Olivieri & Son specializes in repairing foundations and keeping water from getting in

By Laura Briedis

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

“It’s like a medical condition,” he says. “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.

“A leaking basement not only can ruin the foundation of your home, but it lessens the possibility of selling your home for its true value in the future,” Mark says.

Olivieri & Son can handle all things underground—from waterproofing and sewer inspections to foundation straightening and rebuilding. It has been fixing basements since 1981, earning an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Last month, the contractors rebuilt this basement wall pictured above in Medina, in which the basement foundation was compromised. Over time, the clay dirt and tree roots put too much pressure on the walls and weakened the structure.

“We jacked up the house and knocked out the old concrete blocks and then rebuilt the foundation with new cement blocks,” Mark explains. “We added rebar stakes into the cement every 36 inches for extra stability, all the way from the footers to the ceiling.”

Once the new wall was in place and the jacks were removed, they finished the job by waterproofing. They tarred the outside of the new foundation wall, added foam insulation sheets to relieve stress on the wall from saturated soil, filled with wash stone to help keep water from sitting around the base of the foundation, and then backfilled the soil to complete the process.

“We try to provide homeowners cost-effective solutions to help limit the damage to their home,” Mark says. “As a homeowner myself, I understand how overwhelming these situations can seem.”

To schedule a free estimate, call 440-342-6844. Check out BasementAndWaterproofing.com for more details.