What a waterproofing estimate is for
Homeowners with a wet basement are anxious and often get wildly different waterproofing quotes, from a crack injection to full excavation. An estimate that explains where the water is coming in, what each line does about it and what the warranty covers lets them understand why your system fits their house. Spelling out what happens to finished walls and stored items avoids the start-day surprise.
What to put on a waterproofing estimate
- Where the water enters and how you found it.
- The system: drain tile footage, sump, discharge.
- Backup power for the pump.
- Crack repairs and wall barriers.
- Outside fixes like downspouts and grading.
- Finished walls or stored items in the way.
- Warranty terms in plain words.
A worked example
A basement that takes water along two walls after heavy rain, with a crack in the front wall and downspouts dumping at the foundation. Drain tile and sump use the calculator's typical prices.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior drain tile * | 120 | ft | $80.00 | $9,600.00 |
| Sump pump, installed * | 1 | each | $1,550.00 | $1,550.00 |
| Battery backup pump | 1 | each | Your price | |
| Crack injection, front wall | 1 | each | Your price | |
| Buried downspout lines | 40 | ft | Your price |
Downspouts are cheap compared with drain tile and often part of the cause; listing them shows you looked outside, not just in the basement.
* Typical price from our free basement waterproofing cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items waterproofing contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Interior drain tile | ft | Along the walls where water enters, to a sump. |
| Sump pump, installed | each | Pump, basin and discharge line. |
| Battery backup pump | each | Runs when the power is out. |
| Exterior excavation and membrane | ft | Dig to the footing, membrane and new drain. |
| Crack injection | each | Per crack; say the material. |
| Wall vapor barrier | sq ft | Directs wall seepage to the drain. |
| Downspout extensions or buried lines | ft | Moves roof water away from the foundation. |
| Regrading at foundation | hour | Slope soil away from the house. |
| Window well drain and cover | each | Common leak source. |
| Dehumidifier | each | For damp basements after water control. |
| Concrete floor patch over trench | ft | After drain tile is laid. |
| Remove finished wall material | sq ft | When drywall or paneling blocks the work. |
| Permit | each | Some towns require permits for excavation or sump discharge. |
Terms and deposit language for waterproofing
- Deposit. A deposit at signing schedules the crew and orders pumps and materials. Several states limit what a contractor can collect before starting, so confirm yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the system is installed and tested.
- Warranty. Waterproofing warranties vary widely; state exactly what is covered (leaks through treated walls, pump parts), for how long, whether it transfers to a new owner, and what voids it.
- Finished walls, flooring or stored items in the work area are moved or removed before the crew starts, or priced to remove.
- Sump discharge must go where local rules allow; it is not tied into sanitary sewer lines where that is prohibited.
- Water problems from plumbing leaks, sewer backups or flooding above grade are not covered.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for waterproofing
- Basement waterproofing cost calculator
- French drain cost calculator
- Foundation repair cost calculator
- Mold remediation cost calculator
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, window cleaning.
More for waterproofing contractors: how waterproofing contractors run on Koira.