Basement Water News

[cathyr19355]

I finally did get Contractor Guy to visit, and look at my basement.

He thinks that it may be possible to solve our problem with a combination of gutter replacement/repair (to keep the runoff from the roof from landing so close to the house) and grading of the soil near the house (to keep the water that sinks into the ground from seeping straight down to the foundations).

Since I need the gutter work done anyway, and this will be cheaper than having one of those Basement Dry Guys rip apart our built-in wall units to rebuild things, I agreed. The estimated work will be about $1,800, about 40% of which is the gutter-related stuff that I knew I needed in any case. Here's hoping it cures the basement problem too!

Meanwhile, shortly after my conversation with Contractor Guy, another guy (this one a stranger to me) rang my doorbell. This one said he's an asphalt-laying contractor who's doing work in the area on people's driveways, and would I let him do mine? Since he was there already, he was prepared to give me a price break of $100 or so on labor, and would only charge me about $900.

I *do* need the driveway redone, but I need the gutter and grading work done more, and in any event I don't like to make snap decisions about spending that much money when I'm not feeling quite well. So I told him to leave his card and/or come back later.

He came back the next day. I had esrblog take his business card and send him away. I will eventually get back to him--after the more urgent work is paid for and when I'm feeling more up to making decisions.

House=money pit. Even a good, solidly built house like mine. Sigh.

Comments

[craig trader (from livejournal.com)]

The "doing work in the area" line is common -- typically used by Gypsies. Usually the guy will have some black, tar-like, sludge that he'll smear over your driveway, which will wash away in the next rainstorm. Make certain that your contractor is licensed and insured, and check his references. And get a written estimate. If he hesitates on any of those questions, pick a different contractor.

http://www.allaboutstuff.com/General/Outwitting_Gypsy_Home_Repair_And_Home_Improvement_Hustlers.asp

[jmaynard.livejournal.com]

If you think a house is a money pit, be glad you don't have a boat or an airplane...

There's regrading, and there's filling in what sinks

[scs-11.livejournal.com]

"Regrading" did wonders for us. We built the house about 20 years ago, and over time the stuff they piled back in around the basement has compacted. Two years ago I bought 30 cubic feet of topsoil, spread it all around the edges of the house, and seeded it. Result: better grass, no leaks, far less basement moisture. Considerably cheaper than actual regrading, and better soil to boot.

[trebor1415.livejournal.com]

Do NOT hire a contractor who "range your bell because he was in the area."

That's a very common scam. You'd likely wind up with used motor oil spread over your driveway. He'll tell you to "let it dry" and it never will and he'll be long gone by the time you find out.

Really, it's a scam. Trust us.

Completely off topic....

[flaviarassen.livejournal.com]

.. I managed to stumble across a blog of esrblog's a night
or 2 ago - something about ammo - & when I tried to post a
response, I was told that I was blocked.

Um, did I actually do something to tick him off?
Or was this some sort of glitch?

[treebones.livejournal.com]

*hugs*, and good luck with the saga!