Olivieri and Son can make sure water stays out of your basement
By Randal Vanderhaven
The annual Northeast Ohio springtime tease: 60 degrees and drizzly one day, 30 degrees and snowy the next, may frustrate and annoy you. But what can be much worse is the effect it may have on your home’s foundation.
“Springtime is typically the most stressful time of the year for basement walls,” says Mark Olivieri, the son in Olivieri and Son, the basement waterproofing and sewer repair specialists.
“That’s because of the subtle expansion and contraction of the ground as it warms and cools and absorbs water from rain and snow. In Northeast Ohio, 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.”
The silver lining in the springtime cloud is the exposure of minor cracking in the foundation which, left untreated, could result in more extensive—and expensive—damage in the years ahead. Without a little spring seepage, those small blemishes may continue to grow unnoticed.
“If you notice moisture, mold or a white effervescence, it may be a sign that your foundation has been compromised,” Mark says.
“We can assess the damage and help you decide on the best way to stop it from getting worse. To prevent a future crisis, you need to be sure foundation problems are fixed properly.”
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 pressure wash your foundation to clean 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 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 No. 57 premium wash gravel to direct water to the drain tile.
“When we’re finished, we clean up the lawn and plant beds, so you can’t even tell we were there,” Mark promises.
Still, he says, a customer occasionally insists on inside repairs.
“We don’t think it’s the best fix in most cases, but we can do it,” he says.
Olivieri and Son also are experts in diagnosing and fixing clogged sewer lines.
“We feed a camera through your downspout or sewer line to see exactly where and what’s causing the problem,” Mark says. “Using a color monitor, we’ll show you what’s happening in your pipes.”
If you think you may be having problems with water in the basement, or a shifting foundation, Olivieri and Sons will do a no-cost, no-obligation inspection, including a moisture detection test to reveal basement problems that may be hidden behind drywall.
“All of our work is backed by a transferable warranty,” Mark says.
Mention Mimi to receive $50 off a camera inspection.
You can schedule your inspection by calling 440-342-6844. You can see for yourself how Olivieri and Son can stop water from invading your home’s foundation by visiting their website, at BasementAndWaterproofing.com.