Above-Grade Waterproofing for Madison Office Buildings, State Buildings, Campuses & Hospitals
Commercial Waterproofing Contractors in Madison, WI
In Madison, water gets into buildings two ways. Summer thunderstorms drive rain against walls and windows, and all winter long, snow melts on sunny afternoons and refreezes at night, working into every crack and joint. Ice that forms behind a failed sealant or inside a mortar joint expands and pushes the opening wider, so a small leak in December can be a big one by April. Ice dams at roof edges and parapets can also back meltwater into the top of the wall.
Presto Restoration brings more than 25 years of above-grade commercial waterproofing experience to Madison. 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, stone and concrete with breathable repellents on office buildings, state buildings, campus buildings, hospitals and historic properties. We also manufacture our own restoration products, including Glass Defender for glass and Leach Stop for precast concrete.
OUR COMMERCIAL WATERPROOFING SERVICES IN MADISON
From a single window that leaks every spring thaw to a full reseal of a state office building, we handle every kind of above-grade waterproofing in Madison.
Core Waterproofing Services
Expansion joints in Madison buildings move through a wide temperature range every year. When the sealant splits, meltwater and rain run in and freeze inside the wall. We remove failed material, repair damaged joint edges and install sealants or preformed systems rated for cold-weather movement, and we rout and seal active cracks.
Window and curtain wall perimeters are common leak points on Madison offices, clinics and apartment towers, especially where meltwater runs down the wall. We replace perimeter sealant, reseal mullions and repair gaskets, and salt-hazed glass can be restored and protected with Glass Defender.
Parapets, ledges and copings collect snow and ice all winter. A high-solids silicone coating stays flexible in the cold and keeps water from soaking into the masonry and freezing there.
Many Madison office and university buildings from the 1960s through the 1980s still rely on dry glazing gaskets that cold winters have shrunk and cracked. Wet glazing adds a continuous silicone seal between glass and frame, stopping leaks without replacing the windows.
Concrete and stucco crack through freeze cycles, and every crack lets in more water to freeze next time. Elastomeric coatings bridge hairline cracks and move with the wall, applied at full thickness after larger cracks are repaired.
Brick, sandstone, limestone and concrete absorb water that can freeze and spall the surface. Breathable penetrating repellents cut that absorption while letting moisture already inside escape, which matters even more in a cold climate.
Specialized Restoration-Waterproofing
Waterproofing is one part of a bigger job. Presto also restores the glass, metal, stone and concrete under the seal using products we make ourselves, so one crew handles all of it.
Precast panels can leach salts that leave white streaks as water dries, and road salt and meltwater add to the problem. Leach Stop is our treatment designed to reduce it. We clean deposits, treat the panels and reseal their joints.
Metal panels, copings and window frames rely on sealant at every seam, and metal moves a lot between summer and winter. We replace failed sealants with products made for metal and cold-weather movement and reseal laps and fasteners.
Our Commercial Waterproofing Process in Madison
Every Madison waterproofing project follows five steps, and you see our findings and pricing before work begins.
Building Envelope Inspection
We inspect joints, glazing, coatings, flashings and parapets on every elevation, including ice and freeze damage.
Diagnostic Testing
Water tests and moisture readings confirm where water is getting in.
Scope & Specification
Systems are chosen for freeze cycles, meltwater and summer storms, then written into a clear scope.
Waterproofing Installation
Crews install each system within the temperature range the manufacturer requires.
Project Closeout & Warranty
You receive photos, product data and warranty records.
Talk to Presto About Waterproofing Your Madison Building
Leaks during the spring thaw, stains after storms or caulking pulling away? Call us or request a quote, and our team will respond to discuss your Madison building.
Why Madison Property Managers Choose Presto for Commercial Waterproofing
Our crews have waterproofed buildings across the country for more than 25 years. In Madison we choose sealants that stay flexible in the cold and plan work to fit the building season around state, campus and hospital schedules.
Our Local Madison, WI Support Network
A sealed building stays dry longest with a check after each winter and quick repairs. Presto connects Madison 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 Madison: Hands-on exterior repairs for Madison buildings.
Building Maintenance Madison: Routine maintenance that catches freeze damage early.
Building Services Madison: General commercial building support across Dane County.
Recent Restoration Projects in Wisconsin
WISCONSIN PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Browse stone and facade restoration Presto has completed in Wisconsin.
Madison Commercial Waterproofing FAQs
How often should sealants be replaced on a Madison building?
Most joints last 10 to 15 years in Madison, and sooner on walls that see heavy sun or a lot of meltwater.
What is the difference between waterproofing and water damage repair?
Waterproofing keeps water out at the exterior. Water damage repair fixes interior finishes after water gets in. We stop the source first so the inside only needs repair once.
Can waterproofing be done while the building is occupied?
Yes. Nearly all the work happens from outside, scheduled around offices, students, patients and staff.
What is the difference between elastomeric coatings and water repellents?
An elastomeric coating is a flexible film that bridges cracks and changes the wall’s look. A water repellent soaks into brick, stone or concrete and blocks water without changing its appearance.
How do I know if waterproofing can wait another year?
Leaks during the spring thaw, damp or stained walls, flaking masonry or split caulking mean it should not wait another winter. If sealants are still flexible and nothing leaks, planned replacement over a few years is usually fine.
When is the best time for waterproofing work in Madison?
Sealants and coatings need warm enough temperatures to cure, so most work runs from about April through October, with the goal of sealing the building before the first hard freeze.
Other Madison Building Restoration Services
Keep Water Out of Your Madison Building
One torn joint can let a whole winter of meltwater into a wall. 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.