"I was extremely impressed with the very fine service I recieved from J.E.S. Foundation Repair, Salem, Va. They installed a French drain behind my house and across a portion of my yard in Oct. 2021. They were very professional and courteous from the rep they sent to assess the situation to the very efficient appointment updates as to when they would start the job. The crew called ahead when they were on the way and arrived right on time and also finished the job on time. Names of the crew as follows: Forman : Nathan Patterson and Calvin Coffee Co-Formen : Luke Morris, James Spencer, and Joseph Reid Installer : Antonius " Venom " Campbell All very respectful , efficient, and courteous workers and were very carefull not to damage my property as they worked."
"Good people to work with, professional in every way. Normally when we received 2" of rain water would start entering the basement. When we receive 3" the basement floor would be covered. Two days after installing their system our area received 8.5" of rain and our basement remained dry, not a drop got in the house. These guys know what they are doing."
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet your needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job. Over 45 years collective experience.
"The gentlemen were kind, courteous and respectful. As I mention above, my slab was 8ft by 16 ft. Along one 16ft edge, the slab had dropped by about 4 inches. I don't know when it was installed, but I would guess it was part of the original construction (1954), and was enclosed probably in the 70s. The gentlemen arrived with 1 2ft bubble level and 2 digital levels which were perhaps 1ft in length. From there, they proceeded to place their 2 ft level so that its end touched the 16ft edge, the opposite end parallel to the 8ft dimension. They raised the level so the buble was centered and marked the adjacent brick wall about 1 inch up from its base. Did I mention the slab is 8 ft wide in the parallel dimension to their level? Did I mention the slab had dropped about 4 inches along that 16ft edge? I suggested they use my 4 ft level instead, which they really didn't, relying in their 2dt and 1ft levels instead. They raised the dropped edge about 2 inched, and the whole slab about one inch, resulting in the edge which was down 4 inches, being down only 3 inches now. At this point, cracks began to precipitate in the slab, so they suggested we stop, which I agreed. Then they suggested my 4ft level was inaccurate, and that their 2ft level was more accurate, reporting the slab only slightly out of level. At that point, I stacked their level on top of mine, and demonstrated that their level centered the bubble before mine did, but when my bubble was centered, so was theirs; their level was inaccurate with respect to mine! In the end I was told that, once the foam was fully cured, I could get a subsequent leveling. Unfortunately, they had no more open appointments until March. Meanwhile, that slab was under my laundry room, which I removed, temporarily supporting the roof with beams on the surrounding ground, and engineered joists. Since I'd rather wash my clothes at home than wait til March, I decided to level the build a floor over the slab instead, as the foundation for the new laundry room structure (enclosing the plumbing for the laundry room might also prove useful when the outside temperature falls below freezing soon). To be fair, when the job was quoted, I asked about the ability to lift the entire structure, and was assured that wouldn't be a problem, so the guy who quoted the job did not know I would tear the structure down. However, he surely knew there was a chance the slab would crack, and that if it did, they would not be able to address the remainder of the leveling until March. My general review is this: * Admit to the problems which could occur up front so that the consumer can make a wise choice, rather than selling the job with promises of making the slab level. I have no doubt that, give the time, they could make it level. But starting the job in October, and finishing it in March is not acceptable. * Have proper equipment and train your people to use it. Showing up with a 2ft bubble level and 1 ft digital levels, then not understanding that the lift indicated by a 2ft level, when brought to level, is only 1/4th the lift needed for an 8ft span is rank naivete on levels and similar triangles. Not knowing that the pinch of the vile, (or likely the curve, in the vile is offset to one edge, as their 2fter was) determines the accuracy of the level was just the final blow for my assessment of their competence. The fact that I wound up doing exactly what I was trying to avoid; build a wooden platform which was level on top of the sloped slab, makes it seem like a complete waste of $1700 to have them come to my house. I only hope that the result of the foam pumping is that any voids under the slab were filled, and that it now has a foundation under it which will not erode further. I am certain they do fine work, and the price I paid was in line with what i was expecting. The workmanship and apparent level of competence, however, was disappointing."
"Carpet cleaning was great. They did a real nice job, quick and efficient. They were very easy to communicate with and gave me a heads up before showing up. Definitely recommend these guys if you need your carpet cleaned."
"Mr Delgado has a natural instinct for restoring furniture to its optimal appearance. He is an artist. He repaired a pair of huanghwali northern hat chairs for me, and then I sent them to auction and they made $25k. He has restored a series of other pieces of furniture for me, and I don't believe it would have been possible to do better. He restored a Renaissance revival server for me, and I gave him its mate in gratitude. He picks up and delivers, all with an old-world charm that you no longer find in his business."
"I didn't have work done, but I called to find out about getting an inspection for mold in my house based on a previous leak. I told the person that I wanted to see if they would be able to better a previous quote from another company. I was told I could pay $325 for a mold test or I could have them come out for a $95 service call for them to assess the area and that would come off the total of the estimate if I have the work done. They didn't seem very eager to help and were not overly friendly. Maybe I'm just looking for some better customer service."
"Slow draining tub, a toilet that just won't flush, and some back flow when using the dishwasher left us thinking we just had a major clog. To our surprise, it was a collapsed sewer line that needed to be replaced. While there was a 1 week wait due to the time of year and the demands they were expecting, we were more than happy to wait the week. Work went quickly and smoothly, and was far less intrusive than we anticipated. Their staff even wore shoe coverings when coming into the house! Only some minor clean up work was required once they left, which appeared to be an oversight when they cleaned up. Everything else was back to normal after they left and no problems since."
Yes, sewage smells can originate from a floor drain. If the P-Trap in the floor drain dries out or if there's a clog or other issue in the plumbing system, sewer gasses can escape through the drain, causing nasty odors. Regularly pouring water into the drain helps maintain the water seal and prevent those smells, but if the smell persists, you should have a plumbing professional inspect the drain for potential problems.
If you want to avoid using a snake to unclog a drain, or if you don’t have one, try vinegar and baking soda. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Wait for 15 minutes, and then run hot water (but not boiling water) down the drain to see if the clog is clear. Repeat multiple times as needed.
The first rule of plumbing is nothing but water, toilet paper, number one, and number two go down the drain.
To prevent clogs, get yourself:
A compast pail where you can clean plates, drain grease, and toss scraps and paper towels.
Drain screens for the shower, tub, and bathroom sink to stop hair, jewelry, toys, etc. from going down the drain.
Trash cans for everything that shouldn’t go down the drain, like dental floss, hygiene products, and cat litter.
Some homeowners use additives every month to help septic system performance, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the effectiveness of septic system and leach field additives is unknown. Further, additives made with organic solvents or alkali chemicals can actually be harmful to the necessary bacteria in a septic system.
Avoid flushing non-degradable items, schedule regular inspections, and address minor clogs promptly.
The Independence, VA homeowners’ guide to french drain services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
A French drain costs around $9,250 to install, but several factors will determine the final price you pay. Learn the cost to install French drains in this guide.
You’ve decided on a French drain system but need to determine whether the drain holes should face up or down. Our guide can point you in the right direction—literally.
French drains help keep water away from the interior and exterior of your home. There are three different French drains to choose from, based on where water collects.