BOB BAUER BASEMENT WATERPROOFING

Our basement is an old block basement built in 1923. Like many basements built during this period, it started to leak through the walls. Our options were limited because the basement wall is directly adjacent to the driveway, so digging around the outside perimeter of the house would require us to tear out the driveway. I called Bob Bauer basement waterproofing for an estimate. Bob Bauer came to our house and inspected the basement. He is a very nice, professional man who described the process of coating the wall with a special "paint". He said he's never had a basement leak after applying his treatment. I hired him to finish the job on our entire basement. After he finished, it looked great. However, within the year, the "paint" bubbled and leaked. I called Bob several times to fix the problem. He finally returned my call after several attempts over several weeks. He and his daughter eventually came to my house and refinished the leaking walls. After they left, unfortunately, it leaked again within a few weeks. I guess I had a feeling this may happen, but Bob assured me that he's never had a leaky basement in the 15+ years he's applied this treatment. Please let this serve as a word of warning if you plan to have your basement "waterproofed".

My son's basement flooded last summer (2008) He had 3 sump pumps cut into his basement. With the first hard rain this year (March 09) water started coming in between 2 of the sumps but the sumps were dry. He called 3 companies to come look at it. The first 2 suggested tile between 2 of the sumps so the water coming in would flow to the sumps instead of into the laundry room. Sounds good. Cost...$2,400 and $1,700. Next Bob Bauer comes out. He looks at it, says that the tiles would work but wouldn't you rather stop the water from coming in? They go outside, Bob recommends caulking around the one window and says that if they dig around the foundation some they'd probably find some cracks, fill those with caulk and the problem should be solved. He said that if the water was coming up from the ground like in '08 the sumps would be working. The water this time was coming in from down the walls. He then gets back into his van and drives away. No charge! My son got caulk, did around the window and checked the foundation. Sure enough, he found a large crack. He caulked that and no more water! We got about in inch of rain overnight and not a drop in the basement! A truly honest man. Can't say enough good words about him. My son's fiance is driving up to Ankeny today to pay him something. He saved them a couple grand!!!