What affects the price
There is no honest flat price for waterproofing. Two houses on the same street can need very different amounts of work. These are the things that move the number, so you can see them in a proposal.
You will be put through to an independent local waterproofing company. Calls may be recorded.
Eleven things that move it
How much wall
Drains are priced by length. One wet wall is a different job from a full perimeter.
Inside or outside
Digging down the outside of a foundation takes more labour and more making good than cutting a floor indoors.
What the walls are
Poured concrete with one crack is simple. Hollow block usually needs a liner. Stone needs repointing and patience.
What is in the way
Finished walls, built-in shelving, a furnace, an oil tank or a staircase along the wall all add hours.
Access
A narrow side yard means hand digging. No outside door to the basement means every bucket goes up the stairs and through the house.
The pump
A basic pump, a heavier one, a battery backup, an alarm, a new electrical outlet: each is a separate line.
Where the water goes
A short pipe to open lawn costs little. A long buried run or a dry well costs more.
Surprises
A rotted sill, an old buried oil line or a crack hidden behind panelling is found only once work starts. Ask how extras are priced.
Making good
Some proposals stop at bare concrete. Others include new wallboard, replanting or repaving. Check which you have.
Permits
Fees and the time spent on applications and inspections are part of the job.
Warranty
A longer or transferable warranty is something the company has to stand behind, and it prices that in.
Comparing two proposals
Line them up item by item before looking at the totals. How many feet of drain? Which pump, by make and model? Is the battery backup in or out? Who restores the walls and the yard? What does each warranty exclude?
A smaller number for less drain is not a lower price. It is a smaller job.
Spend the small money first
These cost little next to a drain system, and sometimes they are the whole answer.
Paying for it
New Jersey's consumer guidance is not to pay for the whole job up front, not to pay in cash, and to hold the final payment until the work is complete. If the company offers financing, read the annual percentage rate and compare it with a loan from your own bank.
Flood damage is a separate matter from waterproofing. FEMA points out that most homeowners insurance does not cover it. If you are near the river or a brook, see flood maps and river gauges.