Waterproofing Choices

Leaky basements are one of the four major sources of builder callbacks, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In fact, a 1983 NAHB survey showed that 88 percent of all builders questioned had received calls on leaky basements at some point in their careers — and that 80 percent of home owners questioned would spend an extra $400 to have their basements guaranteed not to leak. Furthermore, a 1981 survey by Owens- Corning of more than 31,000 families nationwide showed that 44 percent of the basements in new homes leaked, as did 60 percent of existing basements. According to engineer Brent Anderson, whose September 1985 article in Progressive Builder is the source of these statistics,