change the price and may be "by others."
Yard restoration — repair of landscaping, sprinklers, or access paths damaged by equipment is often excluded.
Start-up and handoff — chemical start-up and a walkthrough on running the equipment are rarely described.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“Is each payment tied to a finished phase of construction?”
“Which equipment brands and models are included?”
“Are decking, fencing, and electrical in this contract or separate?”
“If you hit rock or water during the dig, how is that priced?”
“What are the structural, equipment, and finish warranties, and how long is each?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much does a new pool usually cost?

We don't price other people's work — cost depends on size, shell type, equipment, decking, and what the ground holds. What you can check is whether your contract states the dimensions, the equipment by name, and a payment schedule tied to phases. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my pool contract?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing equipment list or rock clause isn't a verdict on the builder; it's an unknown in a contract you'll be paying on for months. Getting it stated on the page costs nothing and settles it before the excavator arrives.

Can Spend Defense read my actual pool contract?

Yes. Pool contracts with drawings and specs often run past 10 pages, so most go through the Document Review ($19, up to 25 pages); shorter ones fit the Quick Check ($4.99). You'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask before you sign.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.