Waterproofing Contractor Checklist: 12 Questions Before You Sign

The twelve questions that separate a job lasting a decade from one you'll be calling back about after the next monsoon.

Most waterproofing failures in Chennai aren't material failures — they're process failures. The coating was fine; the surface underneath wasn't ready for it. These twelve questions surface that gap before you pay a deposit.

Before the quote

• 1. Will you inspect the site before quoting, and is the inspection free?
• 2. What exactly is causing the leak, in your assessment?
• 3. Which system are you proposing, and why that one for this surface?
• 4. Is the quote fixed, or an estimate that can move once work starts?

About the work

• 5. What surface preparation is included — cleaning, crack repair, slope correction, primer?
• 6. How many coats, at what thickness, and with what curing time between them?
• 7. Will drains and outlets be re-worked so water actually leaves the slab?
• 8. How long will the area be unusable, and what happens if it rains mid-job?

After the work

• 9. Will a flood test be run before handover, and can I witness it?
• 10. What does the warranty cover, for how long, and what voids it?
• 11. Who do I call in year three, and how fast do you respond?
• 12. What maintenance do you expect from me to keep the warranty valid?

Red flags worth walking away from

• A price quoted over the phone without seeing the surface
• The same system recommended for terrace, bathroom and basement alike
• No mention of crack repair or drainage in the scope
• A verbal warranty with nothing in writing
• Pressure to pay the full amount before a flood test

If a contractor answers all twelve without hesitation, you're probably in good hands. If several answers are vague, that vagueness is what you'll be living with when the monsoon arrives.