Here’s how Olivieri & Son can help you dry up your basement—permanently

By Laura Briedis

Though the driest month in Northeast Ohio is August—where a typical day has about a 25 percent chance of precipitation—that does not mean water is not leaking into your basement.

“Nobody wants to find out that their basement walls or foundation have water damage,” acknowledges Mark Olivieri, the son in Olivieri & Son—specialists in basement waterproofing. “However, the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to fix before it becomes a major problem. And for those homeowners who have a finished basement and will start spending more time downstairs in the coming fall and winter months, now is the time to address any water issues.”

Left uncorrected, cracked or bowed basement walls could lead to major headaches, like cracked walls upstairs and shifting door and window openings, not to mention the accumulation of unhealthy mold and mildew.

“The pressure water places on your walls can eventually cause cracking and bowing,” Mark explains. “That’s an invitation for the groundwater to work its way into your basement, and for mold to form on the walls and get into your heating and cooling vents and circulate in the air you breathe.”

“If you notice moisture, mold or a white efflorescence, it may be a sign that your foundation has been compromised,” he says. “We can assess the damage and help you decide on the best way to stop it from getting worse. Our company is licensed and bonded, and we do the job the right way.”

Most companies try to repair foundation leaks from the inside of the basement by re-channeling the invading water back outside. That, insists Mark’s dad, Rocco, isn’t the ideal way to do it.

“The best way is to prevent the water from penetrating your walls to begin with,” says Rocco. “That’s why we prefer to fix the problem from the outside.”

Rocco and Mark, who have been fixing foundations as a father-and-son team since 1981, begin the repair process by excavating your leaky wall all the way to the footer. They then wash your foundation to clean the debris and highlight any cracks where moisture may be entering. Those cracks are patched and sealed with sealants, and then tar rubber emulsion is rolled on from footer to grade to prevent moisture from entering your wall. The excavation is backfilled with premium washed gravel to direct water to the drain tile.

If you think you may be having problems with water in the basement, or a shifting foundation, Olivieri & Son offers a no-cost inspection, including a moisture detection test, to reveal basement problems that may be hidden behind drywall.

Flooded Basement?
Last month heavy rains left many homeowners with flooded—or at the very least damp—basements. Especially hard hit were neighborhoods in Bay Village, Berea, Brunswick, Fairview Park and Strongsville, as a powerful thunderstorm pounded Northeast Ohio, not only flooding streets but also basements.

“Olivieri & Son has been in business since 1981 waterproofing basements and this year has been an unusual one,” says Mark. “We have had stretches of dry weather but those occasional thunderstorms have caused havoc. Homeowners always should be proactive and stay on top of everything by making sure sewers do not back up and basement tiles are not cracked.”

Schedule a free inspection by calling Olivieri & Son at 440-342-6844. Visit BasementAndWaterproofing.com to see how Olivieri & Son can stop water from invading your home’s foundation.