Here are some questions we have received and want to share with you.

Question...
I have prospective homeowners that want a walkout basement, but I am not sure that they can have one on their lot.  Can you help me with that?
Answer...
Yes, we can.  Call Mike Herbert at (210) 376-0998 to schedule a no-obligation meeting at your site.  He can tell you if a walkout is possible, and what height walkout walls you will have.  He can also suggest the best way to position the house to maximize the daylight, or open area while still allowing optimal rainwater drainage around the entire house.

Question...
I don’t think I need a walkout basement that is waterproofed.  Will Herbert Construction Co. construct a basement without waterproofing it?
Answer...
We believe that a basement without a complete waterproofing system is like a truck without brakes.  You may not notice a problem just by looking at it, but once you get down the road a little ways, you’ll get into trouble pretty quickly.  It’s the same thing with a basement that isn’t waterproofed.  You may not have trouble until six months after the homeowners move in, but there WILL be a problem sooner or later.

We wouldn’t sell you a truck without brakes, and we won’t sell you a walkout basement without a waterproofing system.  It just wouldn’t be right.

Question...
I haven’t had a problem with any of my walkout basements leaking.  Why do I need a waterproofing system?
Answer...
There is a joke among foundation repair companies: There are only two kinds of homes in Texas.  Ones that have had problems, and ones that will have problems.  Any day now you may get a call from a homeowner saying that their walkout basement is leaking.  Home building is tough enough.  If you can reduce your overall risk by building your next walkout basement with a 30 year waterproof guarantee, shouldn’t you?

Question...
I have some building lots that will require some very deep beams.  Are deep beams cheaper than a walkout basement foundation?
Answer...
Not necessarily.  When you go with a walkout instead of a deep beam, you eliminate all of the fill that would go into a deep beam foundation.  Also a basement can give you many advantages over a deep beam foundation, especially if you don’t finish out the interior of the basement.  Just frame and finish the exterior walls and the interior load-bearing walls.  Rough in for a future bath, and that’s it.  You have given your homeowners loads of storage space, as well as the ability to finish the basement in the future.  Click here to learn about many other ways to profit from a walkout basement foundation instead of a deep beam foundation.  If you still decide on a deep beam foundation, we can do that too.

Question...
Our foundation contractor puts a drain pipe behind the walkout walkout basement wall and our engineer O.K.’s it.  Isn’t that enough?
Answer...
Your not going to like the answer to that question: No, it isn’t.  Many San Antonio home builders have had problems with leaky basements, and almost all of them have had this same drain pipe you are talking about.  To truly prevent a water problem in your walkout, you need a waterproofing system.  A drain pipe is only one piece of the waterproofing puzzle – and it has to be put in the right place.  To learn about the biggest causes of a leaky walkout basement, Click Here for our Free Special Report.

Question...
I haven’t seen anyone else use your forming system.  Will that take longer to construct my basement than the way I have been doing it?
Answer...
Absolutely not.  Among the many benefits of our unique forming system, one of the best parts is that the construction time is a lot less than the conventional ways of forming with plywood and bagging.  Our forming system will allow you to shorten your construction cycle, which results in increased profits.

Question...
What’s with this robot instrument I’ve heard about?
Answer...
We get this a lot.  We use a Robotic Total Station Layout Instrument to lay out all of our deep beams and walkout basement foundations.  Instead of using tapes, string lines and batter boards, we use this instrument because it is faster and much, much more accurate.  This means foundations that are square, straight, and correct.  It’s Robotic because it automatically follows (or tracks) the layout man as he walks around the jobsite during foundation layout.  To check out pictures and get more info Click Here.

Question...
Will cracks appear on my poured concrete foundation?
Answer...
As concrete cures, the mixing water used in concrete evaporates from the concrete and causes the concrete to shrink. This may result in some cracks in the foundation. These cracks are not a structural concern and will not cause a water leak if the foundation is waterproofed.

Question...
Times are tough.  How do I know you will still be around to honor the waterproof warranty?
Answer...
That is a valid question in these difficult times.  The best way we can answer that is: 1) We have been in business since 1978.  We have seen some rough times throughout the years and have made it through.  Our whole family is involved in the business (see Management for a brief history), it’s what we do, and we are committed to it. 2) In addition to our company standing behind the warranty, our waterproofing manufacturer issues the waterproofing warranty and they have been in business for many, many years, and are the most recognized waterproofing brand in residential new construction.

Question...
What are the payment terms?
Answer...
Payment is due at completion of our work. Interest of 1.5% per month will be charged for all unpaid invoices 30 days and older. We must have a completed Credit Application from you before we start your work.  We will never share or sell your financial, personal, or contact information.

Question...
Did Amanda (Herbert) Morris at your company really explain to David Letterman what the difference was between cement and concrete on his Late Show?
Answer...
Yeah, pretty cool, huh.  You can check out the link HERE (then enter in the date Oct. 30, 2003 in the Browse Archive section).

Question...
Are you the only foundation contractor in San Antonio to offer a guaranteed leak-free walkout basement on new home construction………..let alone a 30 year guarantee?
Answer...
Yup.