As a homeowner that wants to ensure that their home is free from any problem, such as water leakages. It is important to detect the water problems early as it will be cause more damages if left too long. Choosing the proper waterproofing contractor will able to solve your waterproofing issues, recommending proper solutions and working out with your budget expectation at the end of the day. However, selecting an inexperienced waterproofing contractors not only unable to repair the leakages, but can be a very expensive mistake as well.
What Does a Waterproofing Contractor Do?
Waterproofing is the process of sealing cracks and holes in a wall or foundation of a building to prevent water from getting inside. It can be done by using different types of waterproofing materials like paints, membranes, caulks, etc.
The process is usually performed by a waterproofing contractor who inspects the building and then seals the cracks and holes with waterproof membrane material.
A water proofing contractor is someone who inspects buildings to find out where leaks are coming from and then fixes it or proposing suitable waterproofing system.
How to find waterproofing contractors?
You can always start by asking for recommendations from friends and relatives who has engaged with any waterproofing contractors before. Additionally, you can search them through Google searches or through various apps such as Kaodim or similar services.
1. Verify CIDB and SSM Registration
Before you let anyone start work on your property, ask for two things: their CIDB registration number and their SSM business registration number. These aren’t formalities — they’re the clearest, fastest way to tell a legitimate contractor from someone who’s set up shop with a van and a WhatsApp number.
What each one means:
- SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) registration confirms the business is a legally registered entity, not an informal individual taking cash jobs with no paper trail. If something goes wrong — poor workmanship, a dispute over payment — you have almost no recourse against an unregistered operator.
- CIDB (Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia) registration is specifically required for contractors carrying out construction work in Malaysia, including waterproofing. It signals the contractor has met the board’s requirements to legally operate in the construction industry.
How to check:
- Ask the contractor directly for both registration numbers — a legitimate contractor will provide these without hesitation
- Cross-check the CIDB number against CIDB’s public contractor registry
- Cross-check the SSM number through SSM’s e-Info portal
Why this matters more than it seems: registration alone doesn’t guarantee good workmanship. But the absence of it tells you something important — an unregistered contractor has little to lose by disappearing halfway through a job, cutting corners, or ignoring a warranty claim later. For strata properties, your management office may also require these details before approving any waterproofing works, so it’s worth having them on hand regardless.
If a contractor is reluctant to share this information, or gives vague answers when asked, treat that as a clear signal to walk away — not a detail to let slide because the quote looks good.
2. Ask for estimate quotation from different waterproofing contractors
If you need to, find a registered waterproofing company that can provide quotes for your waterproofing system or recommendations from your friends. Make price comparisons, and it is advisable to get professional waterproofing registered company with years of experience and reviews. Sometimes estimate quotation may have slight differences from final billing but usually would not have very big differences.
3. Ask waterproofing contractors to do inspection first
Some waterproofing contractors offer free inspection and quotation, or online inspection. Some even offer to do inspections above roof with drones as well. Get opinion from different company and solution first before proceeding.
4. Asking the right questions
Never be afraid to ask questions from your waterproofing contractors. At the end of the day, these contractors are working on your home and you have every rights to ask them. These are the few crucial questions you can ask – what are the detailed pricing, what kind of waterproofing membrane are they applying, how many days would it take to complete, how long is the warranty periods are, what are the process of the application and purposes of each of the materials they are applying.
5. Beware of contractors asking for high deposits
Be aware of putting in deposit of more than 15% to contractors upon commencement of work. Remaining payments should be paid upon completion and based on their workmanship as well. Avoid contractors who demand more than 15% deposit without proper reasons.
6. Check on the contractors past performance and qualification
Waterproofing contractors are not the same, some have experience in handling home repairs, while some are more focus on commercial repairs. It is important to do research on waterproofing contractors beforehand, with the help of internet and social medias you can check on their reviews and feedbacks from other customers easily. You’ll need to be alert if there’s the waterproofing contractor doesn’t have any online presence as there will be risk.
7. Confirm Warranty Coverage in Writing
A verbal promise of “don’t worry, we guarantee our work” means nothing if a leak reappears eight months later and there’s no paperwork to hold anyone to. Before work begins, get the warranty terms in writing — not as an afterthought once the job is done, but as part of the quotation or contract itself.
What a proper warranty should specify:
- What’s covered — materials, workmanship, or both. These aren’t the same thing: a materials warranty from the product manufacturer doesn’t automatically cover the contractor’s installation quality, and vice versa.
- Duration — reputable waterproofing warranties typically run several years, not months. The exact length varies by system (e.g. torch-on membrane, liquid-applied, cementitious) and by contractor, so ask specifically rather than assuming.
- What voids it — some warranties become void if the surface is later modified, if other work is done nearby without the contractor’s knowledge, or if the property owner attempts their own repairs. Know these conditions upfront.
- Who honours it — if the contractor is a small outfit, ask how warranty claims are handled if the business changes hands or closes. A contractor backed by an established company with a track record offers more assurance here than a sole operator.
Why this is worth insisting on: waterproofing failures often don’t show up immediately — a leak can take months to manifest after a poor application. Without a written warranty, you have no leverage to get it fixed without paying again from scratch. Treat a written, specific warranty as a non-negotiable part of any quote, not a bonus feature some contractors happen to offer.
Conclusion
If you want peace of mind and maximum protection against water damage for your home or business property, hire a professional waterproofing contractor as it is a long term investment which is worthy over saving the 10-20% price difference.