How to read a door or gate quote: what to check line by line
Mount Everest Automatic Doors team6 min readUpdated
Two quotes for the same gate can be hard to compare. One is a page of line items, the other is a single total. This guide explains what a useful quote contains, which gaps cause trouble and how to compare quotes fairly. It uses no figures, because a figure only makes sense next to the scope that explains it.
Start with the scope sentence
Near the top, a good quote states in one or two sentences what is being done: for example, supply and fit one automatic sliding gate operator and safety devices on an existing gate, or replace a garage door with a sectional door and opener. If you cannot tell from the first sentence what the job is, the rest of the quote will not help.
The equipment list
Each main item should be named: the type of door or gate, the operator, the control board, the remotes or readers and any extras. Ask for the make and model where they matter. A quote that says "motor" without a make leaves room for a different product on the day. Ask also for the quantity of remotes and whether cards, codes or an app are included.
The safety devices
This is the part many quotes skip. A moving gate or door needs sensors to detect obstacles, usually photocells and a safety edge, and a way to release it by hand. The quote should say which are included. If a quote lacks safety devices and another includes them, they are not the same job. Ask what stops the door if a person or a car is in the way, and how you open it in a power cut.
What the work includes
Look for the tasks: removal of the old equipment, fixing the new, cabling, connection to power, programming, testing and handover. Ask whether making good, such as repairing a wall after fixing, is included. Ask about waste removal. Cabling can be a significant part of a job; a quote should say how far the cable is assumed to run.
What is excluded
Exclusions are normal and honest. Typical examples are civil works such as concrete bases, painting, new pillars, a new mains supply, building approvals and anything hidden behind walls. If something you expect is not mentioned, ask whether it is excluded. It is far easier to settle now than on the day.
The assumptions
Quotes rest on assumptions: that the existing gate is straight and moves freely, that the power point is within a certain distance, that the opening is as measured and that access is available at agreed times. Good quotes state assumptions and say what happens if they prove wrong. A quote without assumptions is not safer; it is only silent about risk.
Timing and access
Look for how long the work is expected to take and when access is needed. Check that the programme does not conflict with building rules, such as working hours or noise restrictions. If building approval is needed, find out who applies and who waits on whom.
Payment and validity
Payment terms should be written: when payments fall due and what triggers them. A quote should also say how long it stays valid. Ask what happens if you change the scope. Ask how variations are priced and approved before the work, not afterwards.
After-care and warranty wording
Read what the quote says about faults after handover. A fair quote says who you contact, what is covered by the supplier and what is covered by the maker's own terms. Do not read in a warranty that is not written. If a warranty period is stated, note exactly what it covers, and if it is not stated, ask. Our own approach is not to state a period on a web page; where a period applies, it appears in the quote.
Comparing two quotes
- Put the equipment lists side by side. Do both name the same type of operator and the same number of remotes?
- Compare safety devices.
- Compare inclusions and exclusions.
- Compare assumptions about the existing structure.
- Compare timing and access.
- Only then compare the totals.
Differences in the totals usually trace to differences in the lists. A lower total with a shorter list is not a saving; it is a different job. If one quote is very different from others, ask the provider to explain which item accounts for the difference.
Red flags
- A total with no list.
- Equipment described only as "standard" or "good quality".
- No mention of safety devices.
- No exclusions at all.
- Pressure to accept before a site visit.
- A figure given verbally and nothing in writing.
Good signs
- The provider visited, or reviewed photos, before quoting.
- The quote uses your measurements.
- The wording separates what is certain from what depends on site conditions.
- The provider welcomes questions and revises the quote in writing.
Questions to ask before you accept
- Is anything I expect not included?
- What assumptions does this quote rely on?
- Which safety devices are fitted, and how will I see them tested?
- How do I open the door or gate when power fails?
- What happens if you find a problem when you start?
- Who do I call after the job?
When the answers are in writing and match the quote, you can accept with confidence. If a provider will not put an answer in writing, treat that as an answer too, and decide whether you are comfortable going ahead.
Keep the final signed quote with the handover notes. If anything is disputed later, the list of equipment and the stated assumptions are the first things to check.