The efflorescence remediation was questionably necessary at ~$9000. They left us with a leaking toilet / scratched wall / door damage. There was no clean-up and area not prepped/contained properly. They left concrete on the patio. The black material over the French drains looks sloppy/uneven despite being an unfinished basement. The efflorescence was not treated. They offered no advice in using ZEP to clean the floor or what to do after they left. They didn't clean the sump pump basin. read more

I feel like I was fooled by this company, at all levels. The first time they came out to look at my basement flooding issues, I was super impressed. The tech explained how the old external drains were clogged in my old 1950s home and that nowadays companies are building internal systems to catch the water. Like an internal french drain, under the basement flooring. It looked like a promising system, and the deal they made ($7700) seemed worth it. They installed a "speed drain" to catch the water in the outside basement stairwell, replacing the simple circular drain that was there. This new drain funneled the water into the internal french drain, which also grabbed water from exterior holes that they drilled (controlled water collection). The drain led to a two sump / two pump system in series with two 2" pipes going out of the house. Solid. Except... The first time the basement flooded, I took a closer look at what was done. How could there by any flooding?! I have two sumps! As it turned out, the second sump in the line never got water to it. The speed drain only had a 1" pipe going into the system. I'm not a physicist, but I know enough math to realize that 1" going into the system is going to overwhelm a system designed to pump out of two 2" pipes. I called the company and had them fix it. At a cost, of course. They argued that it wasn't a bad design. The best part is when the actual installers came out and started telling me that the system I had was horribly done (seems like a trend). I let him talk a while before I told him that his company had done the job. He smirked and was quiet after that. He redid the speed drain and installed two 1" pipes. The math still didn't add up, but ok, there were other entrances for water into the system. The second time the basement flooded, I watched the water in the speed drain keep rising, and rising, and rising. How could that be?! There were two 1" pipes now! As it turns out, the system was poorly designed, specifically the sumps being in series. I was having problems because the first sump pump died. Naturally the water flows to the next one, right? No, it doesn't. The design forced the water intake to have to push all the water in the first sump into the second. Imagine rainwater coming in at a pipe in the bottom of a sump, and having to push all the water above it into a pipe at the top of the sump. It just wasn't working very well. The water, not having enough force to push itself up, went back into the stairwell, then under the door into my house. I'm left scratching my head wondering if Basement Detective even knows how water works, and if they've ever actually designed a successful system. Needless to say, I won't be calling them to come take a look again. Lest they rip up the all floors again, tell me that my system was a horrible design, and charge me to redo it again. No thanks. read more

Assessed everything correctly unlike ALL the other companies; almost went with a vey expensive solution. Thank you basement detective!

After a few days of heavy rain, We had water coming into our basement through the floor and window well, so we contacted Basement Detective. They came out quick, gave us a great quote and got us on the schedule within a few weeks. Tony was very responsive to all of our questions and clearly explained what our issue was and how they were going to fix it. They needed to install a drain from the window well, a french drain along the wall, and a sump pump. Carlos and his crew showed up early on the day they were scheduled to start (despite a snowstorm the day before) and made sure to do their best to cover up our the other portion of our finished basement for all the dust they were about to create. They spent the first day tearing out the wet drywall, flooring, and jackhammering down into the foundation. The crew carried all of the debris created out in trash bags bag by bag up our staircase out to their truck. The second day the crew came back and worked for 10 hours straight to finish off the job. They must have carried over 50 buckets of concrete from our front yard down the stairs to our basement. Every time they came back up the stairs they also were carrying debris out of the house. It was quite impressive. They finished the work that night, then came back the following day to run the sump pump discharge pipe along our fence down to the alley away from our house. The entire experience was fantastic and I could not recommend Basement Detective more. The crew was friendly and great to be around throughout the 3 days process. They continuously apologized for the mess they were creating even though it's virtually impossible to not make at least some of a mess based on the work being done. They cleaned up the floor and basement on their way out and even offered to come back the next day to mop it up, which was unnecessary. The work looks fantastic. Of course time will tell but I don't see any more water issues arising for us in the future (If it does, they offer a lifetime warranty with their work). Additionally, they offered to come out whenever we call with no hassle if anything is not up to par. Long story short, don't think twice about calling Basement Detective for your basement needs. read more

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Basement Detectives came to my house in Arlington, drew up a plan to solve my basement water issues and solved this in a clean, rapid, professional and cost efficient manner. As a business owner myself, I appreciated their customer service and constant updates on the progression of the home repairs. They were super responsive to my concerns and really did a stellar job in my basement!! I would recommend them to anyone who has a water issue in their homes! Steve Pompili read more

Tim and Jen were amazing to work with, very responsive and kept us up to date. We had a few things come up during the process and Tim communicated every step of the way. We would definitely use them again. read more

I rarely write reviews, but felt obligated to share the favorable experience I had with Basement Detectives as my company of choice for mold remediation services. I had a significant mold and water intrusion problem in my basement and sought estimates from four different companies. After talking with each company's reps about the problem and receiving their estimates, I selected Basement Detectives. That proved to be the best decision I could have made. They clearly stood out as the most knowledgeable and capable company to address and correct my problem. My experience started with a visit from Chris - courteous, customer-focused, highly professional and a pleasure to work with. He thoroughly assessed the problem and provided me a detailed, comprehensive plan in layman's terms that helped me understand the issue and their approach to fixing the problem. When his crew showed up to start the work, I was impressed even further. Carlos, Marvin and their talented crew hit the deck running and did a phenomenal job in rectifying the leak and mold problems. They worked together as a team that takes great pride in their work and puts the customer's needs up front. I couldn't help but be impressed with their work ethic and commitment to ensuring that I was completely satisfied with their work. That's rare now days. During the entire job and afterwards, I was able to reach out to Chris, Carlos and the Basement Detective staff with questions and always received an expeditious, timely response. I'm a tough customer who values excellent customer service and quality workmanship above all else. A high-rated review from me is rare and extremely hard to come by - it has to be earned. Basement Detectives has earned not only my high praise, but my business for any future situations. They truly are the real deal! read more

Basement Detective - Encapsulated crawl space - General Contractors Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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My basement was leaking and I had major work done (install a 72' subfloor drain trench). Basement Detective really came through for me. They were extremely busy with work scheduled for several weeks. Yet they kept me informed about potential openings and I was able to get my work moved up one month. The best part about BD is their competent, professional AND very personable crew and admin. I felt very comfortable dealing with everyone throughout the process. A special thanks to Santos, who led the team to finish the job one day earlier than I expected, and to Devon. Devon, you were absolutely wonderful in making sure my basement was cleaned up and everything was put back in place. Really happy with the results. read more

Roland came out for the free estimate and thoroughly explained why there was leaking in my basement. Apart from just explaining, he also showed me through pictures why I was having this problem and what needed to be done in order to fix the issue. To be honest, based on Roland's explanation and lack of pressure, I made the appointment to go forward the same day; In fact, he actually recommended I get other quotes in order to see the comparison. The process took 2 days and the guys who did everything were great; extremely respectful, on time and very informative as well; the crew leader, Carlos, was very helpful in walking me through the process and answered all of the questions I had (multiple times), as a matter of fact, they called me every time they started a new step of the process to show me what was going to happen and why the step needed to be done. Roland stopped by (on his day of) to make sure I was satisfied with the process and again answer to any additional questions. Once they finished they cleaned the house and left it as if nothing had happened. Thank you all for your professionalism! read more

The guy that came over to give me an estimate was rude , unprofessional. I am taking my business somewhere else.

We had a great experience with Basement Detective. When we bought our house, Basement Detective had already installed a water removal system for the previous owners, which had a lifetime guarantee. About two years into our ownership, the sump pump started acting up and pumping even when the well was dry. Basement Detective sent out a crew that installed a brand new replacement pump, backup pump, backup battery system, and piping at no cost to us. They stayed in touch throughout the process and finished the installation quickly. The new system works perfectly and we haven't had any issues since. We were very pleased with the quality of the work and would gladly use Basement Detective again. read more

We had a leak in the basement that we couldn't ignore any longer. When water strikes, the damage almost always goes beyond what the eye can see, and we were really concerned the damage would be significant. Enter Basement Detective. After an initial assessment of the damage and work required, they installed an sump pump and drain pipe under our basement floor. The crew did a fantastic job and we couldn't have been happier with the work. Everyone we dealt with, sales & construction, were top notch, friendly, and knowledgeable. Scheduling was a breeze, and the work was completed in two days (they got us in before we left town for vacation). Working with Basement Detective has not only improved the value of our home, but given us considerable peace of mind. Now when it pours buckets outside, we are confident the water won't be doing any more damage. Wouldn't hesitate to use their services again...but hopefully we won't need to just yet ;) read more

Roland was great! showed up on time and explained our problem to us and what needed to be done to fix it. Definitely recommend Basement Detective! Thank you! read more

Happy customer here. We were referred to them by our neighbor who is a contractor. We had consulted with many companies before finally deciding to go with Basement Detective. The inspector was thorough and left us with a very detailed cost estimate of the work and all in about 30 minutes. No sales tactics. Thank God! A few of the other companies were in our house for hours. They completed the work in 2 days and even reseeded an area in the lawn where they tore up a small patch of grass. Highly recommend them. read more

Writing an honest review for the services provided after our pipes burst due to freezing temps and flooded our basement and garage. Response - I received a same day appt for assessment of damage. The woman who scheduled us was very friendly and thorough. Assessment - Thomas provided a very thorough inspection of the damaged areas and even found a few flaws in areas that we thought were not affected. Customer Service - Thomas and his team answered all of our questions in a friendly, professional, and knowledgeable manner. Not once throughout the process did I feel left out to pasture. He worked seamlessly with our Insurance agent and worked out any issues that arose saving us the headache and stress these situations bring. He also gave us awesome advice on prevention and other tips about the home and mitigation processes. Renovation Process - They kept us abreast of what was being worked on and how before work began. Especially helpful when they had to remove the hot water heater in order to do patchwork. Time - They arrived on time everyday despite the bad weather and left everyday with measurable results. The entire project was completed in about 5 days. Quality - the work itself was done to code and was quality. Definitely saw an improvement in the temperature in our basement due to the insulation they placed in the ceiling and front closets. No shotty patchwork jobs. The drywall and baseboards before had major gaps which made that area really drafty, but Thomas and his team made sure that those gaps were sealed. Price - Quality vs. Quantity. Since we were working with the insurance agency - our out of pocket costs were minimal. However, in comparison to several other quotes we received (which with some companies was almost 25-50% more) I'd say for the work and experience they are pretty fairly priced. Overall Rating - Definitely give them a Five. From reception desk to contractor, They definitely alleviated the stress of what was a pretty sucky situation. Thanks Folks read more

SCAM Artists! We had them come out after our basement had a flood because our sump pump malfunctioned. We saw mold on our baseboards and the bottom of our drywall. The company my husband works with was backed up so we tried Basement Detectives, thinking we could get a couple estimates. They used a cheap moisture detector placed against the wall (also a stud finder) to "show" us that there was a ton of water behind our walls. HE also told us the mold he saw growing had been there for a long time, we had a huge problem (not from the flood) and we better take care of it now. He used high pressure sales tactics to try and make us commit on the spot. IN the end our estimate was almost 10,000! If my husband did half the work himself, only 6,000. We called the guys my husband works with and they came in and use a better moisture detector (which inserts into the drywall). NO MOISTURE!!! Cut away some dry wall...NO MOLD! The mold on the baseboards was from our flood and just moisture being trapped behind them. They explained that if our basement was this dry now that the sump pump was working, we obviously did not have a problem. We cleaned the baseboards and drywall with no problem and no mold has come back. Cost: bleach, water and a scrub brush. GET A SECOND OPINION. They will try to scare you and pressure you into making a decision. Tell you it can't wait and is dangerous. I cannot believe these guys can sleep at night preying on all these people who have suffered with this weather we have had. read more

I came to Chris with a leaky basement wall, coming from a small crack. He and the office staff were fantastic! I was doing some upgrading in my basement when I found the crack, and needed a quick turnaround. While other companies took days just to respond, Basement Detective's response was immediate. Chris came to my house the next day, and took his time to patiently explain my options. Should I ever have an issue with my foundation, I'll be sure to reach out to them again. read more

Everybody It's Spring 2018, I wanted to follow up after 3 years and yet another Rainy season in Northern Virginia. We just had another heavy rain this week and my basement still remains dry as a bone. The repairs put into place by Basement Detective in 2015 are still working as promised. Also, I forgot to mention in my first post years ago that the Work was and is guaranteed. If you have moisture Basement issues, give these guys a call. Best contractors I have ever worked with since moving into our home in 2006. read more

We had an interior perimeter drain put in our basement after flooding during the heavy rains of July. We also had our old window wells changed. From the foreman to everyone on the team, they were friendly, professional, honest, and answered all questions and concerns. They explained how the system worked. They were meticulous in protecting and covering everything in the basement we couldn't remove to shield it from dust and debris. They cleaned up each day so well you wouldn't even know they were there. The foreman Carlos was a true professional in every sense of the word and we can see why there are so many other good reviews. The owner Tony was very responsive to all our questions from our first meeting through construction and inspection process. If I could give 6 stars I would. If you have any basement issues don't hesitate to go with Basement Detective. read more

We had nothing but good experiences with this company - from the person who answered the phone who was very friendly, helpful, and reassuring (which is a plus when you have a leak in your basement and you're already worried about what's wrong) to Roland, the technician who came out to look at our basement. He actually came out for a follow-up consultation as well, and both times he was very helpful and good at explaining what was going on. Our leak ended up being a problem not in their wheelhouse, but Roland still helped us figure out what was wrong and told us a few things we could do on our own to fix it. We'll definitely call them again if we have another leak! read more

My house experienced a significant problem with the drainage in the basement, especially around the antiquated sump pump containment areas struggling to remove incoming water. A call to Basement Detective, with the working knowledge of the company's expert Carlos, proved to be my problem's answer. Carlos explained to me clearly the process to rectify and improve the inefficient system I had inherited when buying the house. His recommendations were spot on without the embellishments of performing any unnecessary steps to inflate the price of the proposed project. Once agreed upon, Carlos' crew went to work and spent a ton of sweat equity to achieve the anticipated goals. Now I can honestly say my drainage problem has been solved--and without having to take a second mortgage to pay for it. If you're experiencing any basement water problems, Carlos and his crew are the people who can solve the wet situation and do it at a reasonable cost. read more

Great customer service and extremely knowledgeable! I called over the weekend and they immediately got me scheduled for a Monday inspection. After examining the basement problem areas, they were able to diagnose the issue, comprehensively explain the problem, and they recommended several options. I definitely recommend Basement Detectives! read more