My wife and I laid it out and marked and measured when it arrived, to check dimensions and to be sure it was undamaged. I finally had opportunity to install the cover, with significant help from son-in-law and grandkids. I bought a good quality 3/4 inch hammer drill bit, and used my battery powered DeWalt hammer drill for three holes. NOT fun. A trip to the cheap tool store for an inexpensive heavy hammer drill made the remaining holes very easy. Placing the cover was simple and easy. It is tight, does not sag down into the water, and seems to be very good quality. I hope I can buy the same again if this one fails.