9 Questions to Ask Any Contractor That Provides Waterproofing Services

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Is your crawl space or basement moldy, musty, or damp? If so, then you’re going to need to hire a waterproofing contractor who can solve your water problems and make sure that your home is healthy, dry, and functional. It can be overwhelming to find the right contractor who provides waterproofing services, but it doesn’t need to be difficult. 

You just need to make sure that you talk to multiple contractors and ask the right questions. But which questions are really going to help you determine which contractor is fit for the job?

Keep on reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

1. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?

This is the first question that all homeowners should ask a contractor before they start any work on their homes. And it’s especially necessary to know if they’re licensed, bonded, and insured when it comes to basement waterproofing because the work might require your contractor to get a building permit.

Even if they don’t need a permit, then bonding, liability insurance, and workers compensation can still help protect you and your house financially if something on the job goes awry. 

2. How Many Years Have You Been in Business?

By knowing how long a company has been in business, you’ll get a better sense of how experienced they are in performing basement waterproofing services. A company that’s been around for a while has likely had a lot of success and is able to stay in business. 

3. Can You Give Me References?

It’s definitely a good idea to try to hire a basement waterproofing contractor who has a long history of satisfied customers. If they give you references, you should go ahead and call a few customers.

You want to call customers whose work took place several years ago so they can tell you how the repairs went. You also want to call customers who recently had work done so you can see how the contractor’s current services are. 

4. What Kinds of Solutions Do You Offer?

Waterproofing contractors use all kinds of techniques and tools to address water issues. This can include:

  • sump pumps
  • downspouts
  • waterproofing membranes
  • re-grading
  • French drains
  • driveway drains
  • window well and stairwell drains
  • crack and structural repair
  • erosion control

Some contractors will only provide interior drainage systems. Others will offer both interior and exterior solutions. Whether your crawl space smells like mold or your basement is totally flooded, you want to hire a contractor who is going to offer the solutions that you need.

5. What Will the Work Look Like?

If your home needs an extensive repair, such as installing an interior drain system or exterior excavation, then the quality of the work is going to affect the look of your house.

If the contractor is doing something like interior drain work, you want to find out what materials they’ll be using and how wide the trench is going to be. You also want to make sure that it’s going to be performed neatly and professionally. 

6. Do You Guarantee or Warranty Your Work?

You want to find out how long the company’s warranty lasts for. Does the warranty cover labor and materials? And have they ever needed to come back out and work on warranty coverage?

Ideally, you’ll get a lifetime transferrable warranty. This is a warranty that can carry over to the next homeowner after you sell the house.

You also want to make sure that the sump pumps are guaranteed for life. You should also proceed with caution if you get a big, wordy contract. A contract should be concise and to the point.

7. Have You Ever Had a Failure?

An honest contractor who has been in the business for several years and has performed hundreds of installations has likely had a failure at some point. This happens and doesn’t mean that you’re dealing with a bad contractor. 

You just want to make sure that your contractor is honest and upfront. They should be able to explain to you what caused the failure and what they did to fix the situation so that it wouldn’t occur again.

8. What Is the Discharge Capacity of the Sump Pump?

The contractor should know his system inside and out. He should be able to quickly tell you the discharge capacity. 

A waterproofing system is all about how much capacity the system can move. This is crucial information when you’re trying to make the right choice.

9. Are There Additional Costs?

The costs of waterproofing might go beyond repairs. You shouldn’t be surprised if the final cost ends up being more than the original estimate. 

For example, you might need to pay to move furniture, fitness equipment, etc. If you’re getting a new sump pump, you’ll have to pay an electrician to install a dedicated outlet. 

If you’re getting an interior drainage system installed in a finished basement, then you might need to pay someone to repair drywall, repair, repaint, or replace the floor covering. 

The Importance of Knowing What Questions to Ask Any Contractor That Provides Waterproofing Services

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now feel better equipped to know how to pick the right contractor. Because of how important waterproofing services are to the quality of your home, it’s important that you use a lot of discretion and pick someone who is professional, knowledgeable, experienced, and reasonably priced.

If you’re looking for waterproofing services for your basement, then contact us today and see what we can do for you! 

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