Dry...inside and out

By Randal Vanderhaven

One of the last things a homeowner wants to see is water in his or her basement. That’s especially true after the homeowner already has paid two contractors big bucks to fix the problem.

“We spent a lot of money to have the first company come out and fix this. Three years later the walls started to bow in again,” laments Jim Guarnera, whose buckling and cracking foundation recently had to be fixed for the third time in 10 years.

After the first fix failed, a second company rebuilt three of the basement’s walls. Another few years and another hefty invoice later, the walls were shifting again. Last fall, Jim called the father and son team of Rocco and Mark Olivieri to fix his problem the right way.

“You would be surprised how many times we get called to redo foundation and waterproofing work that had been repaired improperly,” says Rocco, the father in Olivieri and Son.

“Most basement waterproofing companies work from inside the home and divert intruding water back out. That’s not the best way to do it. We work from the outside to prevent water from getting to your foundation in the first place.”

Rocco explains that the previous contractor at Jim’s home, on Prospect Road, in Strongsville, didn’t reinforce the basement walls after rebuilding them, allowing them to buckle again under the pressure of groundwater and heavy underground clay. Rocco and Mark rebuilt all three of the basement walls—they had to remove and replace the front porch to access one of them—properly reinforced them with concrete and sealed them from the outside to keep water away.

“I don’t know what it is with the groundwater here in Strongsville,” Jim says. “But there are lot of basements that need work around this area.”

In Northeast Ohio, Mark explains, water in the ground can freeze as deep as three feet below the surface. The pressure it places on your walls can eventually cause cracking and bowing. That’s an invitation for the groundwater to work its way into your basement.

“Water can be a devastatingly destructive force,” he says.

“That’s why tiny cracks become big cracks that can wreak havoc on your home—not just in the basement but upstairs as well. Doors and windows can begin to stick or close improperly. Drywall can begin to crack. Floors can begin to creak.”

Rocco and Mark typically begin the repair process by excavating the leaky walls all the way to the footer. They then pressure wash the foundation to clean the debris and highlight any cracks where moisture may be entering. Those cracks are patched and thoroughly sealed from the footer to grade with Thoroseal Sealant.

“Rolling and tar rubber emulsion from footer to grade is the final step in preventing moisture from entering your wall,” Rocco says.

“For proper water drainage, we install four-inch heavy-duty perforated PVC along the footer. We will also provide a clean-out on each wall excavated.”

The excavation is backfilled with premium wash gravel to direct water to the drain tile.

And when they’re finished, they return your yard to the way it looked before they dug it up—sometimes even better, Rocco says.

“Foundation work is expensive,” Mark acknowledges. “That’s why it makes sense to get it done right the first time. Our work is backed with a lifetime warranty.”

You can see for yourself how Olivieri and Son stop water from invading your home’s foundation by visiting their website, at BasementAndWaterproofing.com. You can schedule a no-cost, no-obligation inspection by calling 440-342-6844.