I contacted Vasyl at DryMaxWaterproofing alongside other GTA waterproofers for a through HomeStars for a quote on this project.
- a front garden area 12 ft x 7~8 ft deep excavation
- Hydraulic Cement patching of any foundation/mortar cracks present
- Liquid-applied product like Aqua Bloc designed for Exterior foundation waterproofing, as this is a garden area and near eave runoff.
-Install of Waterproofing membrane, DMX dimpled sheets with specialty anchors, or similar with flashing to prevent runoff from pouring between the membrane foundation.
- PVC pipe with drainsock + crushed gravel at bottom to redirect runoff
- refill after work completed
-After negative past experience with contractors with lapsed business credentials, I always check opengov for the business or trade and check to make sure their certifications and credentials are listed and the owner's name and business address is accurate. Vasyl's company DryMax Waterproofing Inc. had everything clearly listed, instilling confidence that his company would be around in the future if the warranty was ever needed.
DryMax Waterproofing's quote and delivered work was significantly better than expected:
-Vasyl and his team were the only Contractor among four others I contacted who provided detailed quotes which described their process and materials to be used.
-Vasyl's exterior waterproofing involved a liquid-type waterproofing material as requested, but went further with reinforced mesh applied before the DMX-style membrane was added along with a flashing on top. I didn't get a photo of this step, but it's a step I'll insist on for any further foundation waterproofing I do having seen it applied.
-DryMax also provided in their quote priced conditional add-ons which helped avoid unnecessary surprises: If certain required drainage connections were available after digging outside, it was the base price, vs. If the connection needed to be made inside, a specific add on price was listed in the quote.
-Vasyl handled the call for locates and provided the order # so we could confirm that the utilities were notified and were able to check the excavation area for buried pipes, wires, etc.
-After arranging a dig time, his crew came on a Saturday morning and were finished by the afternoon. They properly protected the lawn from the excavated soil, and replaced the bushes afterwards.
Vasyl was on site for the work conducted by his team. At times, he got down into the work area and did things himself. We appreciated that he wasn't a contractor who ran more concurrent operations than he could effectively supervise. From my discussions with him on site and afterwards, I appreciate that he is a very detail and quality focused contractor - a rarity in this industry.
While Vasyl's work was higher priced than the lowest quotes we received - those companies wanted to dig a shorter trench and did not offer any kind of liquid-waterproofing/mesh or hydraulic cement patching, making his quoted price good value.
I'd happily recommend Vasyl's waterproofing work to others in the future.
Update: I didn't realize my review was stuck in moderation for 6 months. Waterproofing is still holding up well!