ONE STAR -- HOMEOWNERS SHOULD THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE HIRING VALUE DRY…read more
My experience with Value Dry Waterproofing was one of the most disappointing and disturbing contractor experiences I have ever had. Based on what happened at my home, I would never hire this company again, would never recommend them to family or friends, and believe the public deserves to know how my project was handled before trusting Value Dry with their home, foundation, structural work, or money.
I hired Value Dry for approximately $12,000 of foundation, masonry, sill/bearing, debris-removal, and structural-support work associated with getting my house properly back onto its foundation. I paid Value Dry $8,000 in two separate $4,000 payments.
The work was not completed.
What happened afterward is what I consider deeply unethical, unprofessional, and morally unacceptable business conduct.
During the project, Value Dry performed demolition and foundation-related work. I complained at the time that substantially more masonry had been broken out than I had requested. After this work had already been performed, I was then told that another $1,500 would be required to restore openings.
I repeatedly explained that I had never approved this unexpected charge in advance and asked Value Dry to provide a written breakdown explaining exactly what supposedly was not included in the original $12,000 agreement.
Even more troubling, Value Dry later acknowledged that its own representative had failed to obtain the required signed change order before the disputed work was performed.
Think about that from a homeowner's perspective.
Your house is already torn apart. Masonry has already been removed. The work has already been performed. Then you are told that additional money is needed to restore what has been opened up.
In my opinion, that is an outrageous way to put a homeowner in an extremely vulnerable bargaining position.
The unfinished work was not some insignificant cosmetic punch-list work.
A subsequent written agreement addressed two permanent Lally columns, removal of existing block columns and debris, restoration of twelve openings, and disposal of concrete debris.
Value Dry then scheduled its crew to return on July 21, 2026, to continue the remaining work.
Value Dry was also actively coordinating with Wolfe House Movers during this project. Value Dry specifically advised me that they were scheduled with Wolfe.
I also repeatedly raised concerns about properly sealing and protecting the sill assembly against moisture before the house was lowered. Detailed instructions concerning the sill plates, sealing, moisture barriers, and related protection were communicated to Value Dry and acknowledged.
I asked Value Dry to remove debris from inside and outside the basement and level affected dirt areas. Value Dry did not respond that this was somebody else's responsibility. They told me they could not do it that day but would do it the following week.
I also notified Value Dry in writing and with photographs that a masonry support area surrounding a temporary wood post appeared broken and compromised. I specifically requested immediate professional evaluation and stabilization because I was concerned about the structural safety of my home.
Then came what I consider the most outrageous part of this entire experience.
After agreeing to remaining work and after scheduling its crew to return, Value Dry President James A. Ketterer sent me written notice on July 17 that Value Dry would perform no additional work at my home and would not return for the scheduled July 21 appointment.
Value Dry stated that it would not seek any additional payments from me and that it considered the money already received adequate compensation for the work it had completed.
Read that carefully.
They did not say that all of the agreed work had been completed.
They said, in substance, that the money they had already received was adequate compensation for the work they had completed, and then announced that they would perform no additional work.
In my opinion, that is absolutely astonishing.
A contractor should not be able to accept thousands of dollars, become deeply involved in a major structural project, leave agreed-upon work unfinished, schedule a return date to continue that work, and then simply announce that the company is no longer comfortable performing additional work.
Imagine if homeowners conducted themselves that way.
Imagine a homeowner signing a contract, allowing a contractor to perform thousands of dollars of work, and then halfway through simply announcing, "I don't feel comfortable paying you anymore."
Value Dry certainly would not consider that acceptable.
Contractual responsibility and professional integrity should work both ways.
What makes this even more frustrating is that I was actively attempting to resolve the dispute.
I proposed putting the disputed money into neutral escrow so that Value Dry could be assured the money