Here are the most crucial questions you should ask a waterproofing company before hiring them.
Asking these questions can help you avoid heartache and confusion in the future.
Most basement waterproofing companies will provide free estimates, but it's always a good idea to ask just in case. Oftentimes they will advertise this on their website. In some cases, a small amount of work will need to be completed in order to find the root of an issue and to give an accurate estimate. In this case, you may end up having to spend a little bit to receive the completed estimate.
We recommend finding companies that do provide free estimates, as you can ask a couple different companies until you find one that you like and are comfortable hiring.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but even so, it's important to remember to ask how much the waterproofing services cost.
One thing to keep in mind is that the cheapest solution is not always the best solution. You may fix the problem in the short-term, but if the cheap solution was not meant to hold off the problem in the future, you could find yourself paying even more to fix it a second time.
You want to make sure that the contractor is not overcomplicating the issue at hand. Your water leakage issue might simply be happening because there are no gutters installed on your home. Installing the gutters and throwing a few dehumidifiers in the basement may fix the water leakage issue when it rains without the need to install a large drain tile system along with sump pumps.
This isn't always the case, but it is always a great question to ask rather than paying for work that isn't absolutely necessary.
Excavation refers to digging up construction in order to get to or install a product in your basement or foundation. Generally when excavation is required the cost will go up as bigger and stronger equipment is needed. Be sure to ask how much needs to be dug up and where that will be taking place (interior or exterior).
Many waterproofing companies offer warranty on the products they provide, and some provide it on labor as well. It is a good idea to ask your contractor how long the warranty lasts and what the limit is on the warranty. There can be a claim limit amount written into the fine print.
Warranties are great in case something goes wrong with one of the products installed in your basement. If something breaks or stops working, a warranty may be able to cover any additional costs to replace the broken or non-functional equipment.
Each and every basement is different. Having workers that have experienced many different types of homes and basements can come in handy when you run into unusual issues. For example, if a worker runs into pipes while digging into the concrete and has not experienced this before, it may cause unneeded complications.
An experienced crew, however, will know exactly what to do when the unusual arises.
Believe it or not, not all basement repair products and solutions are equal. For example, there are many different types of egress window solutions out there, and the dry-up baseboard is a nifty solution to small leakage problems that many waterproofing companies overlook.
Again, this is another case where it is crucial to find products that will not only be a quick fix to your wet basement but that will be there in 5, 10, 20 and more years down the road.
Asking for images of previous completed jobs can be a great way to prove the legitimacy of a business and can also give you an idea of the type of work that they provide. It may also provide insight as to how much they clean up after the project has been completed. It is smart to find a waterproofing contractor that will clean up afterwards.
Companies that have been around for over 30 years will have hundreds, if not thousands, of past customers that are now enjoying their dry basements all year around. Ask those customers how their experience was working with the basement waterproofing contractor, and find out if they would hire the same company again a second time around.
You will want to avoid hiring contractors that are not insured. This is a necessity because you will run into major issues if the project does not go as planned. Lawsuits will happen, and it will not end up pretty, so make sure the company has proper liability insurance. Be sure to ask about what type of insurance the company has and what exact situations it would and wouldn't cover.
Different states have different laws about licenses. Be sure to check that the company has a proper license to be doing the work they are performing. Most are required to have licenses once they reach a certain project amount threshold.
This question may be last on the list, but it could be the most important question you ask. If you are going to fix a basement problem, why not fix it right the first time?
We always like to tell our customers that our solutions are "realistic". We use proven and tested products and solutions, and we have the experience to fix just about any basement water issue. Whichever company you decide to hire, make sure they are going to stand by their product and word.
