Cleveland basement waterproofing

Basement waterproofing can can both expensive and aggravating. Not only is it expensive, but it will be necessary to dig up flower beds, landscaping, etc. In some cases, there are no other options. However, it has been our experience that many waterproofing jobs can be limited or may not be needed at all.

The image to your left was made using Closer Look Inspections state of art infrared imaging equipment to fast and accurately find and assess thermal anomalies which could indicate a basement water problem. The darker (purple) areas indicate temperature differences in the basement wall. After careful inspection, we used infrared thermography and moisture detection equipment to determine that the home had a broken drain line below grade at the corner downspout. The cost to repair was approximately $300. The couple had a contract on the table from a waterproofing contractor for over $13,000!!

Repairing the downspout crock corrected the problem and saved the couple over $12,000!! We have had similar results on many projects. The average home or building owner does not have the equipment to assess what they are being told by a basement waterproofing contractor, they just know they want a dry basement. Our high tech basement moisture surveys can provide peace of mind by allowing our expert technicians to thoroughly evaluate your problem using state of the art moisture detection and other equipment to properly assess your problem and determine the best repair strategies.

C.L.I. Group, LLC can inspect your piping using our state of the art pipe camera inspection system. The clear images provide us with the ability to spot breaches in foundation and floor drains to determine what repairs may be necessary. We can evaluate your systems as a third party. We do not perform drainage or piping repairs so we have no interest in the results. This protects our customers from being sold services which may not be needed.

Our pipe camera is also used to assess hard to see ductwork during duct and energy evaluations. It has been our experience that the hard to reach areas of both pipes and ducts are generally where failures occur. Knowing what the problems are should be the first course of action before calling contractors to repair the problems.

Correcting Basement Water Problems

There are many differing types of basement waterproofing procedures which are in the marketplace, some interior (less expensive, but less effective) and some exterior (more expensive, more effective). Which method of mitigation you choose should be based on knowledge of the problem and other factors, not price alone. In many cases, some simple adjustments to grades, gutters and downspouts, etc. may be all that is needed to dry up a wet basement. In other cases, a partial excavation may be what is needed. With exterior excavation waterproofing, the cost can run $125/lf or higher!! That is what makes our services so valuable to home and building owners. The cost of a full basement assessment is comparable to what you would pay for a few of feet of waterproofing.

The images above show the advantage to using infrared thermography to spot thermal differences in a basement. The image on the right shows no indication of temperature differences. The image on the left is the same location using infrared, which clearly shows areas (purple) thermal anomalies which require further investigation in the corner of the basement. This area is also a likely candidate for mold growth behind finish materials.

These problems shown in the images on this page were corrected fast and cost effectively without expensive solutions. The same is true of roof leaks. Our infrared roof survey's have saved building owners thousands of dollars. For further information on roof surveys, click here.

Diagnosing a Moisture Problem

Many basement water problems are diagnosed during inspections of residential and commercial buildings for the prospective buyer. These are usually diagnosed using some form of moisture detection equipment by a building or home inspector. The problem is, not all moisture meters are created equal. The use of electronic moisture detection equipment is valuable for detecting moisture problems, but should not be used as the sole source of information in making decisions about the problem. First, a moisture meter will not tell what the source of the problem is. Second, using a meter that is not suited to the job could lead to a misdiagnoses. There are different types of meters and each is made for a specific purpose. When relying on moisture meters to make a diagnosis, using the wrong meter could lead to false positive or negative readings. It is also extremely important that the inspector knows how to correctly diagnose building pressures, condensation issues, dew-points, humidity, construction materials and practices, etc.  

The million dollar question that needs to be answered if you are to protect your investment. Simply knowing a basement is wet is of little value without knowing the cause. Correctly diagnosing the cause of the moisture is what will ultimately decide the repair procedures that will correct the problem. If the diagnosis is incorrect, thousands or tens of thousands could be spent with unsatisfactory results.

Slab Moisture

Many moisture related problems can be traced to floor slabs which have been finished when floors were not dry. This moisture content of any floor slab should be measured before any finish floor application is applied. Again, this requires experience and the proper testing equipment. There are a few acceptable ways to test the moisture content of a slab.

Of the above methods, the first two are likely to be the best for testing slab moisture content. C.L.I. Group, LLC is capable of performing the required testing to assure that the slab is ready before applying the finish floor application.

Before You Sign a Contract to Waterproof....Click Here

 Board Certified; Indoor Environmental Consultant, Indoor Air Quality Technician, Indoor Air Quality Manager, Indoor Air Quality Investigator
Association of Energy Engineers, American Indoor Air Quality Council, National Registry of Environmental Professionals

ICC Certified; Residential Combination Inspector (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, building) Energy Inspector/Plan Examiner