How to Plan Your Basement Waterproofing Project

Consider needs and neighborhood

Do you want a place for the kids to hang out after school, or are you dreaming of a state-of-the-art man cave? The way you’ll use the space will dictate how extensive the improvements need to be.

Look at other houses in the neighborhood as well. If flooded basements are common in your market, improving other areas of the house might be a smarter investment.

Set a budget

Make a list of the features you absolutely need, then add a few things you’d like. Once you’ve decided what you’re willing to spend, talk to a contractor. That discussion should help you separate realistic improvements from the upgrades that will bust your budget.

It’s not uncommon to spend 15% to 20% of the home’s value on a basement improvement project. He cautions against spending more unless you’re sure you’ll live in the house for more than five years.

Think about ROI

Yahoodain considers the effect on value to be the “golden rule” when it comes to home improvements. Will a waterproof basement help you rent or sell your home in the future? If the answer is no, your money might be better spent in another part of the house.

Though basements — even finished ones — don’t usually add square footage to your home for appraisal purposes, they can have a positive impact on marketability. Basement finished to includes:

• Interior wall and floor sealers.

• Interior water drainage.

• Exterior drainage.

• Exterior waterproofing coatings.

• Box type waterproofing.

• Foundation crack injections.

Hire the right pro

In many cases, basement waterproofing is best left to professionals, but choosing a contractor requires some research. Take the time to:

1. Request estimates from more than one contractor to avoid overspending

2. Read verified reviews of each pro and the materials they suggest

3. Ask for past customer referrals and find out if their projects were finished on time and within the original budget

4. Check with your local building department or state consumer protection agency to be sure potential contractors are properly bonded, licensed and insured

Here are some companies that maintain all these procedures to improve their customers' experience.

• Basement & Radon Solutions - Basement Waterproofing in Asheville & Hendersonville NC

• Crawford Basements - Basement Waterproofing in Buffalo & Rochester, NY

• Basement Waterproofing of Michigan - Waterproofing Basements in the Metro Detroit Area

• Harris Waterproofing & Construction, Inc. - Basement Waterproofing Specialists in Metro Atlanta & Surrounding Areas

• Healthy Basement Concepts - Complete Basement Waterproofing across Greater Cincinnati, OH

• Jamison Basement Waterproofing - Waterproofing Basements in the Greater Philadelphia Area

• Midwest Basement Tech - Basement Waterproofing in St. Louis MO & Springfield IL

• Reeds Waterproofing & Foundation Solutions - Basement Waterproofing in the Lexington, Charleston, & Georgetown Areas

• Scaldino Basement Solutions - Basement Waterproofing in Central & Northern New Jersey & Staten Island, NY

• Summit Environmental Solutions - Basement Waterproofing in Fairfax, Alexandria & Arlington, VA

• OX Foundation Solutions - Basement Waterproofing Services in Montgomery & Birmingham, AL

• Twin State Basements - Basement Waterproofing in Vermont & Western New Hampshire

• Floodbusters Basements - Waterproofing Basements in Baltimore and Across Maryland

• New England Basement Solutions - We Fix Wet, Moist, and Humid Basements in Greater Springfield and Worcester Areas

• Kinetic Basement Solutions - Basement Waterproofing across Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs & All of Upstate NY

• Great Lakes Waterproofing - Basement Waterproofing in Rochester & Geneseo, NY