Seepage through stone walls, damp floors after a thaw, a sump that can't keep up. We dry out Cleveland Heights basements with drainage built for older homes and a free inspection.
Most basements in Cleveland Heights were dug long before modern waterproofing. Builders parged the outside of stone or block walls, if they sealed them at all, and ran clay tile along the footing. A century later that tile is often broken, full of silt or tied into old storm lines, so rain soaks the soil beside the house and stays there. The walls let it through a little at a time.
Clay ground makes it worse. It holds water like a sponge and drains it slowly, so a wet week keeps the soil against your walls saturated long after the sky clears. On the heights above the lake, winter brings snow, a thaw, then more snow. Every melt sends another round of water into the backfill that's already full. Low spots near the brooks can stay soggy into May.
Water then takes the easiest path in. That's usually the cove joint at the base of the wall, followed by mortar joints, cracks, sewer and water line openings, and old window wells. Some homes see a trickle only in March. Others get a damp floor after any heavy storm. Either way the cause is the same: pressure in the soil with nowhere to release it.
For most older homes we put in an interior drain. The crew opens a strip of floor along the walls, lays perforated pipe in washed stone beside the footing, and carries the water to a new or rebuilt sump pit. Stone and block walls get a membrane that catches wall seepage and guides it down into that drain. The floor is patched with fresh concrete when we're done.
A sump pump with a battery backup keeps things moving when a storm takes out the power. We seal active cracks with injection, run a dehumidifier where the air stays damp, and check gutters and downspouts outside. Most jobs take one to three days, and the crew cleans up each evening. You'll see the pump tested before we leave.
Cleveland Heights basements are old, often stone, and sit in wet clay. Every system we install here is sized for that: drainage at the footing, a wall membrane and a sump that keeps up in spring.
A perimeter drain captures water at the wall-floor joint and routes it to your sump before it reaches the floor.
A durable moisture barrier directs wall seepage into the drain and keeps the space dry and bright.
Collected water is moved out and away from your foundation by a high-capacity sump system.
The most common entry points are sealed watertight as part of the complete system.
You work directly with the All American team at every step.
We come out, find where the water gets in and walk you through what we see.
You get a fixed-price plan in plain English, with financing options if you want them.
Our own crew installs the drain, membrane and sump, usually in one to three days.
We test the pump with you and hand over a written, transferable lifetime warranty.
Interior drainage, wall membranes and footing drains that relieve water pressure and stop seepage at the source - keeping your Cleveland Heights basement dry for good.
Learn moreBowing walls and settlement cracks stabilized permanently with the Richtech Stabilizer System, carbon-fiber straps, and epoxy/polyurethane crack injection.
Learn moreHigh-capacity sump systems with battery backup and water-alarm monitoring that automatically clear water before it accumulates - even when the power goes out.
Learn moreFrench drains, downspout extensions and regraded surface drainage that move stormwater away from your foundation before it ever reaches your basement.
Learn moreRepair, replacement and maintenance of gutters and downspouts so roof runoff is captured and carried far from your foundation - your first line of defense.
Learn moreCode-compliant egress windows that add a safe emergency exit, flood your basement with natural light, and unlock legal bedroom potential and home value.
Learn morePowerful dehumidification and moisture control that clears musty odors, protects against mold, and turns a damp basement into fresh, comfortable living space.
Learn moreDurable, energy-efficient glass block windows that resist leaks and break-ins while still letting daylight into your basement - a clean, permanent upgrade.
Learn moreOur shop and crews work out of 298 E Walnut St in Wadsworth, and we come to Cleveland Heights homes for every estimate and every job. The same family-owned team that looks at your basement is the team that does the work.
Your first visit is a free on-site estimate. We look at the walls, floor, sump and gutters, explain what's causing the problem, and hand you a clear written plan with the price before anything starts. Call (330) 366-3028 to set it up.
We recently hired All American Basement Waterproofing to address some structural and moisture issues in our basement, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Mike and his team installed carbon fiber straps on one of our basement walls.
Exceptional basement waterproofing, highly recommend. I had an outstanding experience with All American Basement for my basement.
We had our cellar door stairs waterproofed, a drain in the basement and downlines for our gutters installed. The crew was great to work with.
March is when snowmelt and spring rain hit soil that's already full of water. The clay can't drain it fast enough, so pressure builds against the walls and floor. An interior drain and sump relieve that pressure before it pushes water inside.
Yes. Interior drain tile does the same job without digging along the outside of the house. It collects water at the footing and sends it to a sump pump that pushes it out.
A pump that runs a lot is doing its job, but it also wears out faster. If it fails during a storm the pit overflows. We check the pump, the pit and the discharge line and can add a battery backup.
Yes. Window wells often fill with water and leak at the sill. We look at the drainage in the well and the seal around the window, and route any water that gets in to the interior drain.
It can be. Damp air often comes from moisture moving through stone or block walls. Sometimes a dehumidifier is enough, and sometimes the walls need drainage. We'll check and tell you honestly which you need.
Sometimes. If a wall has to be rebuilt or the outside needs a membrane and footing drain, we dig. For most leaks, though, interior drainage handles the groundwater with far less disturbance to your yard.
Get a free inspection so you know what's causing it. We'll give you a written plan and price. If we do the work, the transferable lifetime warranty goes to the buyer, which answers the question at closing.
It often is a big part of it. Downspouts that dump next to the wall soak the soil exactly where you don't want it. Extensions that carry the water away are a simple first fix, and we'll tell you if more is needed.
Yes. We cover floors and paths through the house before we carry anything in or out. Most of the mess stays in the basement, and we clean up at the end of each day.
All American Basement Waterproofing sends its own crew from Wadsworth. We've been family-owned since 1985 and hold an A+ rating with the BBB. Call (330) 366-3028 to book a free inspection.
Cleveland Heights is one of the many Cuyahoga County communities we serve - or see our full basement waterproofing service.
Talk to All American today - we'll inspect your Cleveland Heights basement or foundation and give you an honest, written estimate at no cost. Family-owned and protecting Northeast Ohio homes since 1985.
24/7 emergency response · Financing available · Transferable lifetime warranty