Renovating Your Home? 7 Tips to Know Before Hiring a Waterproofing Contractor*

When you renovate your home, you are likely going to need a waterproofing contractor. This person’s job is to go into the basement and identify any possible issues or threats. They are to correct these water threats as fast as possible while being economically friendly. If you hire the right contractor, they will also help prevent problems in the future and keep the home secured from any potential water leaks.

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How to Find the Right Waterproofing Contractor 

When you are looking for a waterproofing contractor, you must know which one is better than others. A knowledgeable contractor will know how to properly waterproof basements in residential areas. This is done to help protect your family and reduce moisture and mold problems. When hiring a contractor, ensure that they know what they are doing and have experience.

If a Basement is not Waterproof

When your basement isn’t waterproofed you are up against a number of different problems. Some of these problems could be pretty bad and even cause health issues. Some of the most common problems with non-waterproofed basements are

• Warping of flooring or paneling
• Termite issues
• Rusting of furnaces, hot water heaters, other components
• Electrical dangers due to moisture exposure
• Damp and musty areas
• Mold and mildew issues
• Structural damage- concrete breakdown

These problems will not fix themselves. You must hire a waterproofing contractor to help you finish the job. If you do not fix this problem, it will only get worse. This will mean a more expensive project for you. Saving time and money is easy when you hire the right waterproofing contractor. When hiring you should make sure that the contractor is experienced. There are also a few tips that you should take into consideration when hiring a waterproofing contractor.

Is the Contractor Licensed, Insured, and Bonded?

When hiring a waterproofing contractor, you need to ensure that they are licensed and insured before they start doing any work on your home. This is especially true for waterproofing contractors. These contractors may need to obtain a building permit to complete the job. Even if you do not need a permit, it is a must that the contractor has bonding and liability insurance. This will help you and the home if something were to go wrong while the job was underway.

How Long Has the Contractor Been in Business?

You want to know how long this particular waterproofing contractor has been in business. This helps you know that they are experienced or if they are not. If the contractor is experienced, they have likely seen your problem before and know how to handle it.

It is also important to ask the contractor how long they have been using the particular process that they plan on using on your home. If the process hasn’t been used very long, it may be a reason for concern because you as a client do not know the full details. You don’t know how long the repairs will last and how durable they are.

Can the Contractor Provide References?

A good waterproofing contractor will have numerous references from happy customers. This makes it easier to decide to hire them over the next company. You should make it a priority to call these references to see if they would recommend this waterproofing contractor. The contractor should provide recent and past references. This allows you to see if the repairs that were done several years ago are still intact and holding strong.

Ask the Contractor why They Think the Repair Will Work Best for You.

There are a lot of different ways to waterproof a basement and remodel it or repair it. You should ask the contractor why they chose this method for you and why it is the best option. Contractors should tell you how the process works and why it is best for your home. It is during this time that you should ask what materials are used and why they are used. Make sure that the solution they are offering you makes sense for your situation.

What Does the Contractor’s Work Look Like?

While many repairs or waterproofing projects take place inside, some bigger jobs require installing drainage systems or excavation. The contractor should provide you with samples of their work and how it has turned out. Not all jobs are simply installing interior items.

If the contractor is installing an interior drain you should ask them what they are using for materials and how wide the trench will be. This should be installed professionally even though it is inside and a smaller task. This generally gets down to how much you are getting for your money and the quality of work that the contractors are providing.

Does the Contractor Offer a Guarantee or Warranty for Their Work?

Most waterproofing companies will offer a warranty on the work done to your home. You need to see what this warranty includes and how long it lasts. You should know if the materials and labor are covered or if you would have to replace the materials yourself. You should also know if the waterproofing contractor has had to go to a warranty call. You should know if the warranty repair was done properly and in a timely manner.

It is best to have a lifetime transferrable warranty. This means that if you sell your home, the warranty will carry onto the next person who purchases the home. Lastly, make sure that the sump pumps are a lifetime guarantee and have no extra fees for installation. Do not get yourself caught up in wordy contracts. Contracts should be short and simple. They should get right to the point.

What Do a Contractor’s Services Include for the Price?

You should always get an estimate before you settle on a company for waterproofing your home. Each company may have different items that they require and use. This may determine how much a contractor will charge as well. You should ensure that all the above is good and ready to go. This should be the last step in the processes. Make sure that you are checking the details of many different waterproofing contractors to ensure that you are getting the best deal for your project.

What Services Does a Waterproofing Contractor Offer?

A professional waterproofing contractor will do a home inspection and provide you with the details. They will inform you about any issues they have found in your home. When you are given this information, they will then provide you with different solutions to your problem. It is at this point that the contractor will provide you with an estimate for the cost of your project and waterproofing your home.

Before the Process Starts

Before any work begins on the home a contractor will compose a detailed contract as well as a proposal. They will provide you with a start date. They will ask you when you would like to start the project. Based on this information, they should also provide you with a completion date. Lastly, they should provide you with a solid price. This is the final price of the whole project. This number will not and should not change throughout the project.

Waterproofing contractors not only waterproof the basements and homes, but they also help repair the damage already there. By the time a contractor gets to the home, there is usually some type of water damage. This could include damaged foundation or mold and mildew problems. The job of the contractor is to fix all the existing problems and waterproof the area to ensure these problems do not occur again.

Your contractor should also inform you about where the water is coming into the home. They will investigate this and report back to you. Likely they will start outside to ensure that all drainage systems are working properly and that the downspouts are taking water away from the home. The soil around the home should also keep water flowing away from the home as well, it should not be bringing water in. It is easier to stop problems from a gutter or downspout than spending thousands of dollars on waterproofing. Sometimes the problem is simpler than you may think and it may not be your basements fault.

Conclusion

Waterproofing contractors are very helpful if you have water issues in your basement or need help when finishing a remodeling project. You simply need to ensure that they are the best waterproofing contractor in your area and that they have all the references and licenses needed to complete the job. The most important part when you are hiring a waterproofing contractor is to ensure they have insurance and that they are reliable and have excellent work. Choosing the wrong contractor could lead you with a lot of wasted money and no fix to your problem. The right contractor will fix your existing problems and waterproof your home.