WHAT HAPPENS IF I THINK I HAVE WATER IN MY BASEMENT?
Contact Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing contractors today so we can schedule a free basement waterproofing inspection and report on the condition of your foundation.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DELAY SERVICE?
Too often homeowners ignore or are unaware of potential water problems while continuing to finish off their basement. Lovely recreation rooms, dens and bedrooms have been ruined due to dampness or wetness. Warped paneling, mildewed furniture, lifted floor tile or ruined carpeting are all the unfortunate results of a wet basement.

Dampness also promotes the growth of mildew and vermin, which can lead to serious health concerns for the family. It can also draw termites, whose entrance into a home is facilitated by foundation cracks. A wet basement can reduce the value of a home by as much as 25 percent.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?
If you have called Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing for your free basement inspection and report on the condition of your foundation, you have already taken the first step. Should water problems exist, our field inspector will provide you with the various solutions available to address your specific problem.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER I HAVE CONTRACTED FOR WATERPROOFING SERVICES?
After you contracted Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing, your service needs will be discussed with our senior production staff and materials will be ordered and prepared for your specific needs. Within a few days, you will receive a courtesy call from our production department to confirm a convenient starting date for your service. On the day you are to receive service, you can expect our service team to arrive between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., unless other arrangements have been made. A senior foreman will contact you and ask if you have any questions before the crew begins their work.

I HAVE A FINISHED BASEMENT WITH DRYWALL. IS THAT A PROBLEM?
Usually, this is not a problem. However, each case will have to be evaluated individually.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INSTALL THE AVERAGE BASEMENT WATERPROOFING SYSTEM?
Typically, you may expect us to work two to four days. The actual time depends on what we find once the floor area is opened and the condition of the lower wall area is determined. Should we find it necessary to extend our schedule, there will be no additional cost to you. If your contract includes structural or exterior work, please recognize that additional time will be required.

WILL THERE BE DUST AS A RESULT OF THIS SERVICE, AND IF SO,
HOW DO I PROTECT FURNITURE AND STORAGE AGAINST THE DUST?
The nature of the work will cause some disruption and dust. We recommend that you place old sheets, plastic drop cloths or some form of protective covering over all items and storage. Upon completion of service, we will broom clean the work area and haul away all job-related debris.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR

1. DETERMINE THE TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT YOU WANT TO MAKE TO YOUR HOME. Determine exactly the type of improvement you want to make to your home and the amount of money you can comfortably spend. Take the time to write down the details of the work that you want done before you contact a home improvement contractor.

2. ASK PROSPECTIVE CONTRACTORS TO SHOW YOU THEIR HOME IMPROVEMENT LICENSE. Ask prospective contractors to show you their pocket home improvement license card. Examine the card carefully. Check the license number. Check the license expiration date. (In Maryland only)

3. IF IN, MD CONTACT THE HOME IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION. Call the Home Improvement Commission, (410) 230-6309 to check the records of home improvement contractors. The Home Improvement Commission's staff can tell you: if the license is good, whether complaints have been filed against the contractor, and whether the complaints have been resolved.

4. REQUEST REFERENCES FROM THE PROSPECTIVE CONTRACTOR. Ask the contractor for the names and telephone numbers of people for whom he has recently completed improvements. Inquire from the references the quality of the work, and the timeliness of the completion of the work. You can protect yourself against poor workmanship by visually checking the contractor's previous work.

5. ALWAYS GET A WRITTEN CONTRACT. Always get a written contract before you permit work on your home to proceed. Make sure the contract specifies the date the work will begin. Determine exactly the type of improvements that are to be made, the quality of materials to be used, the estimated completion date, and a payment schedule. CAREFULLY READ the contract before signing it. Examine the entire document, including the fine print and back of contract, before affixing your signature.

MORE HELPFUL BASEMENT WATERPROOFING REMINDERS!

• Avoid unlicensed home improvement contractors.
• Don't use a contractor if you believe he lacks the proper skills to do the job. His bargain price may be more attractive than his finished product.
• Don't use a contractor who you believe violates local building laws.
• Don't pay a contractor in advance prior to reading and signing a contract. The Home Improvement Commission Law prohibits a contractor from demanding and receiving payment before a contract is signed.
• The Home Improvement Laws cannot protect you if you deal with unlicensed contractors.