Top 10 pieces of free advice for an existing house:

1. Make sure your gutter and downspouts are working properly. Have extenders on your downspouts.

2. Make sure your yard slopes away from your foundation, so surface water runs AWAY, and not TOWARDS your basement.

3. Install a high-quality sump pump in your basement to handle ground water.

4. A huge amount of heat is lost each winter from the top of your foundation that is exposed above grade. Do what you can do to insulate it.

5. The heat loss above grade will melt snow. Don't add more snow next to your foundation by plowing or shoveling.

6. Keep a dehumidifier running in your basement during the humid summer months. A fan will also help circulate the air to keep moisture at a minimum. Once you start heating your house in the cooler months, humidity is not an issue in most homes.

7. Be careful who you take advice from. Your very smart neighbor probably is not a professional when it comes to waterproofing and water management. (CRACK-X link here)

8. Water and weather, over time, will do tremendous damage to a house. Regular maintenance is far less expensive in the long run.

9. Relax, breathe and remember that being a homeowner is a good thing. Repeat as necessary.

10. Do numbers one through nine, and you should be in good shape. Call us if you have any questions, or a problem you can't handle.

1. Always consult, and hire a professional waterproofer for all your waterproofing needs. Rolling it on yourself, or hiring a company that does "waterproofing" as a sideline service may not get the best end result for your homeowner. We are full-time waterproofers.

2. Make sure your forms contractor vibrates the concrete all the way at the bottom of the walls, so there are no voids down near the footing.

3. Mark grade lines for waterproofing as close to finish grade as possible. This may take some planning. 90% of all callbacks we get for leaking cracks are due to water coming in OVER the membrane, because it was backfilled too high. Keep grading, mulch and planting beds in mind when determining heights.

4. Have the site ready: clean, dry footings, grade lines and easy access to the foundation will facilitate the best waterproofing application. Backfill no sooner than the next day so the membrane has the time to cure. Try not to leave a "moat" around the foundation while waiting as the house is being built. Trapping large volumes of water can compromise the membrane.

5. Do your homework: know where the high-water mark is for groundwater, what kind of drainage the existing soil has on site, and know what the end use of the basement is likely to be.

6. Insulate the OUTSIDE of the foundation to help move the dew point AWAY from living space. Building science has come a long way in recent years. Whether you are finishing the basement or not, moisture and mold are issues for everyone to consider right from the beginning of construction.

7. Never confuse damproofing for waterproofing. Backfilling a damproofed foundation is like tarpapering a roof and expecting it to hold up over time.

8. Water 'management' is at least as important as waterproofing. Know how you will move water away from your foundation.

9. There are waterproofing options for every budget, and every site condition. Take a little time to educate yourself to find the right match for your site.

10. For best results, hire a time-tested reliable subcontractor you can depend on. We have been showing up on time, doing great work for over twenty years. Program this number into your phone: 508-651-9702.