Guide
Choosing a waterproofing company
The company you reach through this website is independent, and nobody here has vetted it. That part is up to you. These are the checks worth making, in the order you will meet them.
What a proper inspection looks like
It starts outside. The inspector walks the whole house, looks up at the gutters, follows each downspout to where it ends and checks which way the ground falls. Then inside: every wall, not only the wet one, with a moisture meter and a flashlight. In a crawl space they go in, all the way to the far end.
They ask you questions. How long has it happened, after what kind of rain, what have you tried. Then they explain the cause in plain words before they mention a product. If the visit goes straight from the driveway to a brochure, it was a sales call.
Questions worth asking anyone
- What is causing this, and how do you know?
- What is the smallest job that would deal with it, and what would you add if money were no object?
- Who will be on site: your own employees or a subcontractor?
- Can I see proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation cover?
- Have you done this on a house like mine nearby, and may I speak to that owner?
- What will the house and yard look like when you leave?
Get it on paper
A written proposal should name the cause, list the work wall by wall, give lengths and quantities, name the pump and liner by make and model, and say where collected water will end up. It should give one price, a payment schedule tied to stages of the work, and a start date.
The warranty belongs in the same document, in full. Read what it promises: that the materials will not fail, or that the area will stay dry. Check how long it runs, whether it transfers to a buyer, what you must do to keep it valid, and who honors it if the company is sold.
Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Board tells its licensees to use a valid written contract. If a company prefers a handshake, take that as your answer.
Check the license: Alabama's lookup
In Alabama, repair and improvement work on a home needs a license from the Home Builders Licensure Board once the cost of the job, labor and materials together, reaches the amount set in state law. Drainage systems and encapsulations commonly do. The board's frequently asked questions give the current figure.
Before you sign, type the company's name into the board's license search. The board also suggests asking to see the license card, and it answers questions by phone on 1-800-304-0853.
There is a practical reason beyond the rule. The board runs a Homeowners' Recovery Fund, and it only pays out for losses caused by a builder who held a license. Hire someone without one and that door is closed.
Signs to slow down
On the day
- A price that is only good if you sign now.
- A diagnosis made without going outside or into the crawl space.
- The same full system recommended for every house.
In the paperwork
- No company address or license number.
- A large payment due before any work starts.
- A warranty described out loud but not written down.
Hiring questions
Should I get a second opinion?
For anything beyond a pump swap or a single crack, yes. Two companies that agree on the cause give you confidence. Two that disagree have told you something more useful: ask each to explain why the other is wrong.
Does the company need a city permit?
It depends on the work and where the house is. Ask the company which permits the job needs and who applies for them, and have the answer written into the proposal. For lots in a mapped flood hazard area, see flood maps, 811 and street drains.
Montgomery and nearby towns
Ready to have someone look at it?
Call and describe what you are seeing and when it happens. You will be put through to an independent local waterproofing company, and they arrange the visit with you.
Phone calls may be recorded. See the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.