When the basement gets damaged or needs waterproofing, basement waterproofing contractors are the people homeowners like you turn to for help. They will offer you advice and recommend solutions to fix your basement problems. But like every other profession or trade, you will find a mixed bag. Some have your interests at heart, while others just want to take your hard-earned money and take off after doing a shoddy job. Before you commit yourself to any contractor, find out whether they’re a good fit.
Not sure what to look for in a contractor? Here are some things to keep in mind when scouting for a basement waterproofing contractor:
1) Valid License
This is a no-brainer. Basement waterproofing contractors need to be licensed. Why? Licensing means they’ve undergone training, have passed multiple tests, understand the industry, and offer customers contracts. In short, they’re qualified for any kind of basement waterproofing and repair job. Check for licensing when you visit their local office or access their website. It’s likely they’ve placed it somewhere customers can see.
2) Bonded and Insured
Contractors who have valid local or state licenses also happen to be bonded and carry insurance. Since they’re bonded, they will be held liable for not completing their work or not meeting the requirements of local codes. Insurance protects you from lawsuits. In case a worker gets injured on-site while working on the basement, the contractor’s insurer will be the one to provide compensation, not you.
3) Customer Reviews
As part of doing due diligence, find out what other customers say about the contractor you’ve shortlisted. Do they think they’re professional? Do they do satisfactory repairs? Are they helpful, approachable, and honest? Online reviews will help you see the contractor for who they really are. Based on the feedback, you can decide whether they’re trustworthy and dependable or not.
4) Written Quotes
Every waterproofing or repair job starts with a quote. In most cases, it’s offered free. A good contractor should provide you with a written estimate with details about the nature of the problem, breakdown of costs, and the solution(s) they’re proposing — and that’s after doing an inspection first. Anyone who offers you a verbal quote and doesn’t take time to check your basement is guesstimating, and won’t likely offer you the right solution or satisfactory answers.
5) Project Timelines
Every project has a start date and an end date. In between, the contractor will be carrying out various repairs and other maintenance work. As well as giving you an honest timeline, the basement waterproofing contractor should tell you what they’ll be doing on a day-to-day basis upfront. This way, you will know how long repairs will take so you can budget for labor.
6) Permits
Some projects require permits before work starts. As long as the contractor is licensed, they shouldn’t have a problem applying for permits for repairs they’ll undertake within the basement. Otherwise, you could get penalized for flouting local building codes and requirements. So, find out whether they can obtain building permits on your behalf.
7) Track Record
We’d very much like to tie this to customer reviews, but it carries significant weight. Basement repairs cost money. We’re not talking about a couple of hundred bucks, but several thousand. You want to make sure the person you’re hiring has a track record as far as repairs or waterproofing is concerned. Find out some of the projects that a potential contractor has completed and their outcomes. Are those basements still holding up? This will help you determine whether the contractor is up to the task.
8) Waterproofing warranty
Lastly, you need to know whether a prospective basement contractor provides a warranty, and if so, what it covers. Good contractors offer a workmanship warranty, which covers you against installation mistakes, and a manufacturer’s warranty that covers against defects on basement materials. You wouldn’t want to pay for someone’s mistakes, would you? In short, the contractor should stand behind their work.
Looking for trustworthy, dependable and friendly basement waterproofing contractors? Your search ends here. Schedule an inspection with us and get a free basement waterproofing quote plus solid recommendations to fix your leaking basement!
