Basement Waterproofing: Go Pro, Or "do It Yourself"?

By Author: Bradley Nixon
Total Articles: 45
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Few forces can damage a home in quite the way that water (and its partner mold) can. The continuous, periodic, soakings that comes with a wet basement has the potential to ruin virtually everything stored there, including:

Appliances (Furnaces, Washers, Dryers, Etc)
Furniture
Stored Items (Photos, Books, Clothing, Etc)
Finishing Materials (Carpet, Wallboard, Studs, Etc)

...and much, much more. On the other hand, if you waterproof that flooded space, you gain an entire floor of your home back. You can finish that into more living space, or you can begin to use it again to store valuables.

When deciding what will be installed to protect your home, you have two fundamental choices before you:

Choice One: Waterproof The Home Yourself

Waterproofing your home yourself has the potential to save you a bundle on the costs of hiring a professional. Additionally, many homeowners enjoy a good home improvement project, and may even find the hard work involved enjoyable.

Please bear in mind, however, that you'll be digging up the entire perimeter outside your home, exposing the foundation ...
... and (failed) footing drain for maintenance and replacement. Alternatively, you may opt to install the system inside the home,which involves jackhammering the floor, digging a trench, and restoring the floor with new concrete. This is a LOT of work!

Additionally, it's worth considering the long-term costs, should you ever decide to sell the home. You will be obliged to tell potential buyers that your home has a waterproofing system, and eyebrows may raise if they learn of (or see) a do-it-yourself job.

Choice Two: Hiring A Professional Waterproofer

Professional work comes with labor costs, so this kind of job is likely to be the more expensive option. However, if digging trenches and/or jackhammering doesn't fit your vision of a great weekend activity, bear in mind that you'll be saving yourself quite a bit of work.

More importantly, professional waterproofers will have access to products, training, and experience that you do not - and may be able to install a system that lasts longer, works better, and looks much more professional after installation.

Additionally, many waterproofers include a lifetime warranty with their installations. If that warranty is transferable to whomever you sell the home to, that's going to be a great selling edge. It's comforting to know that you can be in touch with the original installers should something goes wrong!

This article brought to you by Aqueous Basement Systems. We provide basement waterproofing in Renton, WA, as well as Seattle, Puyallup, Tacoma, and many surrounding areas. Contact us by phone or e-mail today for a free, no-obligation quote!