Above-Grade Waterproofing for Milwaukee Office Towers, Lakefront Condominiums, Hospitals & Campuses
Commercial Waterproofing Contractors in Milwaukee, WI
Wind off Lake Michigan pushes rain and wet snow sideways into Milwaukee buildings, especially lakefront towers and the taller buildings downtown. In winter, meltwater runs down walls and into joints during the day and freezes there at night, and ice that forms behind a failed seal pries it farther open. Lake moisture keeps masonry damp much of the year, and soft brick that stays wet is the first to crack and spall.
Presto Restoration brings more than 25 years of above-grade commercial waterproofing experience to Milwaukee. Our crews reseal expansion and control joints, replace window and curtain wall perimeter seals, wet glaze older window walls, coat parapets and ledges and treat brick, terra cotta and concrete with breathable repellents on office towers, lakefront condominiums, hospitals, campuses and historic buildings. We also manufacture our own restoration products, including Glass Defender for glass and Leach Stop for precast concrete.
OUR COMMERCIAL WATERPROOFING SERVICES IN MILWAUKEE
Our Milwaukee work ranges from one lakefront condominium window that leaks in every northeast wind to resealing a full downtown office tower.
Core Waterproofing Services
Concrete and panel joints in Milwaukee move with deep winter cold and summer heat. Once the sealant splits, wind-driven rain and meltwater run in and freeze. Our crews remove the old material, mend broken joint edges and set sealant or preformed joint systems rated for the movement, routing and sealing active cracks too.
On towers facing the lake, the seal around windows and curtain wall usually fails first. We replace perimeter caulking, reseal mullion joints and fix loose gaskets, and salt-hazed or spotted glass can be cleaned and protected with Glass Defender.
Ledges, parapet caps and copings hold snow and ice through the winter. A high-solids silicone coating stays flexible in the cold and keeps meltwater from soaking into the masonry below.
Plenty of Milwaukee office and hospital buildings from the 1960s to the 1980s still rely on rubber glazing gaskets that the cold has shrunk. Wet glazing runs a continuous bead of silicone between glass and frame, stopping leaks without new windows.
Concrete and stucco crack with every hard freeze, and lake-driven rain fills those cracks. A full-thickness elastomeric coating, applied after larger cracks are repaired, stretches across that movement and keeps the wall dry.
Cream City brick and other soft masonry soak up water, and water that freezes inside them breaks the face off. A breathable penetrating repellent slows the soaking without trapping moisture already inside, applied only after repairs are done.
Specialized Restoration-Waterproofing
We rarely stop at the sealant. Presto also restores the glass, metal, terra cotta and concrete behind it with products from our own line, so one crew finishes the job.
White streaks on precast panels come from salts carried out as water dries, and road salt makes it worse near street level. We clean the deposits, treat the panels with Leach Stop, our product made for the problem, and reseal the joints between them.
Every seam on metal panels, copings and window frames depends on sealant, and metal moves a lot between a January night and a July afternoon. We replace worn sealant with grades made for metal and reseal laps, seams and fasteners.
Our Commercial Waterproofing Process in Milwaukee
Milwaukee waterproofing projects follow the same five steps, and pricing is in front of you before any crew mobilizes.
Building Envelope Inspection
Every joint, window, flashing and parapet is inspected, with extra attention to lake-facing walls.
Diagnostic Testing
Targeted water tests prove where leaks start.
Scope & Specification
The scope names systems chosen for lake wind, freeze cycles and meltwater.
Waterproofing Installation
Installation follows manufacturer specs and minimum cure temperatures.
Project Closeout & Warranty
Closeout includes photos, product sheets and warranties.
Talk to Presto About Waterproofing Your Milwaukee Building
Leaks when the wind comes off the lake, stains after the thaw or caulking pulling away? Call us or request a quote, and our team will respond to discuss your Milwaukee building.
Why Milwaukee Property Managers Choose Presto for Commercial Waterproofing
Our crews have sealed buildings in many climates over 25 years. In Milwaukee we pick materials that stay flexible in the cold and plan around residents, patients and office tenants.
Our Local Milwaukee, WI Support Network
A sealed building stays dry longest with a check after every winter and quick repairs. Presto connects Milwaukee owners with a local support network for that everyday care.
For routine upkeep and everyday facility support, owners can also contact our sister companies:
Building Restoration Milwaukee: Hands-on exterior repairs for Milwaukee buildings.
Building Maintenance Milwaukee: Routine maintenance that catches freeze damage early.
Building Services Milwaukee: General commercial building support across Milwaukee County.
Recent Restoration Projects in Wisconsin
WISCONSIN PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Browse stone and facade restoration Presto has completed in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Commercial Waterproofing FAQs
How often should sealants be replaced on a Milwaukee building?
Plan on 10 to 15 years for most joints, sooner on lake-facing walls that take the brunt of the wind.
What is the difference between waterproofing and water damage repair?
Waterproofing seals the outside so water cannot get in. Water damage repair fixes drywall, ceilings and finishes once it has. Sealing first means the inside work only happens once.
Can waterproofing be done while the building is occupied?
Yes. Our crews work from the outside and plan around residents, patients and tenants.
What is the difference between elastomeric coatings and water repellents?
An elastomeric coating is a stretchy paint-like layer that covers small cracks and changes how the wall looks. A water repellent is absorbed into brick or concrete and keeps water out invisibly.
How do I know if waterproofing can wait another year?
If water came in during the thaw or a lake storm, brick is flaking, or joints are visibly split, plan the work before another winter. If the caulking is still soft and nothing has leaked, replacement can usually be scheduled over the next few years.
When is the best time for waterproofing work in Milwaukee?
From about April through October, when temperatures let sealants and coatings cure, with the aim of sealing the building before the first hard freeze.
Other Milwaukee Building Restoration Services
Keep Water Out of Your Milwaukee Building
One split joint on a lake-facing wall can let a whole season of storms in. Tell us what you are noticing, and we will help you get it sealed before the next freeze.
Call us today at 1-800-785-9927 or click Request A Quote.