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
South Bend context
A city built this close to a river has always had to manage groundwater. The St. Joseph River has pushed out of its banks more than once in South Bend's recorded history -- a sudden ice-jam flood in January 1847, a June 1855 rain event that overwhelmed the East Race headgates, and a March 1950 flood that put Riverside Drive underwater. Basements and crawl spaces near that same river corridor, and in the low-lying blocks that drain toward it, tend to deal with a higher water table than housing built farther from the water.