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Desert Dry Waterproofing
Founded 1968 • With Angi since April 2006
Business Details
Phone Number
Address
PO Box 1519
Lorton, VA 22199
Description
Whatever your water problem, why not give us a call and schedule a no-pressure professional inspection? We'll figure out the source of the problem, explain to you what causes it, and discuss your various options are for solving it. We'll never push for an overblown one-size-fits-all cookie-cutter contract
Verified Reviews
A few reviews for this pro...
Naomi P.
02/02/2016
I had received quotes from three other waterproofing companies for moisture coming through the wall and causing paint bubbles. They were honest and did not try to oversell me, whereas others tried to sell me on a solution that I didn't need.
Description of Work
They did waterproofing for me.
Category
basement waterproofing
Patrick D.
10/01/2015
Associated Desert Dry Waterproofing was recommended to me by word of mouth. I had to the pleasure to work with Rick and Antonio on two different occasions. Desert Dry gave me multiple options that contrasted price and longevity; they were very good at explaining the most economical solution for me needs. At no time did I feel pressured or subjected to up sales. I decided on a water proofing solution that was minimally invasive to the structure while retaining a warranty. The work was performed on time and within budget. Based on my experience with them I intend to use them Desert Dry for life.
Description of Work
A crack in the basement wall was sealed and flashed in order to stop a below grade water leak.
Category
basement waterproofing, foundation repair
Durriya A.
08/10/2015
David Reiff is great to work with. I find him very honest. His crew was likewise great to work with. I had multiple estimates from different contractors with a variety of solutions to water in my basement, which was leaking down the wall by one of the window wells. Water was also collecting in this area outside during heavy rains due to the yard having settled over the years, a leaky gutter(fixed separately), and a leaky window well. David had an original solution that was minimally disruptive to the house and yard. Based on his years of experience in this line of work, he told me what he thought would work and what he thought I didn't need that others had suggested. He surmised that for my particular issues I did not need a french drain system inside the basement, and that I did not need to regrade the entire yard. His unique idea, after looking at the lay of our land, was where to put a second swale, to ensure that water moved away from the house. The other contractors who gave me estimates knew the problem, but came up with more cumbersome solutions in order to be able to guarantee their work. I am very happy with the work David's crew performed and with the results. He gave me a ten year guarantee on the work. (I have heard that swales in this area tend to need to be redone after 10 years.) The March and June rains this year were the true test, and the swales worked fabulously. I am grateful.
Description of Work
Desert Dry replaced two window wells and created a set of two swales, some in the grass, some with stones, to ensure water moved away from the back of the house.
Category
basement waterproofing
Eva H.
02/20/2015
Desert Dry did an assessment of our water issue in the basement, which appeared to be due to hydrostatic pressure from below. They suggested installing a sump pump in a corner of the house. Other contractors, suggested larger fixes that included adding extensive drain systems and would have been much more expensive. Desert Dry's position was that we should try the simpler solution first. I appreciated the effort to keep costs reasonable and only consider the more expensive fix later, if deemed necesssary. We had water in our basement again 9 months later. They came out and checked things out. The sump pump was working properly and the issue was completely unrelated (a neighbor w/ a leaking pipe). They did not charge for the visit.
Description of Work
Installed a sump pump
Category
basement waterproofing, wells, drain pipe
Dr. John E.
02/20/2015
My daughter's townhouse has had water infiltrating her basement in the past. We had it fixed by another contractor but the sump pump that was installed runs almost constantly. I called Desert Dry to find out what the problem was. Desert Dry arrived on time and quickly diagnosed the problem. The previous company did not install a "check valve" to prevent water from flowing backwards; that is, water pumped out of the sump was flowing back into the sump as soon as the pump turns off. My daughter was told to buy a check valve for less than $5.00 and "have Dad fix it". A plumber would charge $125.00 for the visit and work. I am pleasantly stunned by the professionalism and integrity of the company.
Description of Work
BOTTOM LINE: Desert Dry diagnosed my daughter's problem for free; told her she didn't have big problem; and, did not take advantage her.
Category
basement waterproofing
Darla C.
10/02/2014
My client is too busy to call. I am calling for her. If my client called for an appointment no charge. But since I am a realtor, the cost would be $200 for an inspection. My advice: Just charge a fee for an inspection that is reasonable, like $29 like Michael & Sons does. No need to get ridiculous because you don't want the business or don't want business from realtors.
Description of Work
I am a realtor. I tried to set up a waterproofing estimate for my client.
Category
basement waterproofing
Nathan H.
08/24/2014
Due to some basement flooding we called and asked for a quote from Desert Dry for either an interior or exterior water management solution. Bob the operations manager came out and did a great job explaining the options for our house. In our case he recommended digging out the exterior, sealing the foundation and installing a drain at the base. In our case the quote was somewhat lower than most because our house is on a hill and needed less digging toward the back. Bob was on time, knowledgable and made good recommendations. This was good advice, no hard sell here. The Falls Church area had just experienced lots of storms so we had to wait several weeks before the work could begin, but this was understandable given that this company gets a lot busier after lots of rain. On the scheduled day Bob showed up again with the crew manager Rimberto and several workers. They got right down to business and worked all day. The job was scheduled for 2-3 days and they were able to stay a little late on day 2 to avoid coming back for a third day. Since the foundation of my house was exposed after the first day they left the hole secured with a temporary fence and tarp which I appreciated since I have small children who would have just loved to explore (fall in) the dangerous work site. When I arrived home from work on the second day they were finishing up and Rimberto took some time to go over all the things they had done. They also included a window well and drain that was not in the original quote for no extra charge. Cleanup after the job was complete was excellent as well. We haven't yet had enough rain to know for sure whether the solution worked but based on what I saw I am confident they did a good job. Also, they offer a 15 year guarantee and they have been in business long enough that I believe they can honor it if needed.
Description of Work
Dug out house foundation, sealed exterior wall, installed drain at foundation base and filled everything back in
Category
basement waterproofing, drain pipe, foundation repair
Jennifer A.
03/01/2014
JT was great. He came to the house and spent a lot of time looking at the water problems and going over different solutions. He was very conscious of not doing excessive work, keeping costs down but meeting our needs, and not creating a lot of repair work to existing flooring and the basement bathroom. He gave me three separate estimates for three different courses of action, all with reasonable prices. His crew was able to get the work done in a day and a half, they were punctual, courteous and very good with clean up and keeping me informed on how the work was going. I would definitely recommend Desert Dry for water proofing work.
Description of Work
Installed a trough drain outside of basement door, installed two sump pumps with water powered back up, ran pipes to the street to carry water away from house.
Category
basement waterproofing
Charles H.
12/17/2013
The price was reasonable and right in line with other quotes we got. The estimate Bob gave us was exactly what we paid. The service was friendly and professional. They did a great job and cleaned up well. It was probably cleaner after they left!
Description of Work
They installed a sump pump and a drainage system inside right before a big rain!
Category
wells
Dennis S.
10/27/2013
Overall, it was not a positive experience. I would, however. give high compliments to the sales associate, Bob D. He came out a few times to the home and was genuinely interested in trying to find a low cost solution to the water problem. He was also responsive to phone calls and emails. The major problem was with the installation team led by Rimberto. The job was supposed to be done in several hours but it required almost two days. He did not place the sump pump and outside drain as indicated in the signed contract. After drilling a hole in the outside concrete wall, he then had to fill it in order to vent the drain in another location. Also, during the installation and removal of drywall, his team cut an electrical cord.resulting in power failure to part of the home. Rimberto was difficult to work with and defensive when questions were asked. His team, however, did clean up the debris and there was no mess to clean up. I contacted Antonio, the supervisor, who was responsive. He brought in a third party electrician to fix the problem the next day. He also did a quality control check by filling the sump pump with water to see if it drained properly. At this point, we have not had a heavy rainfall so I can not evaluate if the sump pump installation provides the solution to the water leakage.
Description of Work
Installed sump pump and drain in basement level of home.
Category
basement waterproofing
Michelle H.
09/23/2013
Out of the four estimates from contractors specialized in waterproofing basement (all contractors were found on Angie's list--with estimates ranging between $3,400-$5,600), Desert Dry was the second best. However, Donald Fox could grasp the issue very quickly as Desert Dry has a long experience in waterproofing basements in the District. He explained thoroughly the issue, which resulted from a construction option when the house was built some 80 years ago. Donald advised a course of action to remove the existing tile and vinyl flooring. He also had a smart solution for the discharge line, and for the placement of the sump pump. We called Donald several times and he was responsive, matching all our questions patiently. The team arrived promptly as announced at 9:30am, they worked tirelessly until 7:30pm. The foreman was extremely experienced and lead a team of another two. They worked nicely together, and knew exactly what to do. They sealed the vents, protected the appliances and other cabinets. They were all extremely polite and considerate, and tolerated us around....The working trench was ready quickly and debris removed to their truck. While Donald had indicated that the drywall would have to be ripped off, the team managed to get the protective waterproof sheet behind it, and there was minimal damage to the walls. They then filled the trench with gravel and cemented it. The discharge line was installed quite quickly, without excessively damaging the masonry. As we asked for a demo of the sump pump, they filled it with water and let it run in front of us. The yard was left in clean order, all tools, gravels, and construction material removed. Desert Dry managed to minimize our stress. The team had all the project well in hand from start to finish.
Description of Work
After the Sandy storm, we started having water sipping in our basement, creating molds and damaging walls. We had to excavate the concrete floor of the basement contiguous to two perpendicular walls (24 and 12 feet), install a drain, waterproofing sheets, and install a sump pump.
Category
basement waterproofing
Roger W.
08/09/2013
Rick Rethage was a pleasure to work with, very personable, very professional and knows the waterproofing business inside and out. He worked within our schedule and stayed in contact with us up to the time the work was scheduled. The crew arrived as scheduled and finished the job on time as promised. They covered everything securely before they started the work and left the areas clean and tidy when they were finished. Great Job! Very pleased.
Description of Work
Installed 50' french drain and second sump pump in basement and a second french drain across the opening of the garage
Category
basement waterproofing, wells
carla B.
07/22/2013
Edna D.
01/29/2013
They were very very good, obviously understood the problem and corrected it.
Description of Work
After extensive rain the window well would overflow into the basement because the ground in the bottom had become hard as concrete . To solve the problem several large pails of hard red clay dirt were removed from the bottom of the window well and replaced with a more porous dirt mixture. Small stones were placed on top of the dirt mixture. The window well sides next to the house were then sealed with Polyurethane caulking eliminating the possibility of water entering from the sides. At first I thought they were a little skimpy in the amounts of rocks placed over the dirt but after a few rain storms concluded they were adequate. Two companies I had look at the problem suggested a sump pump. A big project . I believe the gemtleman's name diagnosing the best way to solve the problem is Jose Antonio Pedrazas. The workers were efficient, orderly and clean. If I have any drainage problems in the future, I will definitely call Desert Dry of Alexandria.
Category
landscaping, remodeling, basement waterproofing
Carol P.
04/04/2012
They were not able to come for several weeks to do the estimate, which was fine with me. He was very thorough with the examination. He gave me a complete explanation with what he thought the causes were for the problem. I was very pleased with the information and his thoroughness.
Description of Work
They came in to give an estimate for a cracked wall and water seepage.
Category
basement waterproofing
Denise K.
02/09/2012
I wouldn't recommend them at all. I called them and a they sent a guy out to give me an extimate and he said he would call within three days he never called back. I called the company several times and never got a response back. They never did give me an estimate I would grade them very poorly.
Description of Work
The came to give an extimate for waterproofing and installing a sump pump.
Category
basement waterproofing, wells
Daniel D.
01/21/2012
I requested a quote for Basement Waterproofing from Desert Dry, as they had done some work on my house when it belonged to the previous owner. I received other quotes, but Desert Dry seemed to be the cheapest, partially because they had installed a sump pump and drains under the houses slab back in 2005.We had some flooding during the 2 hurricanes in the fall (Irene, and.. I forget now...). But the flooding happened in places where Desert Dry, had not installed drains. Where they had installed drains, it was bone dry. This was a good sign, and if I could extend their drain system I thought I could finally be done with flooding. They came promptly that day and put up plastic sheets on doorways and flooring to keep the debris contained. They ripped up the concrete slab ( its a floating slab), and installed an extra 61 feet of drain tubing and connected it to the exiasting system. They also drilled weep holes into the concrete blocks of the walls adjacent to the drain tubing. It looks very well done, and for the amount of work that had to be done ( 3 guys worked a solid 2 days), it wasn't that expensive. THey also laid in the black egg carton shaped black plastic liner, from the top of the slab to the drains, so that IF the room were to flood, the water could go straight through that down to the drains. I'm going to put hardwood flooring into that room now and feel confident doing so.On teh last day, the workmen, also told us about other drainage problems that the house had. He walked around the house and pointed out some improvements we could make. Then he spotted a burried column of cinder blocks and poured a bucket of water into them and it came right out at the drains and into eh sump pump. Not good. SO he dug them out adn filled up the void, at no extra charge!!! Very nice guys, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND these guys.
Description of Work
I have an existing Sump pump and drain system installed by Desert Dry back in 2005, by the house's previous owner. I had some flooding in places that the drain system didn't cover, so I wanted to extend the Drain system into these areas. Desert Dry, came in and ripped out the floating slab along the walls, and added 61 feet of drains. They also drilled weep holes in the concrete blocks that are the walls. They then laid in a plastic egg carton shaped plastic material (more on that below) and poured in concrete to complete the installation.
Category
basement waterproofing
Mardrey A.
12/13/2011
We are SOOOO impressed with Rick and this company, we would recommend them to anyone!! They know what they're doing, and do a nice, neat job (as neat as they could, considering the state of the basement when they started.) Best of all, last Wednesday (the 7th of December) we had a HUGE amount of rain; guess what? Not a drop of rain came inside the house, and the sump pump took care of EVERYTHING; we didn't even have our outside stairwell fill with water like it had done for 20+ years, thanks to their recommending a new drain/grate that drained the water into the newly-added drain to the sump pump. WHY WHY WHY didn't we do this after the first flood? I guess we were just in denial. Call these people; they're the BEST!!!
Description of Work
We had been having flooding periodically in our basement for years, and had taken several steps to try to alleviate the problem, to no avail. With the hurricane/storms in the fall, we ended up with several inches of water in the basement, and realized we HAD to do something. We called several local waterproofing contractors, all of which were crazy busy after the recent rains. One quoted price was half again as much as Desert Dry's estimate, while the other one was in the ballpark, but it seemed like he was waffling about when the work could be done. We got the impression he would take another job if it was worth more money, so we scratched him off the list, too. My husband spoke with Rick at Desert Dry last, and was really impressed by his knowledge, and his solution to the problem. We spoke to him in early October, and he advised us that he wouldn't be able to start our "inside perimeter sub-floor drainage system with a sump pump and outside stairwell drain" until November 21st. We said great, we'll live with the mess until then. Rick told my husband that he could save som money by doing some of the removal work himself (a HUGE factor in the time savings, too; if they had to come and move books and furniture, rugs, flooring, etc., it would have doubled the time needed to accomplish the job.) The Friday before the Monday they were to start, we received a call and were told there would be a one day delay in the start time, due to a job running later than anticipated, so they didn't start on Monday, but they did start Tuesday morning, as promised, and, just as Rick said it would, it took them three FULL days, but they finished up on Friday evening. Considering they jackhammered the basement around the full perimeter of the house, laid a drainpipe in there, removed a lot of ruined drywall, and installed a sump pump as well as re-cementing everything again, it was a huge job done in a really short time.
Category
excavators, basement waterproofing, foundation repair
Den K.
12/07/2011
The job went well and the crew worked into the late evening. We had heavy rain while they were working and they noticed some seepage up higher on the wall. Antonio made a special trip to look at the problem and took time to show me where the problem was and the crew took care of the issue. They quickly repaired the wall area and removed the insulation that was getting wet. I highly recommend this company since they believe in doing the right thing and fixing the problem.
Description of Work
I have experience water leaking near the floor on one wall. Rick came out and assessed the problem and focused on the 13 ft problem area. Others wanted to dig up most of the basement costing $$$. The recommendation was 2 window well taps with a sump pump while addressing the seepage where the floor and the wall meet.
Category
basement waterproofing, wells
deborah K.
10/10/2011
They came when they were supposed to. They were the cleanest and neatest crew doing the dirtiest possible job imaginable. They had to dig up the front of my house, and I have professional landscape. They placed it on sheets in my driveway and even watered it during the day to make sure that when they replaced it, everything was going to be fine. When they left here at 8:30 at night, they had completely cleaned and replanted. It hasn’t rained, and I am going to hope and pray that my house doesn’t leak anymore. I hope I don’t have to use them again, but if I needed to, I would use them. I would rate them highly and would recommend them.
Description of Work
I used Desert-Dry Waterproofing Contractors for waterproofing work.
Category
basement waterproofing
kathleen C.
09/09/2011
Obtained his recommendations on what a handyman should do to correct the problem but basically a waste of time.
Description of Work
Called the company to obtain an estimate for water coming into the basement through a wall where a gas line was installed for the conversion of my fireplace to gas. While the salesman seemed knowledgeable, he totally ignored my particular issue with a long explanation of how to test for problems (that I didn't have) until I insisted that he look at what I told him the problem was. He finally agreed with my analysis but ended up telling me that the job was too small. Unless you have a job that's $2500 or more, don't bother with this company.
Category
basement waterproofing
Walairat B.
08/20/2011
Antonio came to look at my basement and my sloping backyard. He gave me a good recommendation. It turns out that I don't need the french drain. We can only adjust the slope of the land to get the water away from the foundation. So we don't need to get the service from them
Description of Work
Estimate for french drain on my backyard
Category
basement waterproofing
Linda S.
07/12/2011
Working with Bob Dugan, Desert Dry Waterproofing, ph: 703-550-8702, was a real pleasure and relief. He was patient beyond expectation in handling difficulties in permit approvals with the local governing system. He went out of his way to meet and work with the landscaper to place the systems in the best possible location. With unexpected delays beyond our control, he still got the job done quickly. The work was professional and neat and clean. I just should have done this years ago. To get the job done right, I would highly recommend this company.
Description of Work
Installed a subfloor pressure relief system in the perimeter of the basement with sump pump discharged to rear yard.
Category
remodeling, basement waterproofing, drain pipe
LAURA G.
07/06/2011
The crew arrived on time. They went over the job with me, and got right to work. The French drain was dug around the back area of the house and out through the side yard. It was a hot, hard job and they worked straight through to completion. They put everything back the way it was. They were polite, professional, and very, very, hard working. I thought this group was terrific.
Description of Work
The company installed a French drain.
Category
remodeling, drain pipe
Sharon S.
10/29/2010
Work was finished in a week. Workers arrived on time or called if there was a delay.
Description of Work
One corner of my basement was wet from the ceiling down midway to the floor. Desert Dry was the third contractor I called for an estimate. They diagnosed the problem and how to fix immediately. They also guaranteed that the basement cinder blocks would dry out. They trenched the outside area approximately 10' x 4' x 2'. Waterproofed and sealed the exterior walls and installed a 30' drainpipe from a downspout
Category
excavators, basement waterproofing, drain pipe
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Service Categories
General Remodeling
Licensing
Licensed
Bonded
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All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves.To find more licensing information for your state, visit our Find Licensing Requirements page.
General Information
Free Estimates
Yes
Eco-Friendly Accreditations
No
Payment Options
Check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
Warranties
Yes
Services Offered
Drain tile systems, backhoe excavation, sump pumps, foundation coating, underpinning, structural supports, landscaping corrections, swales, retaining walls, exterior/interior waterproofing & window wells, battery backup pump systems, water-powered backup pump systems.
Services Not Offered
Ask for details
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers about Desert Dry Waterproofing
How is Desert Dry Waterproofing overall rated?
Desert Dry Waterproofing is currently rated 4.6 overall out of 5.
What days are Desert Dry Waterproofing open?
Desert Dry Waterproofing is open:
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
What payment options does Desert Dry Waterproofing provide
Desert Dry Waterproofing accepts the following forms of payment: Check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
Does Desert Dry Waterproofing offer free estimates?
Yes, Desert Dry Waterproofing offers free project estimates.
Does Desert Dry Waterproofing offer eco-friendly accreditations?
No, Desert Dry Waterproofing does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
Are warranties offered by Desert Dry Waterproofing?
Yes, Desert Dry Waterproofing offers warranties.
What services does Desert Dry Waterproofing offer?
Desert Dry Waterproofing offers the following services: Drain tile systems, backhoe excavation, sump pumps, foundation coating, underpinning, structural supports, landscaping corrections, swales, retaining walls, exterior/interior waterproofing & window wells, battery backup pump systems, water-powered backup pump systems.