How To Select The Right Water Proofing Contractor
Only about 25% of houses constructed every year are actually being waterproofed. That would leave homeowners looking for waterproofing contractors when their residence starts to show structural problems. Some homeowners would wait for the last minute before calling a contractor. At this time, water, moisture and humidity have already taken toll on the structure, and even on the foundation of the building.
The internet, alone, lists a lot of waterproofing contractors. Local contractors have advertisements which you could always check for contact details. Local improvement centers know the best waterproofing specialists in the area, they could provide recommendations. Better Business Bureau (BBB) gathers information about different businesses and informs the public about their business practices. They are great sources of information if you want to make sure that you will be picking contractors who are trustworthy and have good business history.
How do you choose the right one?
Do your homework and research the contractor you are interested. You could check their background by visiting their websites, talking to previous clients or customers. You could ask the contractor for references.
Make sure that the contractors are licensed. Licensed contractors could guarantee you quality job. Getting a contractor that does not have any idea how to do their jobs could get you into trouble. Check how long they have been in the business. You would like to have a solid and experienced company solving your problems. Ask about the warrantee they are offering, in case something goes wrong with the project like reappearing cracks.
Know you're home and the areas that need working. This would help when you start talking with the contractors about the waterproofing project. Don't be fooled when contractors would push you to installing systems that you would not need.
There are some homeowners and building managers that would ask a contractor for a project proposal before taking any steps. By doing so, homeowners would have an idea of the waterproofing processes their house will undergo. Once waterproofing starts, pay attention on the contractors work and if they are sticking with the proposal. If they would be deviating from the proposal, they should at least, inform you and provide you enough reasons for their actions.
Another important yet most overlooked part, their working method. Now most contractors stick to traditional methods, though in the past it would have worked, in current conditions it might not work. Due to the recent pandemic even the way we approach our construction projects need to change. Technology is progressing everyday to solve for such challenges, take Yovza for example. A web based platform that allows contractor to manage their projects remotely and collaborate with all the stakeholders in the project on one platform. This saves their time in decision making and also provides real time update of the project. By digitising the workflow it saves their time and efforts that they would usually lose in traditional methods. In current times every penny counts which means that in a project, the margin of error is low. So make sure they are updated and if not then it is your job to make them aware of such new practices.
Payment option is another thing to consider. If the contractor is already asking for an initial payment before starting the project, it is better to look for another contractor. There are contractors who are open for instalments, as long as it is fully paid when the job is already finished. Make sure to get a contractor that would not push you, demanding you to make a decision without giving you enough time to think about the proposal. You do not need somebody who cares more about profit rather than your needs.
Waterproofing is not only an investment for your property but it would also ensure the safety and health of you and your family. Hiring the right contractor would help you achieve this objectives.