Frequently asked questions
What is basement waterproofing?
Basement waterproofing is work that manages or stops water entering a basement or crawlspace. Companies in this guide describe different approaches, including interior drainage systems that collect water and direct it to a sump pump, exterior membranes and excavation, sump pump installation, crack repair, and crawlspace encapsulation with vapor barriers and dehumidification. Ask the company which approach it proposes for your home and why.
What is the difference between interior and exterior waterproofing?
An interior system typically installs drainage inside the basement, along the wall-floor joint, leading to a sump pit and pump. An exterior system typically excavates outside the foundation and applies a membrane or drainage. Interior work usually means less digging outside; exterior work usually means more excavation and landscaping disruption. Ask the company to explain the trade-offs for your foundation type.
What does a sump pump do, and why a battery backup?
A sump pump removes water collected by a drainage system from a sump pit. A battery backup keeps the pump running during a power outage, which is when heavy rain often causes outages. Ask whether the quote includes a backup pump or battery, alarms, and what maintenance the pump needs.
What is crawlspace encapsulation?
Crawlspace encapsulation typically seals a crawlspace with a vapor barrier, sometimes with a dehumidifier and structural supports, to control moisture and water entry. Ask what area is covered, what barrier and dehumidifier are included, and how the space is accessed for maintenance.
What about foundation cracks?
Cracks can be a water entry point and can also signal structural movement. Some companies repair cracks as part of waterproofing; others handle structural stabilization with straps, piers or reinforcement. Ask whether a crack in your home is a waterproofing repair, a structural repair, or both, and who does each part.
How do I verify a company's credential?
Ask for the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration number and check it yourself with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. This guide publishes a number only where the company publishes one on its own website, and only 2 of the 20 companies here do. If no number is published, treat the credential as unverified until you check it yourself.
Why do some companies show no rating?
Because their own website publishes no rating figure with a review count. This guide never invents a rating and never presents a review-site figure as if it came from the company's own site. No rating means no rating was found on the company's own site, not that the company is bad.
Why do some companies show no street address?
Because their own website publishes none. This guide states that plainly instead of copying an address from a directory, which may be outdated or belong to a different business with a similar name.
Why is there no fixed price in this guide?
Because no company in this guide publishes one on its own website. Waterproofing quotes depend on the system type, drainage length, pumps, crawlspace scope and foundation work, so a real price comes only after an assessment and a written quote. Ranges, estimates and discounts found on company sites are quoted in the cost guide, labeled as such.
Should I choose the cheapest quote?
Compare itemized quotes, not headline figures. System type, scope (interior or exterior, drainage length, pumps and backup, crawlspace work), warranty and crew can all differ between quotes that look similar at first glance.
What is a service-area company?
A service-area company serves Fairfield County but either publishes an office outside the county or publishes no street address on its own site. Those companies are marked as service-area companies in this guide.