Choosing The Right Waterproofing Contractor - Get 'Er Done Right!

Your basement's flooded and you're standing knee-deep in scummy water grabbing whatever can be saved and rushing upstairs with it...

It's time to call a contractor and get some waterproofing done.  All the water that's been building up in your yard has finally busted through and ruined your basement.  You want to make sure it won't happen again.

For most of us, we don't think about waterproofing until it's too late - then we REALLY think about it.  It's the first time we've ever called the waterproofing guy.  How do you know if you're getting a good one or not?  With a lousy waterproofing job, the same exact thing will happen all over again.

Here are some tips for finding the right waterproofing contractor.  Follow these guidelines, and you'll never have to make the call again.

- First, finding the contractor.  Where do you look?  There are two places that are recommended for starting your search: Your local home improvement center, and the Better Business Bureau.  The local home improvement folks will know who the best waterproofing specialists in town are, and they'll be happy to provide you with them.  These guys are probably some of their best customers.  The Better Business Bureau is also a great way to find quality waterproofing specialists.  They keep records of who has the highest quality service, and more importantly, they can tell you if a certain contractor has ever had a complaint or dispute with a customer.  This might be a very good thing to know.  You don't want to deal with somebody who's done a shoddy job before.

- Now, make the phone call.  This is important.  How do they sound when they answer?  Are the staff friendly and cooperative?  Of, do you get an answering machine and a call back later from some gruff voiced guy who doesn't seem like he wants anything to do with you?  The first impression you get when you call should be an indication of how it will be to work with them.  Go with the folks who are friendly and polite, and you'll feel much more confident trusting them.

- Do a little research.  Before you decide on a contractor, check out their background.  Ask them for references of some of their past customers.  A good waterproofing contractor will be happy to provide you with some folks to talk with.  If they don't, or feel offended that you asked, how much pride do you think they have in their work?  What these past customers tell you should go a long way in influencing your decision to go with them or not.

- Make sure they are bonded and licensed.  Without the proper licensing, you may end up hiring an unqualified contractor who will bumble their way through the job and leave you with more problems than you started with.  You have to be sure they know what they're doing.  A bad waterproofing job is worse than no waterproofing job at all.  If they are bonded, that means that they are insured.  This is also a really important thing to make sure of.

- Look for experience.  It is generally best to go with a company that's been at it for a long time.  The more years they've racked up in the biz, the better able they will be to solve your problems.  It also means that they will be around for the years to come, in case you have trouble in the future.  This will be important when considering...

- Warrantee.  They should have a good warrantee that will keep you covered if cracks appear.  Otherwise, what do they care if the job isn't well done?  A good contractor will offer a full, lifetime warrantee.  After all, you want the job done so that it won't have to be done again, right?  So, if they are sure about the quality of their work and their products, they should feel just fine giving you that nice long warrantee.

- Do your homework.  How much do you know about what needs to be done?  I'll tell you the number one way homeowners get cheated during waterproofing jobs.  They have no idea what the job requires, and the contractor decides to add on a bunch of extra stuff they don't need.  It's sort of like taking a taxi in New York if you don't know your way around the city - that guy is going to circle around every possible way for a higher fare.  This is the same principle.  There are a few places to learn about your problem.  One is the Internet.  Check out some waterproofing basics websites, maybe even a question and answer site or forum.  It shouldn't take much to know what needs to be done in your situation.  Another good way to get informed is to talk to other contractors.  Most will happily offer you free advice.  You should know in detail what needs to be done, then you can keep from getting the runaround.

- Get a good, detailed proposal.  Before a lick of work is begun on the project, they should submit to you a detailed job proposal.  This is different from the contract.  The job proposal should state exactly what they're going to do, how they're going to do it, when they're going to get there, when they're going to leave, what they're going to eat for breakfast... okay, maybe not that detailed, but it should be as detailed as possible.  You should follow this with them and make sure the job is getting done the way they said it would.  Make sure that it is written in language that you can read and understand.  You don't need any contractor jargon.  The important part is that you fully understand what's to be done, and how.

- Don't pay a deposit.  No reputable waterproofing contractor would expect you to pay a deposit for work they haven't started yet.  It's not common practice, but some sneaky contractors might try to get away with it.  If the guy says you'll need a deposit, tell him that he's wrong, you'll need another contractor.  There are plenty who won't ask for this.  You'll pay for the entire job when it is completed.

- Don't be pressured into saying Yes.  Some unethical contractors will try to do this.  It's a big job, and you should sleep on it.  It's okay to let the guy know that you're shopping around.  Any smart customer would do that, and you want him to know that you are indeed a smart customer.  Definitely give it a night or two to think it over, and don't let somebody pressure you into it.  It's a big, important job and you want to make sure you're getting the best guy out there to do it.

- Check out the tools.  Your contractor should have the newest, highest tech stuff out there for your precious house.  The materials should be high quality and safe.  You can do a little homework on the Web, talk to your home improvement folks, or talk with some other contractors to get ideas.  If the contractor is using the coolest stuff out there, he'll probably be more than happy to brag on it, so he won't mind you checking it out.

- Once the job starts, keep on eye on the contractor and make sure he's following the proposal.  It's okay to be nosy and annoying, and a good contractor will want you to know exactly what he is doing anyway.  Make sure that the workers are professional.  They should be on time every day, and they should leave at the appointed time as well.  Little things like this will tell you a lot about how a workman regards his work.

- Finally, when the job is done and the dust all settled, inspect his work carefully BEFORE YOU PAY.  Using all that knowledge you've acquired through the course of your leaky basement tragedy, see what he's done and see if it will hold.  Most importantly, make sure he did everything according to the job proposal that he said he would do.  Remember that this is a big, expensive job and it needs to get done right the first time, so you should make sure it's all good.  Get a second opinion on the workmanship if you need to.

And last but not least, if he does a good job and your foundation holds against the ravages of the weather, tell everybody you can about the contractor who did this wonderful work and saved your house.  Blab and blab and help that guy get as much business as possible.  He'll really appreciate it.  And, you'll be helping to put the scumbags who do shoddy work and cheat their customers out of business.  It'll do something good for the world!

For a company you can trust, try Aqua Seal USA.  Aqua Seal USA prides itself on its good workmanship and happy customers.  They offer a wide range of environmentally-friendly products to help keep houses moisture-free.  Check them out on the web and see what they have to offer.