U.S. Waterproofing Warranty – 4 Things You Should Know
Before signing a contract for a basement waterproofing or foundation repair job, most homeowners do their research. They look at online reviews, read the contractor’s website and literature and check with the Better Business Bureau.
However, one of the most important things for a homeowner to know about a basement waterproofing contractor often gets tossed off in a last-minute question, like “Do you stand behind your work?” or “Do you offer a warranty?”
I don’t often write about U.S. Waterproofing in this blog but I want homeowners to understand the importance of warranties in basement waterproofing work so I’ll use ours as an example.
4 Important Things to Know About a U.S. Waterproofing Warranty
Our warranty is fairly typical of the basement waterproofing industry, so these are good examples of things to watch for:
Lifetime Warranty – Most of the work we do for homeowners in our service area is done inside the basement, mainly crack injection and installing interior drain tile. These services are warranted for the life of the homeowner. Like the rest of our industry, we offer a lifetime warranty not a lifetime guarantee –we stand 100% behind the work we do and, if something goes wrong with our work, we will return to your home and fix it. For example, if we repair a seeping wall crack in your basement and it ever leaks again, give us a call and we’ll fix it right away. If however, another crack develops elsewhere in your basement, we’ll be happy to fix that one too – just not under warranty.
Transferable Warranty – Although it’s never a good idea to put off basement seepage repairs, we’re human and we procrastinate so some homeowners wait until they’re getting ready to sell their home before fixing the leaky basement. The good news for them is that they’ve just gained a new selling point – their lifetime warranty is transferable to the next owner. There’s no need to wait, though. If you take the smart approach and fix those cracks in your basement walls now, you can enjoy a dry basement AND transfer your warranty to the next owner, even if you don’t sell your home for years.
Limited Warranty on Exterior Repairs – We also do waterproofing work on the outsides of our customers’ homes – exterior waterproofing membranes, exterior drain tile and yard drainage systems, such as underground downspout extensions. Our warranty on exterior work is limited because, where interior work is done in a controlled environment, exterior work is subject to environmental factors beyond our control, including heavy rains or snowmelt, drought, soil expansion and also to the work of landscapers and other contractors.
Manufacturer’s Warranties on Sump Pumps – Sump pumps we install are covered under manufacturer’s warranties, which are only one factor in our choice. We’ve discussed sump pump warranties previously and made the point that design, construction and capacity are more important than warranties in choosing the best sump pump.
Of course, any warranty is only as good as the company that offers it. A lifetime warranty doesn’t mean much if the company that provides it isn’t around to honor it when things go wrong.
We offer these warranties because we are confident that we do the job right the first time and that we will be here to support our customers for years to come. We repaired our first basement in 1957 and have grown into one of the country’s largest basement waterproofing companies. We expect to be here in 2057, using the newest technology on an age-old problem – keeping your basement dry.