In Solon the wet wall is usually the one beside a downspout, a driveway or a low spot in the yard. We find it, drain the water at the footing and guarantee the result for life.
Solon sits on thick glacial clay that soaks up water like a sponge and lets it go very slowly. Around a house, though, the soil is not uniform. The backfill placed against the basement is looser than the clay beyond it, so water gathers in that ring. Where extra water arrives, such as below a downspout or at the end of a sloped driveway, the ring fills first and stays full longest.
That is why a Solon basement so often leaks along one wall or in one corner. The side of the house that takes roof runoff, driveway water or drainage from a low pocket of the yard carries far more pressure than the others. Water moves through the cove joint, into form-tie holes and along shrinkage cracks in poured walls, usually starting low and spreading across the floor.
Seasons change the picture. In spring the clay is swollen and full, and the whole foundation is under load. In late summer the clay can dry and pull back, leaving a gap along the wall that sends the next heavy rain straight to the footing. Freeze and thaw each winter works on existing cracks, so a small seep one year can be a steady trickle a few years later.
We start by mapping where the water comes from. Inside, an interior perimeter drain at the footing collects water along every wall, with extra attention to the side that takes the most runoff. The pipe runs through clean stone to a sump pit, and a wall membrane carries any seepage from tie holes or cracks down into the drain. Active cracks get epoxy or polyurethane injection.
Outside, small changes do a lot of work in Solon. Extending a downspout that dumps at the foundation, adding a trench drain where the driveway slopes to the house, or filling a low spot so water drains away all cut the load on the system. We pair the sump pump with a battery backup so it keeps working in a storm outage, and suggest a dehumidifier if the basement stays humid.
Solon basements usually leak where one wall takes extra runoff, so we fit a full perimeter drain, reinforce it on the wettest side and pair it with simple fixes for downspouts, driveways and low spots.
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 Solon 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 moreWe are based in Wadsworth and cover Solon and the greater Cleveland area from there. It is a longer drive north into Cuyahoga County, but after 40 years across Northeast Ohio we know these homes and soils well and show up ready to work.
When you call, we schedule a free on-site estimate at your convenience, walk your Solon basement with you, and explain exactly what is causing the water and what the fix involves. No pressure, no surprises.
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.
Mike and Ken and the other workers, what can I say? They have gone above and beyond for us. This has been a very challenging job, and Mike the owner has been back several times to make it right.
Positive experience from start to finish. Scheduled the estimate within days and got us right on the calendar for the repair. Ken was great to work with and answered my numerous questions with patience. The crew arrived on time.
A driveway that slopes toward the house sends a lot of water to one wall. That side of the backfill fills first and stays full longest. A trench drain outside and a perimeter drain inside usually fix it.
The length of wall that needs drainage matters most. Floor thickness, wall type, crack injection, a new sump pit and outside fixes like downspout lines add to it. We give you a written estimate after a free inspection.
Most likely. Moisture can pass through poured walls without pooling on the floor and still raise humidity. We check your walls for moisture and tell you whether drainage, a dehumidifier or both will fix it.
If your basement relies on that pump, a backup is worth it. Heavy storms and power outages tend to arrive together. A battery unit keeps the water moving until power returns.
Yes. Our lifetime warranty is written and transfers to the next owner. It gives buyers a clear answer about the basement, which matters when a Solon house goes on the market.
Those are usually form-tie holes left from pouring the walls. The ties rust or the patches loosen and water comes through. We seal them and cover the wall with a membrane that sends seepage to the drain.
In a dry summer the clay shrinks and pulls away from the wall. The next heavy rain runs down that gap straight to the footing. Drainage at the footing catches it no matter how fast it arrives.
Yes. Put in drainage and a wall membrane before framing and drywall. Moisture trapped behind new walls leads to mold and ruined flooring, so fixing the water first protects your investment.
Most Solon basements take one to three days once the crew starts. A new sump pit or extra outside work can add time. You get a written schedule before the job begins.
A crew from All American Basement Waterproofing, a family-owned company in Wadsworth that has served Solon since 1985. We are A+ rated with the BBB. Call (330) 366-3028 for a free inspection.
Solon 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 Solon 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