Rocco and Mark Olivieri, of Olivieri & Son, answer some frequently asked questions about keeping foundation water out of the basement

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In order to relieve foundation pressure and avoid further problems (like pictured above), Mark and Rocco Olivieri, of Olivieri & Son, remove the expanding soil that pushes against your house and replace it with #57 washed stone. This stone allows water and moisture to properly drain into a newly installed drain tile to prevent saturation and expansion against your foundation.

By Laura Briedis

More than half of basements in homes have a moisture problem. And not all of them are old homes. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, most new homes will develop a leak in the basement within 10 to 15 years of being built.

To help homeowners keep their basements dry, we sat down with Rocco and Mark Olivieri, owners of Olivieri & Son Basement Waterproofing, to answer some FAQs and explain how people can keep the water out.

Rocco and Mark Olivieri, owners of Olivieri & Son Basement Waterproofing


Q: Why do I have cracks on my basement walls?
A: All houses will develop small cracks when they are settling. But large cracks or walls that are starting to bow are telltale signs of increased pressure mounting against your foundation walls.

The clay outside your walls holds water and moisture, which allows the soil against your walls to expand and create unneeded pressure. This pressure not only creates cracks within your foundation walls, it also causes them to continue to grow.

In order to relieve this pressure and eliminate further problems, we go through a process to ultimately remove the expanding soil that pushes against your house and replace it with #57 washed stone. This stone allows water and moisture to properly drain into a newly installed drain tile to prevent saturation and expansion against your foundation.

Q: Where does water come into my basement?
A: Water can enter your basement through cracks in the block or in the footer of your wall. It can also enter through a malfunctioning drain tile.

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

Q: Is it common for basements to have mold on the wall?
A: Mold is always an issue in basements and around foundation walls. Anytime moisture is allowed to saturate and settle against a surface, mold will start to form. The moisture that is stagnant in the ground around your home will create the conditions needed for mold to grow.

Our waterproofing process creates a tightly sealed water barrier around your foundation walls to minimize the chances of mold growing.

Q: Why do you not recommend waterproofing from the inside out?
A: A lot of companies waterproof from the inside, but that’s not really waterproofing. It is just a bandage covering up the real problem. You are 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.

Q: How do I know if my sewer is blocked?
A: The toilets or drains inside your house may start to drain slowly, causing you to smell sewage.

We use a camera to scope out your sewage lines to determine where the blockage is located, or if there are any cracks or breaks within the piping. After determining where the problem is, we localize our repairs around that area in order to minimize your expenses.

To schedule a basement or sewer inspection with Olivieri and Son, call 440-342-6844. Find more information at BasementAndWaterproofing.com.