14 Aug 7 Questions to Ask Your Basement Waterproofing Service
Your basement is a vital part of your home’s structure. As the bottom layer, it’s highly susceptible to water damage from soil, humidity, leaks, and natural disasters. However, you can protect this particular space and the rest of your home with professional basement waterproofing. As you choose the right contractor for the job, here are some questions you may want to ask.
1. How Long Have You Been in Business?
It’s important to know how long your potential contractor has been conducting basement waterproofing work. After all, you want to ensure you get someone who knows what they’re doing and has enough experience to do the job as professionally and efficiently as possible. The last thing you want is to think that your basement is waterproof, only for it to start showing signs of damage shortly after the contractor leaves.
2. What Is Your Approach?
There’s no one set way to waterproof your basement. However, it’s good to understand how the contractor may go about their work. If they explain the process to you, then you may have a better understanding of what caused the damage in the first place and the extent of the work needed to prevent it from happening again. Waterproofing may involve using a French drain or a sump pump. Workers may have to reinforce the existing drywall, apply caulk to your basement window, or install epoxy floor coating.
3. Do You Have References?
Any experienced basement waterproofing contractor has worked for other people and should be able to provide references. As long as they did a quality job for other customers, there should be positive feedback about how the work went. If you find that your contractor hesitates to give you references, it may be a red flag that they either don’t have the experience they claim or that customers won’t have good things to say about the quality of the work.
4. How Long Will It Take?
Don’t be afraid to ask how long the waterproofing project should take. It’s not that you’re trying to rush the contractor, but simply want to make sure they stick to a schedule. Any work going on in your home can be invasive for you and your family’s routine. What if you have little kids or pets to consider? When strangers are in your home doing work, it can cause pets to have anxiety, or you may have to ensure the kids stay out of the way of the workers.
5. Do You Have a Warranty?
The basement waterproofing process can be quite intensive. Even if you get the right professionals on a job, that doesn’t mean something won’t go wrong. That’s why it’s important to ask if there is a warranty or guarantee for the work. Most contractors will have a warranty that may last for a year or more that permits you to get free repairs in case something goes wrong within that period.
6. Do You Have Insurance?
Speaking of protection, you want to double-check that any basement contractor working in your home has some form of insurance coverage. What happens if one of the workers gets hurt during the waterproofing process? At least when the contractor has insurance, the company will cover any of their medical fees. As a result, you won’t have to worry about being held liable for anything that happens.
7. How Many People Be Will Working on the Project?
Your home is your castle, so you want to be aware of who is coming inside, even if they’re there to do professional work. Don’t be afraid to make note of how many people may be working on your waterproofing project. If the basement waterproofing is extensive, several workers may be required to finish the job.
If your basement has suffered water damage, you’re not alone. According to This Old House, over 60% of basements in existing homes have a moisture problem. If your home is part of that statistic, you need the right professionals to handle the situation. Reach out to our team today at B & B Basement Repairs LLC for a free estimate on our services. Our contractors have the tools and knowledge to get your basement back in pristine condition.