Have you been noticing water in your basement? Maybe you’ve noticed puddles along the corners where your basement wall meets the floor slab, or perhaps it has been getting strangely humid in your basement? If one of these scenarios fits your situation, or if you’ve spotted other signs of unwanted moisture or water in the basement, there’s a good chance that you’re in need of basement waterproofing.
But there are many contractors out there, and not all basement waterproofing contractors are equal. Your home is important to you, so it should be taken care of by the best you can find. There are several factors that you’ll want to take into consideration when choosing a contractor. Let’s take a look at how you can make sure your basement is treated to the best…
Is the Contractor Licensed and Insured?
It is wise to make sure that the basement waterproofing contractor you’re considering is both licensed and insured. A licensed contractor means that the contractor is a legitimate provider of their industry’s services—they’ve undergone the steps needed to receive a license from a licensing authority in their region of service. This might be from a state or a local licensing authority.
Being insured means that the contractor is covered by an insurance policy that’s meant to protect you from financial harm because of a contractor’s actions while working on your basement. For example, if your basement and/or home should suffer damage while the contractor is working on your basement, their insurance policy should be there to help with the costs of further repair or the replacement of certain damaged items.
Think of “licensed and insured” as a safety net in case something goes wrong. It also speaks to a company’s desire to create goodwill with their customers, providing peace of mind, and that they want to do things the right way. In most states, a contractor is not allowed to perform work on your home without the proper licensing and insurance.
What is the Company’s Longevity and Experience?
No two wet basement situations are entirely the same. That’s why experience can make a big difference in the outcome of basement waterproofing. A contractor with many years of experience likely has greater knowledge to understand what’s happening with your basement and will have more strategies to resolve your wet basement situation. Not all spaces are the same, so it’s important to understand the best way to waterproof your basement by using your contractor’s expert advice.
How Are the Reviews?
Like many other services, a basement waterproofing contractor likely has reviews, especially if they’ve been in the industry for a long time. If the contractor does have reviews for their services, it is important to see if they have a lot of positive reviews. You should also investigate the details given by those reviews so that you can determine for yourself if those reviews are legitimate. No contractor will be perfect, but how they respond to errors or concerns may be more informative than simply an all-positive review.
How Strong is the Warranty?
Different contractors may have different ideas as to what they consider a good warranty. But the warranty you will want to look for is a life-of-the-structure warranty. But the second half of it is the reliability of the company. A lifetime warranty is only as good as the company’s existence, another reason to check on a company’s longevity before choosing a contractor.
Will I Get a Detailed Estimate and Scope of the Work?
When it comes to fixing any part of your home, you don’t need surprises, you need peace of mind. Ask the contractor if they offer detailed estimates describing the cost of their proposed solutions. Also, ask the contractor if they offer an in-depth explanation of the scope of their work before anything gets done.
Finding the Best Contractor for the Job
The right contractor for your basement waterproofing needs is the one that has a good answer to each of these questions. You’ll need a company that offers a strong lifetime warranty, maintains honest communication with its customers, is professionally licensed and insured, and has the experience to handle any wet basement situation. What’s more, they need to be backed by the good word of other customers who’ve counted on their services in the past. For one such company that fulfills each of these requirements, consider the basement waterproofing experts at ’58 Foundations!