The waterproofing experts at Olivieri & Son reveal how to know for sure if your home’s foundation has been compromised

By Laura Briedis

Since the ground barely froze this winter—and we had more rain than snow—the yard was wetter than usual and it made for a big mess. But what’s worse than all the mud is what you sometimes cannot see: a leaky basement.

“If you notice moisture, mold or a white efflorescence, it may be a sign that your foundation has been compromised,” says Mark Olivieri, the son in Olivieri & Son, the basement waterproofing and sewer repair specialists. “All the rain this spring is dumping thousands of gallons of water into the ground around your home. And oftentimes this ground water can seep through the foundation walls into your basement.”

“Springtime is typically the most stressful time of the year for basement walls,” he says. “That’s because of the subtle expansion and contraction of the ground as it warms and cools and absorbs water from rain and snow. 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, and for mold to form on the walls and get into your heating and cooling vents and circulate in the air you breathe.”

The silver lining 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.

“We can assess the damage and help you decide on the best way to stop it from getting worse,” Mark says. “Our company is licensed and bonded, and we do the job the right way.”

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 a leaky wall all the way to the footer. They then wash the 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.

The final step is rolling tar rubber emulsion from footer to grade to prevent moisture from entering the wall. “For proper water drainage, we install 4-inch, heavy-duty perforated PVC along the footer,” says Rocco. “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.

If you think you may be having problems with water in the basement, or a shifting foundation, Olivieri & Son offers a no-cost inspection, including a moisture detection test to reveal basement problems that may be hidden behind drywall.

Going Underground

Whether your basement is damp, your 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, including:

• 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 your free inspection by calling 440-342-6844. You can see for yourself how Olivieri & Son can stop water from invading your home’s foundation by visiting its website, at BasementAndWaterproofing.com.