What waterproofing covers
The two methods solve different problems, so ask a company which one it's quoting and why before you compare prices.
Basement waterproofing in Texas: our estimate
Our model gives $3,425 to $10,500 per project for a waterproofing project. It's an estimate, not a quote, starting from 2 national published ranges that we scale by the Texas construction laborer wage ratio. No Texas company has published a price for this job that we could count.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $3,425 to $10,500 per project | Built from 2 national published ranges, adjusted by the Texas construction laborer wage ratio (0.82). Ten Texas foundation companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Estimated range per square foot, not a quote | $4 to $9 per square foot, interior system | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Texas construction laborer wage ratio (0.82). Ten Texas foundation companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Construction laborer mean wage, Texas | $20.63 an hour | BLS, May 2025: hourly pay in Texas for the occupation closest to waterproofing crews, not a price. |
| Construction laborer mean wage, United States | $25.02 an hour | The national BLS figure from the same release; the Texas wage over it sets the ratio. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (2 sources), adjusted by Texas's construction laborer wage ratio to the US (0.82, BLS May 2025). Not a quote. Ten Texas foundation companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Texas company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 23, 2026.
Licensing and permits
Read on October 23, 2026, TDLR's licensing list shows no program for foundation repair, structural repair, concrete or general contracting.
Where a city prints foundation repair rules, as San Antonio does in Bulletin 172, they're written for repairs that an engineer designs or oversees. Grand Prairie's definition of foundation repair names leveling, piers, footings and changes to the flooring system.
Below-grade water that can't wait
- Water is rising toward outlets, appliances or the panel.
- Water is pushing through a wall that has moved.
- Sewage or floodwater is coming up through a floor drain.
- Damp patches that dry out between rains and haven't spread.
Before a waterproofing company comes out
- Note where and when water shows up, and whether it follows rain.
- Make sure the gutters and downspouts drain well away from that wall.
- Ask each company what it thinks is causing the water and what its fix changes.
Permit position for waterproofing
None of the 25 cities' permit pages in our sources names waterproofing, so describe the job to your building office, including any digging, new drain or pump, and ask whether it needs a permit.
Texas has no state license for foundation repair, so ask for the contractor's certificate of insurance and call the insurer listed on it before you sign anything.
Questions people ask
What does basement waterproofing cost in Texas?
We estimate $3,425 to $10,500 per project for a project, which is a model, not a quote. National cost guides are the base, adjusted for Texas wages. Ask for a price that names the drain, the sealant and where the water ends up.
Is waterproofing the same as foundation repair?
Grand Prairie defines foundation repair by the work: leveling, piers, footings and the flooring system. Ask your city how it classes the job you've been quoted.
- TDLR: Programs Licensed and Regulated by TDLR Read Oct 23, 2026.
- San Antonio DSD: Information Bulletin 172 Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Grand Prairie: Residential Foundation Repair Permit Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061), Texas, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- FoundationMatch: how we estimate costs, Texas (editorial policy) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- San Antonio DSD: Residential Permits Read Oct 23, 2026.