Guide
What Affects the Price
Crawl space and basement jobs vary more than most home repairs, because every house leaks in its own way. Knowing what moves the price helps you read a proposal and compare two of them fairly.
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There are no price figures on this page, because a number that does not come from someone who has seen your house would mislead you. What follows is what the company will be weighing.
Under the house
- FactorFloor area and wall height
- Why it mattersMore liner, more seams and more time on hands and knees.
- FactorHeadroom and the access door
- Why it mattersA space too low to kneel in, or a hatch that has to be enlarged, slows every task.
- FactorWhat has to come out
- Why it mattersOld insulation, torn plastic and debris are removed by the bagful.
- FactorStanding water
- Why it mattersA drain and a pump are a separate piece of work that comes first.
- FactorWood damage
- Why it mattersEach joist reinforced and each support added is priced on top.
- FactorLiner grade and dehumidifier
- Why it mattersHeavier liners and larger units cost more to buy.
- FactorElectrical
- Why it mattersA pump or dehumidifier needs an outlet where there may not be one.
In the basement
- FactorLength of wall drained
- Why it mattersInside drains are priced largely by the foot.
- FactorFinished or bare
- Why it mattersDrywall, flooring and built-ins along the wall have to come out and go back.
- FactorNumber of pumps
- Why it mattersA long or L-shaped basement may need two basins.
- FactorBattery backup
- Why it mattersA second pump, a battery and a controller are extras.
- FactorDischarge route
- Why it mattersA long run to a safe outlet means more pipe and more trenching.
- FactorGetting rubble out
- Why it mattersA walk-out door is easy. Stairs and a window are not.
Outside
- Depth of digging: a full basement wall is far more work than a shallow drain.
- Whether a machine can reach the wall, or the trench must be dug by hand.
- What stands in the way: decks, steps, shrubs, air conditioner pads, paving.
- How far the water has to be piped before it can be let go.
Comparing two prices
Two prices are only comparable when they cover the same work. Line them up item by item: the same walls, the same liner thickness, the same pump, the same list of things left out. The smaller total is often the smaller job. Ask each company what the other one's proposal includes that theirs does not.
Payment terms are part of the price
Look at the size of the deposit and what has to be finished before each later payment falls due. If financing is offered, read the interest rate and the total repaid, not just the monthly amount. And ask whether a permit fee is inside the price or added to it.