Nothing here is legal, engineering, insurance or tax advice. Cost figures name their source and year, and national ranges are labeled as national. Only a contractor's written estimate, made after seeing the basement, can price a particular job.

Laws, permit rules and public programs change. When a page summarizes what DIAL, the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, the City of Des Moines, its Permit and Development Center or Public Works, the WRA, one of the five towns or another public body has published, check with that office before you rely on it. The site is independent of every one of them, and none of them endorses or works with it.

The Private Property Protection Program belongs to the City of Des Moines alone: it applies only to Des Moines addresses, under the City's own conditions, and the site has no role in it. Norwalk, IA's foundation-drain program is described as something that city did in the past, not as a program it runs today.

Rain, river and soil facts are credited to their sources, such as the National Weather Service, USGS, USDA NRCS and the Iowa Geological Survey, and are given as background.

The wet-basement checker and the cost calculator give rough guidance only. Neither can examine a wall or tell you why a basement leaks.

Any contractor that receives a request is an independent business, and the site is not responsible for its estimates, work or conduct. Contractors may pay for advertising; homeowners pay nothing and receive nothing. The site does not handle insurance matters. Coverage depends on your own policy, so read its wording and ask your insurer or agent.

Iowa law governs this disclaimer.