Aquaguard Waterproofing

Aquaguard came on 6/10/08 to look at water leaking into the basement from outside. I had discovered an opening of an old coal chute outside the house directly adjacent to the area where the water appeared to be coming in. All of this was shown to the technician. Immediately he "diagnosed" the problem without investigating intensively how deep the chute was or where it led. He told me that water was seeping from the garden through the brick wall and into the basement. He also indicated that if left untreated it could undermine the foundation of the home. I was quite surprised at how quickly he drew that conclusion but trusted that he was the expert and must know what he was talking about. At no time did he ask me to open up the drywall inside the basement to further investigate where the coal chute was leading. While I had tenants currently living in the basement at the time, the continual water leakage was an unacceptable condition and I would have done anything necessary to diagnose and remedy the situation as quickly as possible. He told me that all the work would be done in one day at a price of $6258. He also stated (and wrote on the contract agreement) that the work would likely start "on or about 3 weeks". He neglected to tell me that the permit to do the work usually takes a month after it is submitted to the DCRA (according to DCRA). After not hearing from Aquaguard for 3 weeks I starting making phone calls and sending emails. No response. The receptionist on several occasions took the message and told me someone would call back, no one did. She often stated that the manager Dennis was on the phone. To reach him I finally told her I'd hold. She began to make up excuses for why no one had contacted me without even looking up my file. She said the permit is pending at the DCRA (I contacted DCRA and they informed me no permit had been applied for at my address). Dennis finally contacted me around mid July and said they could do the work. I told him then that it would have to now wait till the last week of July as I would be in Europe during the 3rd week of July. The work was not done till August 5. The workers were pleasant and professional. The work done was great. A few days later, when the lawn was watered, water began to pour into the basement again. I then opened up the drywall inside the basement, higher than where Aquaguard had opened it to install the flashing. The coal cute opened into the basement half way up the wall and therefore the newly installed sump pump was completely useless at preventing water from flooding the basement. In order to fill in and waterproof the coal chute Aquaguard charged an additional $3,150 and took no responsibility for the misdiagnosis. They claimed I prevented a proper diagnosis because I refused to let them open the drywall to investigate (a lie). I believe the initial work ($6,258) was completely unnecessary.

We were happy with the comments other people left for this company on Angie's List. They gave us a discount on the price for being members. They took about a week to install the sump pump. We were happy with the results.

Recently, in May, after a torrential rainstorm, we got tired of water in our basement and decided to have our basement looked at as we have had water problems in the past and the present situation was getting even worse. We asked a few companies to come out and give us an estimate. I won't mention names, but out of 4 companies, 3 were absolutely atrocious. Their so called inspectors turned out to be high pressure salespeople with little knowledge or time to answer questions. After researching their companies and how long they said they'd been in business, I found out each one was less that honest as they had dissolved and forfeited their corporate structures quite a few times. In fact, I also found that two were operating under various names and trade names which they'd formed quite recently. Then we had a company from Beltsville come out for a basement inspection. Aquaguard Waterproofing. I was expecting a salesperson but was pleasantly surprised when the inspector they sent, a gentleman named Sam, was not only very knowledgeable, but actually had a construction background as well as having soils and concrete experience when he'd worked for an engineering firm here locally. They stated that they'd been in business for over 19 years, and being the skeptic I am, verified on line through the secretary of state, not only in Maryland, but I searched Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania as well.They also claimed to be the only 'Certified' waterproofer in the area, which I also verified at the www.nawsrc.org website. Plus he mentioned Angie's List and that they were the Baltimore and DC Super service award winner. At that time I didn't know of Angie's List, unfortunately as it would have saved me quite a bit of time. Sam was completely thorough in his inspection and explanation of the problem and the various solutions, although I was concerned that his price was higher than any of the other companies. He explained that it would be better to spend a little more now, than a whole lot more later. I agreed that price wasn't the issue - that my worst nightmare would be to spend a fortune and still have water problems. I went with my gut and I'm glad I did - the basement is now without water, even after a few storms. The crew was amazing as they had to work around several obstructions, hauling tons and tons of gravel and cement, up and down our stairs, as we don't have a doorway in the basement. I was really surprised at how much work they accomplished, and how clean they left my basement. Needless to say, I am completely satisfied with Aquaguard and Angie's List as well. I expect to be a member for a while and will gladly refer family and friends to what I consider is the only honest waterproofer in our area. Thanks Sam.

They did excellent work the worker was very nice, he loved to talk to us. They did great they got the job done quickly and and cleaned up after themselves well.

We choose to get a 2nd opinion and the other company quoted us $7,850. Aquaguard was scheduled to come out and complete the work on July 29th, 2008 and we heard nothing from them. On August 6th, 2008 we wrote and sent a letter to Aquaguard about the estimate, the cost and that we would like to cancel our contract. We received a phone call from them and they stated they would have to keep our $4,000 if we decided to cancel the service. We have since received a refund of $5000.

We called to set up an appointment and were told that BOTH the husband and wife needed to be present. Since I (husband) travels out of town frequently for my job, my wife set up an appointment for a date and time that I would be in town. We received a call that their representative was involved in a car accident and would not be able to meet with us on that date and time (similar story to another person's experience here on Angie's List). We rescheduled for the following day (the last one for the week that I would be in town). The representative was supposed to meet us at our home at 8PM and I rushed from my office to get there in time. At 8:03PM, we received a call from the company's headquarters that the rep was on the way and would be there "in 13 minutes, per his GPS". He finally showed up at 8:55PM and we told them no thanks. Two precious nights of our limited time was wasted. Given that there was no bad weather, no rain recently (either which would have afforded our understanding), and the current depressed economy, I would think that a company seeking potential business would have been more customer-friendly in making an effort to provide a favorable impression. I hope that others who do business with them have a better experience.

He explained everything in the estimate. After I told him the price was too high he cut it in half. They called me a few times after the estimate but the whole pricing process seems suspicious.

Overall they seemed to have some design difficulty and they couldn't explain things. The discharge of the sump pump would be above the ground. They left a puddle on the ground. They left a mess in the basement and left my dryer disconnected and the exhaust line from my dryer was dismounted A lot of dust was all over the floor. Inadequate supervision, so job was done poorly. Still a patch of my basement is looking very leaky. They were very persuasive. I should of gotten more opinions. When I did call to get things taken care of they were responsive.

Salesman, JR, came out when he was suppose to. Checked out basement and explained what needed to be done and how their system worked. JR gave an excellent price and scheduled an install date. Being a member of Angie's List helped on both of these. Giovanni and his crew showed up on the scheduled day. Giovanni explained to me what was going to be done and his crew set to work. These guys were respectful, hard working men who knew their jobs and set out to do them. They saved the wood that had to be removed from the wall and made as little mess as possible. They put in drain field all around my basement, put in two sump pumps and fixed my outside drain. All this done in one day. Would highly recommend this company and this salesman and especially Giovanni and his crew.

After I filed a complaint with this company, I was contacted immediately with a service manager who introduce himself, took the time to listen, get the facts straight as well as promise to have a person who he introduced as well come out to the site the next day, once that happens, will get back to me within the week to set up an appointment to have the job completed. I received that call the same day from that person, again introduced himself ask if he could meet me at the property the next morning. Was on time call back the same day to give me the appointed date and time. Arrived early the next day to complete this work. That is called customer service!!!!

We did not use this company because they were not able to offer the cheapest rate. Also, the representative who did the estimate took about 2 hours to do the estimate. Although we think he was VERY knowledgeable, we did not appreciate all the personal opinions about life that he offered... and which made his estimate drag out long. We scheduled a late estimate and were understanding about his hour and fifteen minute delay (storms, downed power, GPS problems), but it was frustrating having to stay up until 11:15... especially when the representative continued to talk about how tired and overworked he was. Initially, the representative gave us an estimate of about $10,000, but because of our Angie's List discount and his own "friends/family" discount he gave to us because he was "too tired and just didn't care"... the final estimate was $7,800. Comparing this price to the company's price I went with, I am convinced that he inflated the original price and then brought it down to the price it would have been without any of these discounts. When I called to say that we would be using a different company, he became pushy and, I feel, manipulative. He said, "so ratings and quality don't matter to you?" He kept emphasizing how he couldn't get any lower than that and that he didn't think that the other company had the permits that they needed. After all the calls on the phone with the representative, I didn't WANT to go with them... even if they COULD offer the cheapest rate! I do not like working with pushy and dishonest (I felt, with the pricing strategy) people.

They were on time to do the work. They were professional while they worked. I would use them in the future. The quality of their work was good. I would recommend them.

The techniques used to waterproof the basement went well and I've not experienced any problems with flooding in spite of the heavy rains we've had recently. However, the sump pump they installed was stronger and caused a large volume of water to splash out and drain right next to the foundation. When contacted about the problem, they initially said I would have to pay them to solve the problem or fix it myself. However, when I mentioned that I was a member of Angie's List, they were more than willing to resolve the complaint. As it turned out, the day the repairman came, the newly replaced sump pump died. He replaced the sump pump and fixed my drainage problem in just a few hours, leaving everything clean and working properly.

Had seepage of water into finished basement causing moldy carpet and baseboard staining - we had a sump pump but it wasn't hooked up to any type of drainage system so it never got wet enough to pump water out! The salesman came out on a Sunday afternoon and did a thorough inspection of the property inside and out. He recommended that we install the system described above. They were able to give us a discount because we were Angie's List members. A few days later the project manager came out for an inspection and went over the whole process again, in detail. Two days later, the crew came out and got to work. They were professional, showed up on time (called one day when they were late due to a flat tire and subsequently stayed late to finish the work), they sealed the doors and furniture that we couldn't move upstairs with plastic. The process involves JACKHAMMERING around the interior perimeter and removing drywall from the base of the wall to install the system. They were able to avoid disturbing the bathroom and were able to get most of the needed drainage tile in place without having to rip out drywall (only ripped out 6 inches along one wall). They cleaned up completely after they were done to include hosing down our patio and leaving materials that were salvageable (baseboards and tile). They did not throw away the damaged carpet but we knew from the contract that they weren't obligated to do this so that was OK. They did ding up a few walls and in moving the utility sink out of the way cracked a seal but that is understandable given the type of work they were doing. We were going to have to repair drywall and repaint anyway. Overall we are thrilled with the process - and hopefully the outcome - it hasn't rained yet - if there is a problem, we have confidence that they will live up to their reputation and guarantee. For those that might be skeptical about such an extensive system, we already had our yard graded and our gutters inspected/cleaned. I would recommend Aqua Guard to anyone who has basement/house water problems. I had a neighbor who was satisfied with their work as well.

I had a prompt response to my call. They came out and I told them I had already gotten quotes from the other top-competitors. We haggled on the price until I paid what I thought was comparable based on the other quotes. We scheduled a time and I requested that they get the permits. I live in the City of Alexandria and they are very strict with this sort of thing. As it turned out, they were not able to get the permits on time. I think they underestimated the way City of Alexandria works. Eventually, everything was resolved and they came to do the work. They were fast, efficient, courteous, cleaned up after themselves, and after these torrential rainstorms we've had, I have not had one drop in my basement! I couldn't be happier right now.

They missed two appointments to give me an estimate on waterproofing my basement. The first time, they called and said their estimator was involved in a minor car accident. The second time, he just didn't show up and they didn't call. When I called, they said he was running late but was en route. An hour later, when he still wasn't there, I canceled the appointment and declined to reschedule.

They were very helpful. They came at all hours. They answered all my questions. They worked with me on the price by bringing it down. Their crew is very efficient and they clean up well after themselves. I highly recommend them.

We were very pleased overall with our experience with Aqua Guard. Mr. JR Trundle Jr. was our initial contact. He came to the house twice, once after the job was completed. He was very knowledgeable and very personable. The rest of the crew was good, English was not their strong suit but they had someone that understood and could relay. The folks on the phone at the office, James Bowman, was absolutely terrific and very professional. The work was not an emergency nature, but we needed to get it done and they showed up ready to work and do the job.

The estimate to the end result was a very professional and thorough process. There is still the need to reseal one more thing outside of the building but overall, they did a fantastic job. They were careful not to do more damage than needed. Took great care to remove baseboards, partial of the drywall, and to protect my furniture from tools and dust. I had this kind of work done by another company, who weren't waterproofing experts. So, I was really determined to find a company that was qualified to do the job right and in honest manner. I was recommended not to get the battery backup system (which costs extra $1k). All other basement companies I've met with told me it was necessary. This one explained why it wasn't. AquaGuard will tell you what you need and don't need.

Be prepared for this company's high pressure sales strategy. The initial sales person offered us a price of about $6000 and, after a long pause while we digested the higher-than-expected price, then offered to use a coupon and additional discount to bring the price down by at least 10%. Another sales person came out later to offer us a lower price (the "real estate" price, as low as they could offer). Yet another sales person called (many times) to offer us an even lower price. Their presentation was very professional, but they will hound you. If you select this company, hold out for a round of price reductions! One interesting note is that we hired a different contractor who had a different opinion as to the nature of our flooding problem (indicating that the problem may not require the full French drain system that Aqua Guard proposed). With this other contractor's solution, we ended up spending less than half the amount originally proposed by Aqua Guard. Estimated cost was $5,000.

It went extremely well. Anytime you have water in your basement you are at your most vulnerable and a lot of people can/will take advantage of you. AquaGuard was honest, to the point, and didn't try to extort money from me. In fact, they thought of ways to help me with financing and honest answers on what I needed. Everyone there was kind, understanding, and answered all of my questions, no matter how naive or silly. They completed the work in a 1/2 day, kept the area clean, the workers were on tine, courteous. They gave me good post-installation advice. I now don't race home from the office or down to the basement any time it rains. I have peace of mind which is truly invaluable.

If your spouse is in the military and deployed overseas, ill and in the hospital, or if there is any other reason they are unable to be there for an appointment don't waste your time calling. They would not come out unless both homeowners are present because apparently one adult is incapable of describing a problem, receiving an estimate, and making a decision. (Yes, this is the same thing I put in another review...I had the same bad experience.)

JR showed up on time for estimate. Without looking around the house much, he proposed installing drainage pipes along all four walls of townhouse by cutting 5 inches off bottom of paneling and digging 12 inch wide trenches all around, leading to a new sump pump. His initial estimate was $9000+, but since I'm on Angie's List, he called his boss and got authorized to give me a discounted price of $5,880. I did not go with this contractor because I felt that they were bent on selling me this super-size trenching solution without offering me any other options. Secondly, when they were done I would have to find another contractor to patch up the cut-up paneling for who knows how much. Thirdly, I get suspicious when someone can drop their price by 30% just like that. (I eventually found another contractor who got the job done more efficiently for less.)

I didn't hire them because they are explained me the reason of my problem.

Beautifully. Working with this company was a delight. I was fully informed as to what would be done. The work was actually moved up one day from the originally scheduled time. The men arrived early, worked hard all day, and did a beautiful job. They covered up my belongings and kept things amazingly clean considering that they were driving pile-drivers into the floor. I was much impressed with their professionalism, the courtesy of their workers, and the finished job. I recommend them highly.