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United Waterproofing review: They are liars 17

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4:00 am EST
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United waterproofing from Dover NJ used to be the main waterproofing installers for mid atlantic waterproofing and aqua dri. . . They are one the reasons that mid atlanic and aqua dri have complaints on the bbb. I happened to find out by mistake and called these companies and they provided me with mountains of proof! United waterproofing now has two sale people steve scarfo and jeanne bradbury working for them. They used to work for both mid atlantic and aqua dri. . Steve scarfo now tells potential customers like me that he is the owner of united waterproofing not isella chavez or her husband giovanni. . It is amazing how this company can go into a home with a clear conscience and bash all of the other companies when they themselves have a bunch of skeletons in their closet! They tell you that they have been in business for years but if you contact their former employers the will be able to show you proof that united waterproofing was install for aqua dri up until april of 2010. . These people are very shady and liars at that operating with salesman that were fired by aqua dri nad mid atlantic. . Before you let them in call aqua dri and mid atlantic

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United Waterproofing - Thrifty
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17 comments
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Mike McCall973
, US
Mar 13, 2019 11:51 am EDT

I had a horrible experience with united waterproofing. When Steve first showed up to give an estimate i showed him a crack in my floor that had black murky water coming out of it which also had a sewage smell to it. Steve stated several times that from the signs he was seeing, this water was 100% ground water. On the day of the install as soon as Giovanni stepped into my basement He noticed the smell and black water. He stated that i have a sewage problem. After i told him what Steve had told me, he called steve right away. After he got off the phone he told me that maybe Steve couldn't smell the sewage smell because he is an older gentleman and maybe his sense of smell is not as good as it used to be. After Giovanni convinced me that the signs he was seeing stated that i did have a ground water problem along with a possible sewage issue we decided to start the work anyway. That was a big mistake! When he jack hammered the floor up, he uncovered a 2 inch cast iron pipe that was rotted away. When he showed me this, i asked him if now seeing this pipe is damaged does he even think i have a ground water problem? He could not look me in the face and answer me. At this point it was way too late to have them stop the work. I would never recommend this company to anyone. All he cared about was getting a days work out of me. $5400 later and i have a french drain and sump pump system that i will never need. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY

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Julia 2018
, US
Jun 18, 2018 2:01 pm EDT

I was very satisfied with their professionalism and work ethics. They were thorough and completed the work in a timely manner. Once the work was completed, I received a call indicating that $1, ooo because the work was less than expected. I truly appreciated their honesty. I would highly recommend this company. Julia

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The one777
old bridge, US
Dec 28, 2012 7:38 am EST

This was by far the best experience with a service provider... Everything was done as described. The work began and ended on time and was completed in one day. The workmen were very organized. Everyone seemed to have an assignment and no time was wasted. The operation was very impressive. The workman took care to drape the house against the dust that the work produced and left everything in perfect order when they left. And the best thing is, my basement has been dry ever since the work took place. I have already recommended them to a friend who also had the same experience. This company is excellent in every way: high standards and customer service. Having the basement waterproofed by United is an excellent investment.

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The one777
old bridge, US
Dec 28, 2012 7:40 am EST

Basement waterproofing is hard, dirty work involving lots of jackhammering, broken up concrete, concrete dust, and cold muddy silt. United Waterproofing showed up on time with a large crew, business owner and supervisor explained exactly what to expect, and everyone got to work immediately. Every man worked quickly, efficiently and with a good attitude, installing a first-rate waterproofing system in my large basement in just one day while doing everything to avoid disruption. I was especially impressed that Owner showed initiative and practicality by rerouting the discharge for two powerful new sump pumps (previously, water discharged into my side yard, creating a bog for much of the year). He also removed a damaged 40s-vintage concrete and zinc laundry sink that I'd been wondering how to get rid of (it weighed a TON). Moreover, when I had a question four months after the waterproofing, The Owner came by personally to inspect the section of basement I was concerned about and offer suggestions for addressing it. Very impressive work and superior customer service.

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Smith 21
Mine Hill, US
Dec 28, 2012 12:15 pm EST

Waterproofing of entire ground level including family room, workroom, and garage; replaced partial sheet rock wall; replaced cracked cement in garage; mold correction.
I cannot praise this company highly enough. From first contact to completion the people we worked with were highly professional. Steve came, inspected the basement and with photos and video showed us exactly what was wrong and how they could fix it. We had planned to have only part of the basement waterproofed, but he showed us why we needed the entire area done and this was not "overselling"--he was absolutely correct! When they opened the floor in an area we were not going to include, water immediately seeped into the trench. He clearly knew what he was talking about. The workmen came on time and were also highly professional. We knew in advance exactly what was going to be done and when (so we could plan our schedules around the jack hammering!). They were neat, clean and did the work in a timely fashion. I was so pleased that I greeted them with coffee each morning feeling like I was welcoming friends to our home. The first evening, my husband was concerned about the setting of the sump pump. The Owner came immediately even though it was late and readjusted the setting. The basement is dry. The odor is gone. The professionalism of his staff and Owner’s work ethic remind us of how things were when we were growing up -- people took pride in and stood behind their work. They might be a bit pricier than other companies, but it is absolutely worth it!

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The Difference
Mine Hill, US
Dec 28, 2012 12:36 pm EST

Very honest and not at all pushy. Told me I did not need their service because I have masonry issues that must be addressed first. After speaking with them I had only one more estimate who was honest and told me the same thing. Everyone I spoke to BEFORE talking to United Waterproofing was ready to sell me a $12, 000 system for my crawl space! This company was very honest.

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My son's house
Rockaway, US
Dec 28, 2012 12:51 pm EST

This project was done on my son's house in Westfield, NJ. United waterproofed all basement walls. Installed a french drain system throughout - including piping, weep holes and pumping system. They left the entire area spotless and ready for the next contractor to complete the project which include installing dry wall, spackling and clean-up
After helping to bail out my son's basement twice in four (4) years, he decided it was time to spend the money and gave a French Drain system installed. I recommended he try United, as they were on the Good Guy list from Angie's. It was a great experience for all of us! They interviewed several prospective contractors. The prices ranged all over the place. The representatives were also all over the lot - it was obvious some looked at them like a prospective customer looking for help and a good experience, while others looked at them like chickens ready to be plucked! United was in the former category and did not disappoint. Obviously, the final test will be the next gully washer that comes along in the early spring or later. They are optimistic!

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Jacob M
Bayonne, US
Feb 27, 2014 3:55 pm EST

Know that we did a
lot of research, because in NJ everyone and their brother knows a waterproofing
company, and they all have slick pitches and a wide range of prices. It came
down to two companies, and we chose this one (which was not the cheaper one)
because Steve's approach made the most sense, and he had very strong references
and awards (Angie's List, BBB, etc.).

The water situation in our basement was deteriorating with each rainstorm.
Water would come in at several points along the perimeter, but also bust up
through the concrete in the middle. With each storm, I had to go downstairs
with a wet vac and a broom-like squeegee, and try to get as much water as I
could into what seemed like a civil war-era sump pump.

Steve took the time to explain things to us, and showed us a helpful video that
explains why he uses his own material to line the trenches. Compared to the
average Joe, I feel like something of an expert now -- and I knew absolutely
nothing before.

Steve came out twice before the actual work day. Part of their job involved
removing part of a sewer pipe -- so they could get at the bottom of the wall
behind it -- and replacing it with PVC. They also dealt with what might have
been a leaky water main.

Steve only uses HIS guys -- no subcontracting to amateurs -- and his electric
and plumbing specialists were highly professional, very experienced, and have
been working with him for a long time.

In short, he knew what he was doing, and did it right.

On the day of the work, nearly 12 guys came, moved and covered all my basement
stuff themselves, and did all the work in ONE DAY. They discovered the long
root of one of my big trees in the yard was actually snaking under the house,
causing water to come up and break through the concrete. They removed it and
put the lateral pipe in there.

The two brand new sump pumps look great. They also created new spouts on the
outside to lead water not just out of the house, but away from it.

They cleaned up beautifully. Sammye and the rest of the administrative staff at
United are a pleasure to work with. The foreman was also terrific.

Obviously, it hasn't been that long since the work, but I haven't seen a drop
of water down there, and never expect to.

I recommend United without reservation. They do it right

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KarenDy
Union, US
Mar 29, 2014 10:06 am EDT

I had an abandoned oil tank removed from under my driveway, which driveway runs along the chimney side foundation of my home. It was a normal excavation with no problems. The site was properly back filled and patched with asphalt. Subsequent to that job, every time there was a torrential flash-flood type downpour, my basement took on water. I have owned my home for 12 years and never had a drop of water in my basement. After many months of contacting numerous companies on a solution to the problem, including an interior drain solution and exterior waterproofing solutions, the tank removal company, and ultimately an engineer, I hired United Waterproofing to install a sump pump and french drain along 43 feet of the interior perimeter of my basement foundation.
I should also mention that I performed extensive research for several months before having any company dig up the basement floor of my 1928 home. I wanted an exterior waterproofing solution, but it was discovered by an engineer that I hired that my chimney did not go through to the bottom of the footings so it would have been very costly as you cannot dig under it.
Anyway, I dealt with Ron from United, who was incredibly responsive to all my questions and made the trip out to my home several times to go over many questions I had as I was extremely concerned about damage to my foundation. I signed the contract and the date was set. Permits were acquired by United and the workers came on time. While no one wants this kind of work done to their home, if it had to be done (and it had to) I was glad it was done by United. They came in and covered the walls, floor, and furnishings with plastic, open up the floor (not as noisy as I thought it would be), installed pipes, gravel and filter fabric, drain board, etc., installed the sump and were cleaned up and gone all in one day.
It's been 9 months and the system is working flawlessly. There were a few good companies that I was considering for this work. I researched online for months the proper procedures for french drain installation and United checked off all the concern items on my list AND could perform the work in a single day.
I would not hesitate to recommend them as an outstanding company for basement waterproofing.

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KarenDy
Union, US
Mar 29, 2014 10:23 am EDT

Sales rep Vaughn Shaw came to the house and thoroughly examined the basement and assessed the problem/damage. It was a Saturday morning and he did not rush through anything. He spent more than an hour and a half with us answering our questions and concerns and explaining what would be done by the technicians. Everything he told us was right on target as the technician who arrived a few days later to do the job evaluated the situation himself and performed the job. He also explained what they would be doing. They cleaned up well afterwards and gave follow-up calls to make sure everything had been done to our satisfaction. Overall we were very satisfied from beginning to end with the job performance, their professionalism, and promptness. We would highly recommend United Waterproofing for your basement problems.

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derik caputo
, US
Jul 26, 2015 6:42 am EDT

We never had bad problems with water in the basement until after the super storms when everybody had water. From that point on, water was pooling on the floor and leaking through one wall during heavy rain. I checked United Waterproofing references on Angie's List and they seemed well recommended. I called. They came and gave an estimate and what would need to be done to make the basement waterproof. They took care of the permits for the trenching and the electrical work to be done separately if needed. The day the crew arrived to do the work, another supervisor showed up to confirm the work required to be performed. He found that there was more that needed to be done such as digging a trench around the outside basement window and adding a few more feet to the perimeter that was to be trenched for the drain. When I asked how much more that was going to cost, he said it would cost nothing more. United promised a dry basement and whatever they needed to do over and above their quote was what they would do to ensure that we got one. I was impressed and thankful. The crew was very nice and worked so hard digging and hauling out debris all day. They completed it in one full workday and left the basement clean. The office followed up regarding the electrical line which might needed for the pump and it was scheduled. Their electrician came back and added a dedicated line for an electric outlet for the sump pump. Mandatory Inspections were completed. They did an excellent job. We've had major rains since then and it has remained dry. We are very pleased with the work they did and would definitely recommend them.

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Donna1974
, US
Nov 05, 2015 11:37 am EST

We had previously paid 2 different local contractors to repair this water leak into our basement. But after every hard rain, the water was back in our basement. Finally, we found Mr. Steve Scarfo through Angie's List, and although based in Dover, NJ, a good 45 minutes to 1 hour away from our home, he was the only one listed who would service our area. We called with some trepidation, but Steve was courteous, came to our home and gave us an estimate (even though it was Thanksgiving weekend). We were able to schedule the job for the following week. Everything turned out great. The men showed up on time on the date scheduled, were extremely neat and careful with our floors and carpeting, explained each step of the process to my husband and allowed him to take photographs of the work in progress. When they needed to deviate slightly from the original plan, they explained the issue and proposed change to my husband and did not charge extra. To date we have not had a single leak and the repair job looks great. We are extremely satisfied with United Waterproofing Corp.'s work and highly recommend them. We would definitively hire them again

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JLINLUZ
Passaic Park, US
Jan 13, 2015 10:10 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I just called the business twice and was hung up on. I would say they are unprofessional and rude. I was calling to offer them a free sample of a mold remover. I their staff can not even be courteous to vendors who are offering them free product I can't even imagine how they treat customers. Seems like a very poor operation.

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Jacob M
Bayonne, US
Feb 27, 2014 3:42 pm EST

Steve and his
professional (NOT sub-contracted) team did a full french drain system on my
roughly 40' X 25' basement, including interior perimeter trench (using their
custom material, not PVC or ABS), a lateral pipe going across the basement, and
two very modern sump pumps with Plexiglas covers.
Know that we did a
lot of research, because in NJ everyone and their brother knows a waterproofing
company, and they all have slick pitches and a wide range of prices. It came
down to two companies, and we chose this one (which was not the cheaper one)
because Steve's approach made the most sense, and he had very strong references
and awards (Angie's List, BBB, etc.).

The water situation in our basement was deteriorating with each rainstorm.
Water would come in at several points along the perimeter, but also bust up
through the concrete in the middle. With each storm, I had to go downstairs
with a wet vac and a broom-like squeegee, and try to get as much water as I
could into what seemed like a civil war-era sump pump.

Steve took the time to explain things to us, and showed us a helpful video that
explains why he uses his own material to line the trenches. Compared to the
average Joe, I feel like something of an expert now -- and I knew absolutely
nothing before.

Steve came out twice before the actual work day. Part of their job involved
removing part of a sewer pipe -- so they could get at the bottom of the wall
behind it -- and replacing it with PVC. They also dealt with what might have
been a leaky water main.

Steve only uses HIS guys -- no subcontracting to amateurs -- and his electric
and plumbing specialists were highly professional, very experienced, and have
been working with him for a long time.

In short, he knew what he was doing, and did it right.

On the day of the work, nearly 12 guys came, moved and covered all my basement
stuff themselves, and did all the work in ONE DAY. They discovered the long
root of one of my big trees in the yard was actually snaking under the house,
causing water to come up and break through the concrete. They removed it and
put the lateral pipe in there.

The two brand new sump pumps look great. They also created new spouts on the
outside to lead water not just out of the house, but away from it.

They cleaned up beautifully. Sammye and the rest of the administrative staff at
United are a pleasure to work with. The foreman was also terrific.

Obviously, it hasn't been that long since the work, but I haven't seen a drop
of water down there, and never expect to.

Know that the end result is not the prettiest thing in the world, with
plastic-like material sticking out along the bottom edge of the basement to
keep the water in check, but that would go behind a wall if we finished the
basement. And we don't see any water at all. Anyone want a wet vac?

I recommend United without reservation. They do it right

J
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Jacob M
Bayonne, US
Feb 27, 2014 3:45 pm EST

Steve and his professional (NOT sub-contracted) team did a
full french drain system on my roughly 40' X 25' basement, including interior
perimeter trench (using their custom material, not PVC or ABS), a lateral pipe
going across the basement, and two very modern sump pumps with Plexiglas
covers.

Know that we did a lot of research, because in NJ everyone
and their brother knows a waterproofing company, and they all have slick
pitches and a wide range of prices. It came down to two companies, and we chose
this one (which was not the cheaper one) because Steve's approach made the most
sense, and he had very strong references and awards (Angie's List, BBB, etc.).

The water situation in our basement was deteriorating with each rainstorm.
Water would come in at several points along the perimeter, but also bust up
through the concrete in the middle. With each storm, I had to go downstairs
with a wet vac and a broom-like squeegee, and try to get as much water as I
could into what seemed like a civil war-era sump pump.

Steve took the time to explain things to us, and showed us a helpful video that
explains why he uses his own material to line the trenches. Compared to the
average Joe, I feel like something of an expert now -- and I knew absolutely
nothing before.

Steve came out twice before the actual work day. Part of their job involved
removing part of a sewer pipe -- so they could get at the bottom of the wall
behind it -- and replacing it with PVC. They also dealt with what might have
been a leaky water main.

Steve only uses HIS guys -- no subcontracting to amateurs -- and his electric
and plumbing specialists were highly professional, very experienced, and have
been working with him for a long time.

In short, he knew what he was doing, and did it right.

On the day of the work, nearly 12 guys came, moved and covered all my basement
stuff themselves, and did all the work in ONE DAY. They discovered the long
root of one of my big trees in the yard was actually snaking under the house,
causing water to come up and break through the concrete. They removed it and
put the lateral pipe in there.

The two brand new sump pumps look great. They also created new spouts on the
outside to lead water not just out of the house, but away from it.

They cleaned up beautifully. Sammye and the rest of the administrative staff at
United are a pleasure to work with. The foreman was also terrific.

Obviously, it hasn't been that long since the work, but I haven't seen a drop
of water down there, and never expect to.

Know that the end result is not the prettiest thing in the world, with
plastic-like material sticking out along the bottom edge of the basement to
keep the water in check, but that would go behind a wall if we finished the
basement. And we don't see any water at all. Anyone want a wet vac?

I recommend United without reservation. They do it right

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Another Customer of United
Wharton, US
Nov 10, 2012 3:17 am EST

We had french drains done on 2 walls of the basement and a sump pump with the battery backup. Everything went very well from the estimate to the work done. It has been 2 months and there has been no further water in the basement after quite a bit of rain. There was a slight issue with the scheduled start date but they paid for us to go out to dinner to make up for it. Very nice staff and easy to work with. Work was very clean and done in one day.

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Giovanni Chiriboga
Randolph, US
Nov 10, 2012 2:24 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

If you are reading this “complaint” against United Waterproofing, please take a minute of your time and go to: Angie's List to check out our rating and our reviews which are writing by real customer like you, also you can go to BBB, Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs or simple fallow your heart.
Don’t let a frustrated comparator with no fear of God; make you change your mind about doing business with a good company.