Surfacing And Waterproofing

Looking through photos of the build the other day and realized I never left a review. This was a pretty sizable project with a basement level, pool, several decks, and way more moving pieces than I care to remember. Waterproofing was one of those trades I didn’t appreciate until I saw how many places water could potentially get in. They handled the below-grade waterproofing, waterproofed the pool before tile went in, and came back later for the deck and balcony systems as construction progressed. What stands out is that there were never any surprises. No last-minute change orders, no finger-pointing at other trades, no scrambling to fix missed details. The project is finished now and everything is exactly how it should be, which is probably the highest compliment I can give.

I’m an architect, so I tend to notice the details most people overlook. On a custom home in Beverly Hills, there were a lot of areas where different systems had to come together cleanly roof deck waterproofing, balcony deck waterproofing, and waterproofing around the lower foundation walls. What I appreciated was that they didn’t just follow plans blindly. A few potential trouble spots were brought up early and addressed before they became expensive problems later. The project turned out beautifully, but more importantly, the waterproofing side of it was done with the same level of care as the visible finishes. That’s not always the case.

This was part of a larger renovation in Beverly Hills, and honestly, waterproofing wasn’t something I paid much attention to until the architect started stressing how important it was. The project included a lower-level basement, multiple outdoor terraces, and a rooftop entertaining area, so there were a lot of places where water could become a problem down the road. They handled the basement waterproofing, roof deck waterproofing, and several waterproofing details around the foundation as construction progressed. What stood out was how smoothly everything fit into the overall schedule. No delays, no scrambling before inspections, and no issues that needed to be revisited later. On a project with this many moving pieces, that says a lot.

Our Malibu renovation ran into the serious problem of water actively pushing through the lower level retaining wall, we knew below grade waterproofing was non negotiable due to the property's proximity to the slope. This team came out, instantly diagnosed exactly why the previous system had failed, and moved swiftly to implement a permanent solution. They meticulously stripped the entire wall back to the concrete, installing a robust foundation waterproofing membrane and adding essential drainage panels, finally allowing the wall to properly manage hydrostatic pressure. To ensure long term dryness, they also waterproofed the basement interior, providing complete moisture protection. working seamlessly with our builder and engineer meant zero delays and total transparency. Even after the recent heavy coastal rains, the wall has performed perfectly with absolutely zero seepage.

We bought this property knowing it needed work, but once construction started it became obvious the waterproofing had been neglected for years. We ended up redoing sections of the foundation waterproofing, waterproofing several decks, and replacing some of the flashing and sheet metal details that had failed over time. It wasn’t the most exciting part of the renovation, but it’s probably one of the most important. The work was completed on schedule, coordinated well with the other trades, and we haven’t had a single issue since.

I’ve managed properties for a while and commercial deck waterproofing is one of those things you don’t want to cut corners on. We had a building in West Hollywood with a roof deck over occupied space and a few balconies that were showing their age. The crew handled the roof deck waterproofing, updated several sheet metal details, and applied new balcony deck coatings where needed. The work was phased so tenants weren’t constantly being disrupted, and everything was completed without creating new headaches. It’s rare that a project this involved ends up being this straightforward.

We interviewed several companies before awarding this portion of the project. What separated them wasn't the bid it was their experience with larger commercial work. The building had multiple waterproofing systems being installed at different stages, from the foundation and basement waterproofing to exterior podium decks and TPO roofing transitions. They stayed involved from the early phases through closeout and were responsive anytime the field team had questions. It's refreshing to work with a subcontractor that understands the pace of commercial construction in Beverly Hills and keeps commitments.