If you are looking to hire a basement waterproofing contractor you may wonder about how to qualify candidates to stop your basement water leaks.  Many of these are obvious but let’s cover them to be thorough:

Are they licensed to do business in your community?  You would be surprised.  Many basement waterproofing contractors work under the radar avoiding the paperwork and fees associated with performing basement repair.  Call your local building department to check this out.

Do they use subcontractors?  Most do.  This way they can avoid paying payroll taxes, insurances etc…  And if they are using the same subs over and over they are violating the law.  Using subcontractors keeps costs down but also open the door to great risk, leading to…

Can they prove they have Worker’s Compensation insurance?  If they use subs, they are not insuring them.  Most subs do not carry their own worker’s comp. insurance because it is very costly.  So if there is an accident and an injury on the job in your home and there is no insurance, you pay for all the medical care and related damages to that person or persons.

Do they sell the same basement systems to everyone?  A basement waterproofing contractor that owns a franchise will definitely do this and most others do as well.  It makes selling easier and performing the labor easier.  The problem with a one size fits all basement systems approach is that the basement solution offered may not be the best one for you.  For example, if your basement has wet walls, exterior basement waterproofing is likely the best bet.  Many companies will “fix” it on the inside though and your foundation will continue to have dampness in it whether you see it or not.

These are the biggies.  Obviously you should do other homework before hiring a basement waterproofing contractor such as checking the BBB and Angie’s List to name a couple.

For more info visit:  basement waterproofing contractor 

If you have basement water leaks you may be considering waterproofing the basement.  A wet basement can lead serious problems such as foundation rot, items in the basement rusting such as your furnace, wood and stored items rotting and health issues related to basement mold.

Before waterproofing the basement it is important to take a look at what type of basement water leaks you are experiencing.  If the water is coming from the walls high to mid wall, you have surface water issues.  You should start by taking a look outside.  Check to be sure all roof gutters are working properly and not overflowing.  Also be sure your downspouts are leading the water away from the foundation.

Building the dirt up around the foundation may not help, and in many cases can aggravate your problems.  Damp basement walls are often due to landscaping and or the dirt being built up too high along the foundation.  If you do not first waterproof the foundation before raising the dirt or mulch level, the foundation will act like a sponge and absorb moisture from the soil or mulch causing bubbling paint, wet basement walls and worse.

If you have actual basement water leaks coming from down low / where the wall meets the floor, and your walls are dry, you have a ground water problem.  This means water is building up around the foundation under heavier conditions and has no where to go other than into your basement.

For info on different basement systems such as exterior basement waterproofing and interior basement waterproofing to help guide your decision regarding waterproofing the basement, visit: basement solutions

There are specific reasons why basement waterproofing contractors offer different basement systems to solve basement water leaks and problems associated with foundations.

The number one reason is most basement waterproofing contractors only actually install one type of system.  Many of these contractors incorporate into their “sales pitch” a review of all types of basement waterproofing solutions in a way that leads their customers to the one they want to sell, the only one they actually install.

Those that area interior basement waterproofing contractors will exaggerate or emphasise the extent of disturbance to the exterior surrounding your foundation and the “nightmare” will scare you away from  exterior basement waterproofing.

Those that only install exterior basement waterproofing will present a very logical argument that all water comes from outside and thus that is the only “right” way to fix your basement water leaks.

Then you have basement waterproofing contractors who sell patented basement systems and do so because they are looking for that edge in the sales process to rule out all competition.  Their “patented system” is very impressive, again logical in how it solves the foundation problem because they have highly trained sales people that sell their one solution over and over in the same way day after day and get very good at it.

Do yourself a favor if you have interviewed any of the above type of basement waterproofing companies and seek out another opinion from a full service basement waterproofing company that can prove they actually install all types of basement waterproofing solutions with references, pictures etc…

And take a look at Better Business Bureau complaint reports (not just the “Grade”) as well as consider a referral source like Angie’s List.

For more info visit: basement systems and foundation waterproofing 

With so many  basement waterproofing companies out there and many giving different opinions on what basement systems will solve your problem, it can be very tough to decide which basement solution and which basement waterproofing contractor to choose.

First take a look at where the leak in basement is coming from to determine if you need to consider waterproofing basement walls or waterproofing basement floor.  If the water is coming out of the seam where the wall meets the floor and your basement walls are dry, an interior basement waterproofing system may be the way to go.  Water under your basement floor will not usually be solved by exterior basement waterproofing systems.

If your basement water leaks are through the walls, especially mid to upper basement walls, you may be a good candidate for exterior basement waterproofing.  But first take a look at your roof drains and other surface issues to be sure everything is working properly there.  Roof water dumping right at the foundation will wreak havoc on your foundation resulting in serious basement water leaks under heavy or moderate rains.

To best understand which of the available basement systems is best for your specific issues, consult a  basement waterproofing contractor that offers and installs all basement solutions.  Most basement waterproofing contractors actually only install one basement solution even though they may review all basement systems in an effort to steer you to the one they want to sell you.  Ask for references from customers who have had different solutions installed.

For more info visit: basement systems 

Pioneer Basement Solutions has been waterproofing basements since 1979, waterproofing akron area homes  business as well as waterproofing Canton area homes & businesses & waterproofing Medina area homes, Portage county and more.

Pioneer is an Ohio basement waterproofing company offering all basement systems including exterior basement waterproofing  interior basement waterproofing and foundation repair and has received several awards for perfect customer service.  2008, 2009, 2010 Angie’s List super service award for  basement waterproofing contractors as well as the Better Business Bureau Gold Star Award for Zero Complaints!

We take a problem solving approach to basement water leaks and foundation problems identifying causes and explaining all possible basement solutions.  The home owner is in control of how the work is performed as well as how much work is performed.

People have experienced  basement waterproofing contractors in the Akron, Canton, Medina, Kent / Portage areas that send high pressure sales people out to the home and go for the “today only” – first appointment sale.  Pioneer Basement Solutions is 180 degrees the opposite.  We never pressure anyone and do not offer any gimmicks or use any false tactics to persuade customers to “sign tonight”.

If you are shopping your basement waterproofing company options and considering different basement systems to solve your problem, be sure to contact Pioneer Basement Solutions for a free no obligation quote and get the information you need to make a wise decision on how to stop those basement water leaks.

For more info visit: waterproofing akron – waterproofing Canton -waterproofing Medina – waterproofing Kent Portage county

Not every basement waterproofing company goes about solving basement water leaks the same way, as you may have learned if you have been shopping basement waterproofing companies lately.  Most basement waterproofing companies sell specific basement systems like a one size fits all and some basement waterproofing contractors are full service.  That would be the first thing to look for when considering contracting your basement repair project.

Companies that sell one specific system, franchised contractors for sure operate this way, will have impressive presentations that will bring up other methods and present an argument for their solution.  A full service  basement waterproofing company will leave you in control of the solution that makes the best sense for your problems with plenty of good direction and advice.  To test a company ask for references on each method, exterior basement waterproofing and interior basement waterproofing as well as combination solutions.

Look for the obvious (yet not as common as you think) such as licensing, bond, worker’s compensation insurance etc…  Many salesmen will say they have those things, make them prove it and also call your local building department to verify.

Check out the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List reports.  Dig in beyond the surface rating and look at the complaint histories such as what types of complaints have been filed and are they resolved. 

Avoid “today only” or any other sales gimmicks.  A popular one among basement waterproofing companies is the “stand by” or “flex schedule” tactic.  They tell you they can offer a substantial savings if you are willing to be on call.  It is simply a tactic using logic to get another shot at a signed contract on the first visit.

For more info visit: basement waterproofing company 

Last blog I discussed what too look for in basement waterproofing companies that affect the basement waterproofing cost and in this blog I will touch on basement waterproofing methods that affect the project cost.

First thing I want to cover is “patented basement systems”.  These basement systems are designed to make it difficult if not impossible for you to compare basement waterproofing solutions.  It is a sales tactic.  It is a sales tactic.  Yes I know I repeated myself, just want to be sure you caught that.  Any  basement waterproofing contractor can have drainage pipe made a certain color or shape and or offer certain combinations of solutions and apply for a patent and call it “exclusive super duper world’s best waterproofing”…you get the point.

Next thing I want to cover is exterior basement waterproofing methods.  The basement waterproofing cost for this type of solution is always going to be the highest, and don’t forget to include replacing the sidewalk, deck, patio, landscaping etc… into your budget.  You should see a range of $100 to $150 per linear foot for exterior basement waterproofing solutions.  Typically these contractors are more serious, less “dime a dozen” for those who actual do this type of work because there is much greater risk and overhead expense to be able to perform.

For interior basement waterproofing solutions are unfortunately a dime a dozen and harder to compare. (Look at the Part 1 blog where I covered some things to look for in basement waterproofing companies that directly affect the cost.)  Bob the Builder working out of his home and hiring subcontractors off the street will always be the low price winner. These are the companies you may have never heard of but ran across an ad in the yellow pages / local small paper or found their name online when doing a search. Obviously the companies with the most advertising, biggest facility, most employees will have the most overhead and the highest prices.  Chances are these are the companies you have heard of due to their extensive advertising campaigns.

Compare the actual work getting done very closely.  Sounds simple but there are may ways to cut corners in anything you do including basement waterproofing.  Look at pictures of finished projects and check for a smooth concrete replacement.  Be sure to compare actual footer drainage to “baseboard” type drains (even the ones that are in the concrete like water guard systems).  Footer drains take a lot more work and should always cost more that the “on top the footer solutions”, except for of course, the patented ones you can not compare apples to apples to which will be pricey.  You should see numbers between $35 and $45 for basics plus pump systems and any wall work from there.

For more info visit: basement waterproofing cost

There are so many different opinions on what basement systems will work when shopping for a solution that it may be difficult to know what type of foundation waterproofing makes sense.  I often hear prospective customers tell me that they get different solutions from contractors and they ask why do they not all see the problem the same way and recommend the same foundation waterproofing solution.

To begin with most basement waterproofing contractors focus on one solution.  The either offer exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing and naturally will only recommend what they sell.  They often have convincing arguments for their solution which is what makes it so difficult to choose a foundation waterproofing solution.

First identify the problem.  Do you have wet basement walls that are wet up high to mid wall?  Do you have wet basement walls only at the very bottom where the floor meets the wall?  Do you not really have wet walls much or at all but have water in the basement on the floor?

The first scenario, wet basement walls will most likely mean the original seal of the foundation is bad and needs replaced…if accessible (that is key).  This means you have surface water issues that need to be looked at and solved with exterior basement waterproofing or other solutions such as new gutters and downspout lines.

The other scenarios may be simple ground water build up under the foundation which is best solve with interior basement waterproofing solutions.  You may even have a combination of issues and need a combination solution.

Look for basement waterproofing contractors who are truly full service offering all types of foundation waterproofing solutions and can customize the solution to fit your specific needs rather than sell you their one size fits all basement systems.

For more info visit: foundation waterproofing