Home / Trades / Waterproofing & Sealants
Waterproofing & Sealants: what bids leave out
Waterproofing is cheap compared to fixing a leak behind a finished wall. Bids can still be hard to compare. One bidder carries below-grade waterproofing, protection board, drainage mat, the elevator pit and every exterior joint sealant. Another prices the membrane on the foundation walls only, assumes the concrete is ready to coat, and leaves sealants around windows and doors to the trades that install them. Put them on the same scope before you compare.
Level your waterproofing bids with this checklist →
Your company here: become a founding sponsor →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
Sending it out? Use the free scope letter template to ask every bidder for line-item scope, inclusions, exclusions and alternates. Terms to know: exclusion.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Areas included: foundation walls, elevator pit, planters, below-grade slabs (match drawings) |
| 2 | Below-grade waterproofing system: type and thickness per spec |
| 3 | Damp-proofing vs. waterproofing (confirm which the drawings call for) |
| 4 | Surface prep: patching tie holes, honeycombs and cracks before application |
| 5 | Protection board |
| 6 | Drainage mat or drainage composite |
| 7 | Foundation drain tie-in (waterproofing, site or plumbing sub) |
| 8 | Elevator pit waterproofing and sump (if in scope) |
| 9 | Below-slab vapor retarder or waterproofing (waterproofing or concrete sub) |
| 10 | Terminations, termination bars and transitions to above-grade air/water barrier |
| 11 | Penetrations: pipes, conduits and sleeves sealed |
| 12 | Exterior joint sealants: control joints, expansion joints, panel joints |
| 13 | Sealants at windows, storefront and doors (waterproofing or glazing sub) |
| 14 | Interior joint sealants: at countertops, plumbing fixtures, floor joints |
| 15 | Water repellents or clear sealers on masonry or concrete (if in scope) |
| 16 | Traffic coatings on decks or plaza areas (if in scope) |
| 17 | Primers, backer rod and bond breaker |
| 18 | Mockups and adhesion testing |
| 19 | Water testing or flood testing (if specified) |
| 20 | Coordination with backfill timing |
| 21 | Warranty: installer, manufacturer, and length |
| 22 | Sales tax, bond and prevailing wage |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface preparation |
| Membranes only work on sound, prepared concrete. If nobody carries patching tie holes and honeycombs, the waterproofer stops and waits, or applies over defects. | TBD |
| Protection board & drainage mat |
| Backfill can puncture an unprotected membrane. Protection board and drainage mat are often listed as separate items and are easy to drop. | TBD |
| Elevator pits |
| Elevator pits sit at the lowest point and collect water. Pit waterproofing often falls between the waterproofing, concrete and elevator bids. | TBD |
| Sealants at other trades' work |
| Joint sealants touch almost every trade. If the glazing, door and waterproofing bids all say 'by others,' the building has open joints at turnover. | TBD |
| Interior sealants |
| Interior joints at countertops, fixtures, floor joints and door frames still need sealant. Decide whose bid carries them. | TBD |
| Terminations & transitions |
| Water gets in at the edges. The transition from below-grade waterproofing to the above-grade wall barrier needs one owner. | TBD |
| Testing & mockups |
| Specs may call for adhesion tests, mockups or flood tests. Those take time and money if they weren't priced. | TBD |
| Warranty |
| A material-only warranty covers the product, not the labor to dig it up. Compare warranty type and length across bids. | TBD |
| Dewatering & access |
| The waterproofer needs a dry, open trench to work. Check who keeps it open and dry, and when backfill can start. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Which areas does your price cover: foundation walls, elevator pit, below-slab, planters?
- Are you pricing waterproofing or damp-proofing, and does it match the spec?
- Who patches and prepares the concrete before you apply?
- Are protection board and drainage mat included?
- How do you terminate and transition to the above-grade wall barrier?
- Which joint sealants are in your price, exterior and interior? Are sealants at windows and doors included?
- Are mockups, adhesion tests or flood tests included if specified?
- What warranty do you include: installer, manufacturer or system, and for how long?
Bid-ready waterproofing contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist