Frequently Asked Questions Are all basement water problems able to be fixed? YES! Cowles General Contracting addresses waterproofing issues in finished and unfinished basements with fieldstone, block, or poured foundation walls. Waterproofing basements is our only business and with over twenty years of experience, we are confident that we will solve your basement water problem. There isn't a Basement Waterproofing problem we can not solve. Are Cowles General Contracting Systems complicated? No. Our systems are designed with common sense as the background. Our engineers can solve any basement waterproofing problem with a lifetime structure warranty. We train our design engineers to educate the homeowners fully. Ask our design experts questions until you fully understand. the problem and the solution. Are repairing cracks with hydraulic cement at the floor wall joint possible methods of waterproofing? These methods will not work permanently. The mechanics of concrete will simply produce another seam and the basement will leak again. It is necessary to relieve the pressure in most cases. Quick fix solutions do not work in basement waterproofing. Call our Cowles General Contracting representative to fix it permanently! Can Cowles General Contracting, LLC solve my damp walls? Absolutely. We have a "Finish White" system to install around the perimeter of the basement that ties into our sub floor system. This in conjunction with a dehumidifier, Airmop 2, Bon AireT, or HumidevacT will usually solve any water dampness on the wall. Can I trust Cowles General Contracting, LLC with my most valuable asset.my home? We understand that we must earn your trust before we can deliver complete customer satisfaction. Cowles General Contracting is driven by customer satisfaction and service. In order to maintain our status as a leader in the basement waterproofing industry and for us to grow locally, we recognize that we must continue to provide the most cost effective solutions with the best products and service available. Do we guarantee the work? Our work includes a lifetime structure warranty, on most jobs, that is transferable with your home to the new homeowner when selling your home. Does a water leakage problem cause permanent basement problems? If you have continuous problems with water entering your basement, call your Cowles General Contracting representative. Hydrostatic pressure can cause cracking, bowing and sometimes in severe cases, collapse of the basement walls. The value of your home suffers invariably. You lose storage and living space square footage. Our waterproofing system relieves the pressure from underneath the floor and drains the block walls of any water coming in off the walls. We can solve any problems found in and around the foundation walls or floors. Does Cowles General Contracting, LLC charge for an estimate? NO! All estimates are performed at your home at your convenience. Usually, an estimate will take between 45 minutes to 90 minutes. During that time, we will identify the problem, review the options and propose a custom tailored solution. How do I handle new construction? We can install our Cowles General Contracting system before the floor is poured or after. We welcome all builders to call us before they install their basement floor so that we may install our system and enable the homeowner to rest easy that they will have a dry basement for the life time of the structure. Is a common solution during new construction. an exterior drain tile system? If my home has an exterior drain tile system, why do I still have a water problem in my basement? It is very common for an exterior drain tile system (commonly known as pipe and stone) to fill with silt. The water enters from the over dig on the exterior of the house and the silt settles down into the stone, plugging the pipe over time. The only sure way to guarantee this is to use a patented non-clog interior basement waterproofing system. Is a wet basement a sign of a poorly built home? Usually not, most basements have moisture or dampness problems. It is a subterranean environment. During the life of every home there will be some sort of water problem in the basement. What about exterior shallow drain systems? Exterior shallow drain systems are commonly used for run off problems. These systems can silt and clog, although we sometimes install them at our customer's requests. We do not guarantee these exterior types of systems. The best form of basement waterproofing permanently is an interior system with a lifetime of structure warranty. What about outside excavation and exterior methods? These methods are usually very expensive, traumatizing to the landscape and just not reliable. Cowles General Contracting, LLC only uses systems that can be guaranteed for the lifetime of the structure, transferable upon sale. What about Real Estate Agencies? Undisclosed defects in the home from real estate agencies and companies are becoming an increasing source of scrutiny in the home real estate market. The seller may be held personally liable for undisclosed defects. Real Estate companies are commonly sued for non-disclosure. If water problems remain unsolved, there is a greater chance of less value of the property, which reduces the selling price of the property. What if I have Commercial Property? Office Buildings, parking decks, churches, schools and all commercial properties with below grade space commonly experience water problems. Cowles General Contracting, LLC can offer solutions in "all" building environments. With our many patented and patent pending products and new technology, no commercial or residential job is too big or too small for us to complete. Will sealing the outside of the basement walls work? Usually not, this is called damp-proofing and this type of work is performed upon new construction and tends to crack over time. It also does not address the pressure buildup. This will not solve your basement waterproofing problem permanently. We install a patented no clog system that works regardless of any exterior situation, i.e. sloped terrain or soil condition. Our system works under all conditions.