Welcome To BJC Enterprises Inc. - BJC Waterproofing Division

What's the downside in waiting to fix my basement water problem?

Destruction resulting from mold, fungus, mildew, insects and termites is superficial, compared to potential structural liabilities if your foundation is left untreated. Dampness and actual seepage are problems which can never fix
themselves and will only become worse if left uncorrected.

Is a wet basement a sign of a poorly built home?

Not necessarily. A recent study in the Washington, D.C. area found that over 86 percent of cement block constructed homes over 25 years old had moisture problems. The National Association of Realtors state that over a homes life expectancy, almost all will experience some form of water problem.

Do you charge homeowners for estimates?

B-Dry® does not charge qualified homeowners for consultations. We insist on absolute honesty and integrity. If you don't need our services, we'll be the first to tell you. If you are in need of our services, we'll tell you precisely what we propose to do, how we do it, when we'll do it, and the exact cost, out of our standard pricing manual. There are no hidden costs. The price we quote is the price you pay.

Is your method complicated?

No. The logic of our system is simple. To fully appreciate it, however, you need to understand what is causing your basement to leak. Ask questions until you fully understand.

Does a little or occasional leakage cause foundation problems?

Not necessarily. Occasional leakage may be caused by a combination of weather conditions and poor drainage around your house. If you have water in your basement after taking ordinary precautions, then it's probably time for you to call us. A wet basement left unattended may cause considerable structural damage over a period of time.
Hydrostatic pressure against your basement walls can cause cracking, bowing, even collapse in severe cases.

Of course, any type of basement water problem impacts very unfavorably upon the value of your home, to say nothing of it's livability. Our 47 years of experience indicates that most small water problems progressively worsen.

The B-Dry® system is designed to eliminate the water pressure around your foundation and from under your floor, effectively removing the source of basement leakage problems.

When our home was built, the yard was graded so water would flow away from the foundation.
The walls were waterproofed with the most effective method available. Drain tile was installed on the outside along side the footer. Our basement is leaking. Why?

The effectiveness of these methods is questionable. If you're located in a high water table area or in a drainage site from higher ground, these methods will usually fail. Curiously, according to a study conducted by the National Association of Homebuilders, outside drain tile can even make conditions worse.

My builder was aware of the high water table and drainage problems. He filled in the area under the basement floor with sand and gravel, laid continuous corrugated pipe laterally and installed a sump pump. Our basement is leaking. Why?

At least your builder was trying to attack the cause of basement leakage, but with a makeshift drain system. It is crucial that the right materials are used and installed by experts. B-Dry® has the tools to permanently dry up your basement.

Do you use extensive outside excavation?

No! It is not only unnecessary and expensive, but doesn't permanently dry up your basement. Additionally, disturbing the soil outside your basement walls can actually contribute to their cracking/bowing/settlement later. B-Dry's® system is installed inside. Consequently, we avoid these problems and can work the year around.

Then you won't install footer drains on the outside of our house?

No. They simply are not effective. In fact, if your house was built after 1950, you probably already have an outside system that isn't working. It is probably clogged and replacement drains would clog, too. Besides, they won't help with a high water table anyway.

Should I have the outside of my basement walls sealed?

No. This work was done when your house was built. It didn't work then and it won't work now. The sealing of basement walls was never meant to be a permanent solution. We install a system that works regardless of water tables, slope of terrain, or normal soil conditions. The B-Dry® System works regardless of whether your problem is leakage from the cove, floor, walls, window wells or all of these. Why put up with the aggravation, the offensive odor, and the structural damage caused by basement water leakage?

Why can't I just repair the cracks and put liquid sealer on the walls?

Because it doesn't work! If this type of easy "solution" worked, very few basements would be wet and we wouldn't be in business. These types of treatments attack the symptoms rather than the causes. Almost every year there are new products on the market to repair cracks and seal basement walls. They cost less but aren't effective. Homeowners spend millions of dollars every year for ineffective products to "solve" basement water problems.

What about injecting betonite into the soil around our house?

It simply isn't effective. We would not do it, under any circumstances, and neither should you. Fortunately, this unsuccessful method is rarely used today.

A waterproofer tells us that they will bury drainage pipe around the outside of our house 2-4 feet deep in order to stop some of the water before it reaches the basement. Isn't this a good idea?

Sounds good, but it isn't effective. We think it's dishonest to dig a shallow trench in your yard and bury a pipe which often has no positive discharge points - and if it does, will quickly clog anyway. You might as well pay to have a log buried in your yard.

Also, some companies claim they can prevent this clogging by wrapping filter material around the pipe. This only increases the likelihood of failure, as filters are designed to collect debris. This could work, if you planned to dig it up every year or so to clean the filter, like your do with your furnace filter, etc. Obviously - this is not practical.

One of the reasons our prices are competitive is that we sell nothing which is unnecessary, or does not work. We specify only the work required to give you the protection you need and no more.

One waterproofing company wants to drill holes in the wall of our basement next to the floor and install a basement board-type channel to catch the water coming onto the floor.
What do you think of this?

It's usually referred to as the "baseboard" or "cove" method. One version or another has been around for a long time. There are even do-it-yourself kits available. We do not consider this to be a permanent solution. The method requires continual maintenance, as the seal between the cove and the floor will often break, allowing water to run out onto the basement floor. This baseboard method, in fact, isn't waterproofing at all. It collects water only after it enters the basement. That's why the company's own materials refer to it as "water control" rather than waterproofing. Recently, an Ohio court declared that it is a "false claim" to call this method waterproofing, when it is actually piping, and thus, awarded compensation to the homeowner.

But they told us it was guaranteed for life! What do you think about this?

Almost all waterproofers give a guarantee of some kind...5 years, 20 years, lifetime. Does it really matter? Sadly, the history of waterproofing is filled with those who give a greater guarantee than their system can support.
When burdened down with service calls and claims, they simply go out of business.

In direct contrast, our guarantee is the result of our honesty and integrity and our permanent system.
The proof lies in the fact that we've waterproofed nearly 200,000 basements.

What does B-Dry® do?

The integrated B-Dry® System is the permanent solution to most water leakage problems. Our system works whether your problem is a slope or terrain, high water table, soil conditions, or a spring under your basement floor.

Our basement hardly leaks but the walls are usually damp and water bleeds through them.
Can B-Dry® cure this problem?

Yes! B-Dry's exclusive Rigid Sealer®, used with our drain system, will eliminate your problem.

What if you find after the work commences that the repair is more difficult than you thought?
Will you increase your price?

No. Our price to you is the same regardless of the difficulty. Of course, if it is decided that you need additional areas treated, there would be an adjustment in price if you wish to add it to the current job.

What do I have to do to get B-Dry® down to the lowest price?

Nothing! We don't play price games. We use a standardized price list. We encourage you to help our consultant arrive at the price when he visits your home. Our promise of honesty and integrity is much more than just empty words. B-Dry® provides you with a permanently dry basement for the life of the structure...all at a competitive price.

Will your system enhance the value of our home?

Positively! If you sell your house, you can offer a clean, dry basement, guaranteed for the life of the structure, regardless of ownership. Money spent for a permanently dry basement will pay off in an immediate increase in the market value of your home greater than the money spent.

The large investment in a home dictates that you protect your investment. It also makes sense to utilize the square footage of your basement. It's the least expensive area for you to improve.

How does B-Dry® do business?

With honesty, integrity and simplicity. Our job plan agreement is simple and indicates exactly what we propose to do and the price. The simplicity and trust with which we do business dates back to the company's earliest beginnings when all business was done on a handshake.

We don't require a large down payment on residential work. We ask only for a small deposit so that we know that you're serious enough for us to put you on our schedule. We stand behind our words and we trust you to stand behind yours.

It's ridiculous! You can't really offer a Full Life Of The Structure transferable warranty, can you?

We've proved that we can. The proof is in our performance: 200,000 basements over 47 years.

It sounds like we're bragging. But the B-Dry® System is in a class by itself. We sincerely believe that there is every reason for you to choose us to waterproof your basement.

We're building a new house. Do you install the B-Dry® System in new construction?

Absolutely! You should insist on it. If your builder advises against it, ask him to give you a life-of-structure warranty.
Of course, he can't do it. Many of the homes we waterproof are 1 to 5 years old whose original "system" has failed already.

	B-DRY Waterproofing B-Dry® System Of Central Indiana
" America's Largest Waterproofing Company"	A Division of BJC Enterprises, Inc.