The only way to really protect your basement from water intrusion is to stop the flow of water from the outside

By Olivia Bloom

Nobody wants to find out that their basement walls or foundation have water damage, acknowledges Mark Olivieri, the son in Olivieri and Son—specialists in basement waterproofing. But not knowing about a problem doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

“It’s like a medical condition,” says Mark. “The earlier you catch it, the easier it is to fix before it becomes a major problem.”

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, Mark says.

And there is another important reason to have your basement walls fixed. “A leaking basement not only can quickly ruin the foundation of your home, but it lessens the possibility of selling your home for its true value,” Mark suggests.

“You might not notice the tiny leaks in your basement when the ground is dry right now,” he says. “But if there is any way to get into your basement, water will find it once it starts raining. Spring is the ideal time for us to come out and inspect your basement and sewers. We can give you a no-cost inspection so you have a better idea of how bad the problem is. Even if you don’t need anything done immediately, you’ll at least know where you stand and what to watch out for in the future.”

If you do need repairs, Mark and his dad, Rocco, will do them right—from the outside, Mark promises.

“A lot of companies waterproof from inside the basement,” he says. “That isn’t the best way to do it. It’s only a Band-Aid covering up the problem because the pressure from the outside is still against your walls and there is no drainage. We work from the outside. That’s because the key is to stop the water from coming in, not to re-channel it after it’s already in.”

Rocco and Mark understand the waterproofing process. They’ve been working together fixing basements since 1981.

They begin the waterproofing process by excavating your leaky wall all the way to the footer. Then, they clean the foundation to remove the debris and highlight any cracks where moisture may be entering. Those cracks are patched and sealed with Waterplug Sealant. For added protection, they coat the end wall from the footer to grade with Thoroseal Sealant.

“Rolling a tar rubber emulsion from footer to grade is the final step in preventing moisture from entering your wall,” Mark 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 that is excavated.”

The excavation is backfilled with premium wash gravel to direct water to the drain tile. The project is completed with a layer of topsoil—not dirt—to promote the healthy growth of plants.

“We respect your home, gardens and lawn, and we keep them clean and professional,” says Mark. “And our process is probably stronger than the steps the original builder implemented.”

“Working with my dad since I was 15 years old has been a learning experience every day,” Mark says. “The most important things he taught me were to do the job right, to be loyal, and to respect people’s homes.”

Olivieri & Son specializes in basement waterproofing, foundation straightening and rebuilding, and sewer inspections. To schedule a free estimate, call 440-342-6844. Check out BasementAndWaterproofing.com for more details.