Two houses on the same street can get the same repair and end up with completely different outcomes ten years later, and the difference usually comes down to how carefully the barrier layer went on. A rushed application with poorly sealed seams will let water find its way behind the material, where it does exactly what it was doing before while everyone assumes the problem is solved. A&A Waterproofing handles foundation waterproof membrane installation for property owners throughout the Marietta, GA, region, and we treat this layer as the piece that determines whether the whole system holds up.
The team at A&A Waterproofing, a veteran-owned waterproofing contractor handling foundation repair from Marietta, Georgia, works under longtime owner Allen Aschwege. Applying below-grade barrier systems is central to our exterior work, and that includes preparing the wall surface, choosing material suited to poured concrete or block construction, bonding it across the full below-grade area, sealing seams and corners, detailing the transition at the footing, and protecting the finished surface before backfill. Buildings already standing are the only ones we work on. Marietta and the communities north and west of Atlanta are where our crews spend their days, and there's never a charge to have us come look.
Failed barrier systems reveal themselves the same way an unprotected wall does, which is the frustrating part for anyone who already paid to have the work done. Moisture returns to the interior face of the wall, efflorescence comes back, and damp patches appear in the same places as before. When a wall is later excavated, the material is often found peeling at the seams, torn during backfill, or stopping several inches short of the footing.
The causes are almost always in the details rather than the product. Applying material over a dirty or damp surface prevents it from bonding. Overlaps that were never sealed create a direct channel for water. Corners, pipe penetrations, and the joint at the base of the wall are the highest-pressure points on any foundation, and they're the first spots to fail when they get rushed. Backfilling straight against an unprotected barrier lets rocks and debris tear it. On top of all that, Georgia clay pushes hard against whatever is down there, so anything installed carelessly gets tested immediately.
Getting it right takes a methodical approach. Our crews excavate to the footing and clean the wall thoroughly, patching honeycombing, tie holes, and cracks so the surface is sound before anything gets applied. Material appropriate to the wall type goes on across the full below-grade height with consistent coverage, and every seam, corner, and penetration gets sealed and detailed by hand. The base of the wall receives particular attention where it meets the footing. Protection board or a drainage layer then covers the finished surface, and backfill goes back in carefully so nothing gets damaged on the way down.
Installed this way, the barrier does what it was designed to do for decades. Groundwater stops reaching the concrete, the wall stays dry through its full thickness, and the interior lower level becomes reliably usable space. Warranty coverage backs qualifying installations, and homeowners get a system they can stop thinking about instead of one they end up excavating a second time.
The value of this layer shows up over years rather than days, and these are the returns it delivers.
Water needs one gap to make a barrier irrelevant, which is why our application runs unbroken from the footing up to grade level with no thin spots. Coverage gets checked as the work progresses rather than assumed. A wall protected everywhere performs completely differently than one protected almost everywhere.
Products designed for below-grade service handle constant soil contact, moisture, and pressure in ways that above-grade coatings simply don't. Selection depends on whether your foundation is poured concrete or block, since the two surfaces behave differently. Using the appropriate system from the start avoids a failure that only becomes visible years later.
Every overlap, inside corner, pipe penetration, and footing transition gets detailed individually because those are the points that decide whether water gets behind the barrier. This part of the job takes patience and can't be rushed with a sprayer. Careful detailing is the clearest difference between a system that lasts and one that leaks.
Protection board or a drainage composite goes over the finished surface so returning soil, rocks, and equipment can't tear or puncture the barrier. Skipping this step damages the very layer that was just installed, sometimes in several places. The added protection also gives water a path down toward the footing drain.
A well-executed below-grade barrier routinely performs for the remaining life of the home, which is why doing it correctly the first time makes financial sense. Excavating a second time costs far more than the difference between a careful installation and a hurried one. Qualifying projects are backed by written coverage that can extend for the lifetime of the structure.
Barrier installation is one component of the exterior work we do, and these related services round out the picture.
Applying a barrier is part of a larger process, and our exterior foundation waterproofing service covers the excavation, wall preparation, drainage correction, and backfill that surround it. Addressing the whole system at once is what keeps water pressure off the finished installation.
Openings in a wall need to be closed before any barrier goes over them, and our foundation leak repair work handles cracks, tie holes, cold joints, and pipe penetrations with the appropriate material for each. Sealing these first is what allows the barrier to perform as designed.
Whether a property needs exterior protection, interior drainage, or a combination of both falls under our foundation waterproofing services, and the right answer varies from house to house. Allen goes through the options during the free estimate so you understand what each one does and what it costs.
The way a contractor handles the details on this kind of job tells you most of what you need to know, so here is our process and our promise.
Nothing bonds to a dirty, damp, or damaged wall, so cleaning and patching come first every single time. Tie holes, honeycombing, and cracks get addressed while the surface is exposed and accessible. Preparation is invisible once the job is finished, which is exactly why some contractors skip it.
Poured concrete and concrete block call for different approaches, and the soil conditions on your property factor in as well. Allen selects the material based on what he finds during the assessment rather than defaulting to whatever is on the truck. You'll hear the reasoning behind the recommendation.
This company is veteran-owned and has operated out of Marietta since 1996, with roots reaching back another twenty years to the family business in Missouri. Being local means we're still around to stand behind an installation years after the trench closes.
Assessing the foundation and quoting the work costs you nothing. Larger exterior projects can be spread across payments through Acorn Finance, and firefighters, EMTs, police officers, active-duty military, and veterans save 10% with the Hometown Heroes discount.
How long the coverage lasts follows the project scope, beginning at a decade and reaching lifetime protection on qualifying work, and everything gets documented in writing. Having that paperwork matters both for your own records and for any future sale of the property.
Heavy clay holds moisture against a wall and applies steady pressure, so material with good adhesion and enough flexibility to handle minor movement performs best here. Whether your foundation is poured concrete or block also affects the choice. Allen evaluates both the wall and the soil conditions on your specific lot before recommending a system.
Once the wall is excavated and prepared, application on a standard residential foundation generally takes one to two days, with the overall project running longer to account for digging, drainage work, and backfill. Older homes around downtown Marietta with tight access take more time than newer construction in Kennesaw or Woodstock with open yards.
Yes, and that's frequently the practical answer when only one section of the foundation is causing trouble. Many homes have a single wall facing a slope or receiving concentrated runoff, so targeting that area handles the problem without the cost of a full perimeter. We'll tell you honestly whether partial coverage is likely to solve it.
Waterproofing an existing foundation typically falls under maintenance and repair rather than structural alteration, though requirements differ across the counties we serve. Our team checks what applies to your jurisdiction before starting and handles whatever is needed. Any structural component tied into the project can change the answer.
Soil comes out along the affected wall and gets stockpiled nearby, which means that portion of the yard is out of commission while we work. Backfill gets returned and compacted in layers when the installation is complete, and the grade is restored to slope away from the house. Plantings directly against the wall usually need to be removed, and we point those out beforehand.
FAQs reviewed by Allen Aschwege, who has owned and operated A&A Waterproofing, a Marietta, GA, waterproofing service, for close to thirty years.
Reach out and we'll assess the wall, explain which system suits your foundation, and show you exactly what the installation involves. Our guidance arrives without a sales pitch attached, and the pricing reflects three decades of doing this work locally.
Business Name: A&A Waterproofing
Address: Marietta, GA, 30064
Phone: 770-443-1155
Business Hours:
Mon - Sat: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Hometown Heroes Discount
We're proud to offer 10% off for veterans, active-duty military, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders as a thank-you for your service.
Comprehensive Warranty Coverage
We stand behind the quality of our work. Warranty coverage varies by service and repair, with options ranging from 10-year warranties to lifetime warranties on qualifying projects.
