The reason each  basement waterproofing contractor you call out may offer different basement systems to solve your problem may be that you are not talking to full service  basement waterproofing contractors.  Many basement waterproofing companies offer just one solution to every potential customer they encounter regardless of the type of basement water leaks they see.

Different basement systems will solve different basement water leaks and some may simply control actual water seepage into your basement an not truly stop water from getting there in the first place.  It is important that you know what type of problem you have.

If you are seeing water run down your foundation walls or even damp basement walls where paint will not stick and even crumbling of your basement wall surface, you likely will be a good candidate for  basement systems that involve exterior basement waterproofing.  These types of problems are typically surface water problems.  Note however, that in this scenario I am referring to problems from the ground level or close to it down to mid wall.  If your problems are only down at the bottom of the wall you may have a different problem.

The bottom line is  exterior basement waterproofing involves sealing the basement walls.  This will give you a warranty fro dry basement walls.  If water is coming up through your basement floor or through the wall and floor seams, you will likely need an interior basement waterproofing system.  The only way to get water that builds up from under your foundation and stop it from entering at the wall and floor seams is to install drainage below the floor which is an interior basement waterproofing system.

For more info visit Pioneer at basement systems 

Over the winter snow accumulates on the ground and melts into the soil saturating it and inevitably cause the year’s worst basement water leaks.  If you have basement water leaks and you are interviewing basement waterproofing contractors you will want to know about a few things to ensure you are getting a fair and honest assessment of your foundation problems.

There are two types of water that cause basement water leaks and they are surface water and ground water. Different basement systems solve each of these basement problems.  Some basement systems are designed for waterproofing basement walls and others are more designed for the floor areas.

With exterior basement waterproofing most of the work is aimed at  waterproofing basement walls from the outside giving you a dry foundation.  The exterior basement waterproofing method is best for those with surface water problems resulting in wet basement walls, especially high to mid wall.

With interior basement waterproofing the work is designed to grab ground water build up before it gets to the basement floor areas keeping ground water under control and out of your basement.  The basement systems designed for interior basement waterproofing solve the  basement water leaks that come in where the walls meet the floor area.  This is the most common problem and solution.

Installing basement drains outside will most likely not solve problems with water under the floor just as installing basement drains inside will most likely not solve wet basement walls up high to mid wall.

For more info about what basement systems will solve your basement water leaks visit Northeast Ohio’s #1 award winning customer service  basement waterproofing contractor here: Pioneer Basement Solutions

Contractors who are waterproofing basements have had a pretty bad reputation.  Many have terrible better business bureau reports due to sales practices, not honoring warranties, poor workmanship etc… 

Look for  basement waterproofing contractors who have been in business for a good while.  Many contractors in all disciplines, not just those who are waterproofing basements have closed one business to open another.  Almost always this is because of the trouble they had with the previous venture such as customer complaints, lawsuits etc…  Be especially cautious with companies less than ten years old for this reason and for the simple fact that 80% of small businesses in America fail in the first five years, and about the same amount in the next five years.  Surviving ten years in business is one good qualifier.

Better Business Bureau records will tell a lot about basement waterproofing contractors ability to satisfy customers.  They will report only what has happened over the previous 36 months.  You can see what types of complaints have been filed and identify any patterns.  Obviously, companies with zero complaints are the most desirable.

Check customer references.  One way to do this randomly in a way the basement waterproofing contractor can not control is to look at Angie’s List reports.  Angie’s List only lists contractors waterproofing basements whnd they will list a report card in several areas with customer feedback.  This is a great way to qualify contractors of all types.

For more info on waterproofing basements in Northeast Ohio visit: basement repair 

If you have wet basement walls you have likely looked at a can of waterproofing paint for waterproofing basement walls.  There are a few ways to waterproof basement walls and defining the term “waterproof” is good place to start.

Building codes require “damp proofing” not “waterproofing” for basement foundations.  Damp proofing involves a coating on the foundation below the soil line with footer drains to carry water away from the foundation.  Any new home warranty will clearly state that dampness is normal and not covered under the warranty, only actual water seepage is covered.

So, if you want  waterproofing basement walls you will need to install actual waterproof materials to the outside of the basement wall via exterior basement waterproofing methods.  This involves fully excavating your foundation to the bottom and installing a waterproof membrane, like a swimming pool liner in reverse, to your basement foundation. 

If that is not in the budget or not feasible, such as you have a patio or something outside the foundation you do not want to remove, you may need to consider interior basement waterproofing which is more like water control.  Installing interior basement waterproofing will give you a dry basement because it stops water from building up in your basement walls and around your foundation.  Waterproofing paint acts like a dam that allows water to build up in your foundation.  This will cause damage over time due to the soaking and rotting from the inside out that can occur.  

Many basement waterproofing companies offer a panelled system for waterproofing basement walls that will tie to the interior basement waterproofing underneath you basement floor.  This gives you a maintenance free dry basement wall surface and it protects your foundation from water build up that is caused by waterproofing paint.

For more information about waterproofing basement walls in northeast Ohio visit:  waterproof basements 

Most people probably never hire a basement waterproofing contractor and the few that do have a hard time determining what a fair basement waterproofing cost would be.  In order to determine that you have to consider many factors.  Some of these are obvious so bear with me.

The estimate for basement waterproofing you may get will be a reflection of the cost of doing business of the basement waterproofing contractors you interview.   Those that are on TV, in print ads, setting up booths at all the trade shows and fairs etc… obviously have a higher marketing cost and that will factor into your basement waterproofing cost with those contractors.

On the low side, those basement waterproofing companies that use subcontractor labor, do not pull permits or licenses and work out of their home or garage will obviously have a very low cost of doing business and a relative low estimate.

So it is obviously important that you do your homework on the  basement waterproofing companies you interview to get proof of their licensing, worker’s compensation insurance, place of business etc…  This will also tell you how well established the company is and how easy or difficult it would be for them to disappear, or more popularly, close under one name and reopen under another in order to avoid customer service.

You cannot tell a book by its cover, especially today.  The internet and various advertising outlets can make a brand new small business appear to be a well established large corporation.  Again, do your homework.

Ok, so you want numbers.  Those companies that are on the low side (working on a shoestring cost structure) will likely be between $25 and $35 per foot for an interior basement waterproofing system and or combination inside outside system; and $75 to $100 per foot for  exterior basement waterproofing systems.

Those who are the “big guys” on TV and sending out teams of salespeople, with teams of inside marketing agents will be in the high side and price between $50 and $75 per foot for an interior basement waterproofing system and or combination inside outside system.  Often times these companies will also offer some sort of “patented system” to make it impossible for you to compare other basement waterproofing contractors offerings.  You should expect  exterior basement waterproofing to be around $150 per foot.

So those are the lows and highs, and then of course there are many  basement waterproofing contractors that will fall somewhere in between.

For more info on basement waterproofing cost in Northeast Ohio, visit: pioneer basement solutions

People often ask me what is the right way to waterproof basements and it is out of a response to the different basement systems available; which all claim they will solve your basement water leaks once and for all.

The answer to the question is not so easy because it is situational.  Although most companies that waterproof basements take a one size fits all basement systems approach and they will stop the presence of water in your basement, the one size fits all solution will only be the best solution if the cause of  basement water leaks and results are a match to the specific basement solutions.

To make it simple, there are two types of water that cause a leak in basement and they are surface water and ground water.  Surface water problems will result in wet basement walls up high or mid wall and very little if any dampness at the bottoms of the basement walls.  This type of issue will come on very quickly after a rain and stop very quickly after the rain has stopped.  The best way to fix surface water problems that result in wet basement walls is exterior basement waterproofing.  Having new exterior basement waterproofing installed will ensure a dry foundation wall.

If you have water seepage coming out at the bottom of your basement walls and or heaved basement floor cracks you have a ground water problem.  In this case you will not likely see a leak in basement after a normal rain that passes by in a couple hours.  You would need a heavy rain and maybe one that lasts awhile.  The leak will not start right away either.  This is because it takes some time for the ground water to build up around the foundation.  Installing interior basement waterproofing will stop this problem dead in its tracks by draining the water away from underneath your basement before it is allowed to build up.  Digging and sealing the walls on the outside will not guarantee a dry basement wall just as installing  interior basement waterproofing will not guarantee dry basement walls if nothing is done to address the walls.

For more info visit: how to waterproof basements 

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