Olivieri & Son have turned the science of basement waterproofing into a genuine artform

By Mimi Vanderhaven

As one might expect from a father-and-son team, there was a little bantering going on when Rocco and Mark Olivieri, owners of Olivieri & Son Basement Waterproofing, sat down in Mimi’s office to explain the art of basement waterproofing. As his soft-spoken father contrasted the right and the wrong way to prevent water from destroying a home, Mark’s smile gradually gave way to an outward laugh.

“You make it sound so scientific,” he tells his dad.

Rocco can’t help it. He’s passionate about the work he’s been doing—keeping basements dry—for almost 40 years. And he is still amazed that so many companies continue to do it the wrong way.

“A lot of companies do waterproofing from the inside, but that’s not really waterproofing,” Rocco insists. “That is just diverting the water. But once the water is in, it’s in. You still have a damp basement. You still have pressure on your foundation and you are still likely to have problems. The correct way is to solve the problem from the outside and stop the water from coming through in the first place.”

Rocco says he and Mark frequently are called to repair leaky basements that had been waterproofed from the inside only three to six years earlier.

“We redo a lot of work that homeowners paid somebody else for, not realizing that they were just putting a bandage on the problem,” Rocco laments.

Rocco and Mark solve the problem by excavating your leaky wall all the way to the footer.

During the excavation process, they wash the foundation to highlight any cracks where moisture may be entering and patch and seal those cracks, tar the wall and insert a 1-inch insulation foam board to create a water barrier that prevents moisture from penetrating your foundation. They also install new drain tile and stone to help reroute any excess water away from your freshly sealed wall.

“Throughout our process, we take extra precautions to protect your property because we believe the problem we are fixing is the only inconvenience you should have to deal with,” says Mark.

“When we’re finished, you’ll hardly even know we were there. We respect your home, gardens and lawn, and we keep them clean,” Rocco adds.

“As a family-owned and operated business, we take pride in the work we do and our ability to provide a more personal touch for our customers,” he says. “We value your business and go the extra mile to take care of each and every customer.”

Going Underground
A family-owned and operated business founded in 1981, Olivieri & Son has solved and repaired hundreds of problems in homes across Northeast Ohio, earning the company the reputation for being the waterproofing experts in town. However, the company does so much more, as it can handle all things underground. Whether your basement is flooding, foundation is crumbling or your sewer lines are backed up, Olivieri & Son can fix the problem.

The father-and-son duo has the experience, knowledge and equipment to handle any job from start to finish. Olivieri & Son personally services these specialties:

• Basement Waterproofing
• Foundation Straightening
• Foundation Rebuilding
• Sewer Inspection
• Concrete Solutions
• Excavating

Olivieri & Son guarantees all of its work and is licensed, bonded and insured.

You can schedule a free estimate with Olivieri & Son by calling 440-342-6844. You can find more information at BasementAndWaterproofing.com.