Start with conditions, not a product
Roof runoff, grading, hydrostatic pressure, wall cracks, floor joints, drainage, and interior humidity can create similar symptoms with very different solutions.
Build a complete scope
- Existing conditions and likely cause
- Preparation and protection
- Materials, compatibility, and installation details
- Permits, testing, cleanup, and restoration
- Exclusions, warranty terms, and change-order process
Grand Rapids Context
The Grand River has flooded Grand Rapids repeatedly -- 1904 and 1905, then 1947 and 1948, then most recently April 2013, when the river crested at 21.85 feet -- and the city's own floodplain rules require compliance for work proposed inside FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas near the river and its tributaries, a real consideration for basement work anywhere close to that water table.