The policies a waterproofing business carries
Waterproofing is judged by whether the basement stays dry, so a leak after the job is the claim waterproofing companies plan around, along with silica dust from cutting concrete.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $83 |
| Tools and equipment | $42 |
| Commercial auto | $270 |
| Workers' compensation | $160 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers among contractors as a group (it publishes no separate figures for waterproofing) pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims waterproofing companies plan for
- The basement leaks again after the job
- Silica dust spreads through the house
- Cutting the slab hits a buried plumbing line
- A sump pump you installed fails during a storm
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if the basement leaks again after the job?
- Would my policy pay if silica dust spreads through the house?
- Would my policy pay if cutting the slab hits a buried plumbing line?
- Would my policy pay if a sump pump you installed fails during a storm?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the waterproofing services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: interior drain tile; sump pump, installed; french drain, interior; regrading and drainage; crack injection; interior wall sealant; foundation crack repair; foundation pier; dehumidifier, installed; mold remediation; crawlspace encapsulation.
Saws, hammers and pumps are the equipment to list. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are walk-behind slab saw; electric jackhammer; dehumidifiers and air movers; dump trailer; excavation subcontractor or mini excavator rental, and from the starter kit, concrete saw with dust control; rotary hammer or demo hammer; moisture meter; shop vacuum with hepa filter; wheelbarrow and buckets.
State rules in the license
Waterproofing work often falls under the general contractor rules. Our general contractor license guide lists the insurance and bond line for each of 48 states from the boards' own pages.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for contractors as a group is $160 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
Homeowners selling a house and real estate agents ask for a certificate and warranty terms. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for contractors as a group, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
- Koira: General Contractor license requirements by state (each row lists its board sources), checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.