Water seeping through the basement wall
We seal the exterior face of the foundation, repoint the mortar joints, and address the grade so water runs away from the wall. Most basement seepage stops after one sealing job.
Licensed, insured, and built for Oregon rain
Masonry waterproofing Milwaukie OR that keeps water out for good
If water is finding its way through your brick, block, or stone, masonry waterproofing Milwaukie OR is the fix that stops it at the surface instead of letting it rot the wall from inside. We seal foundations, chimneys, retaining walls, and veneer across Clackamas County, and we do it with breathable systems that let masonry dry instead of trapping moisture. Same-week estimates, and we stand behind every coat we spray.
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About this service
What masonry waterproofing Milwaukie OR actually does
Masonry waterproofing Milwaukie OR is the process of stopping liquid water from entering brick, block, stone, or mortar while still letting the wall breathe. We clean the surface, repair failed mortar joints and cracks, then apply a breathable siloxane or crystalline sealer that penetrates 1/8 to 1/4 inch into the masonry. That depth matters: a film-forming paint traps vapor and spalls the brick, while a penetrating sealer lets moisture escape and blocks the rain coming in.
Milwaukie sits in a wet pocket of Clackamas County where 40-plus inches of rain a year hits walls that were never designed for it. Older homes near Downtown Milwaukie and Ardenwald have soft lime mortar and porous brick that wick water straight into basements. If you have been searching masonry waterproofing near me Milwaukie OR after a wet winter, the culprit is usually mortar joint deterioration and water infiltration, not the brick itself. Sealing the wall stops the cycle before it costs you a foundation.
- ✓ Stops basement seepage
- ✓ Prevents spalling brick
- ✓ Kills efflorescence
- ✓ Extends mortar life
What's included
What our masonry waterproofing includes
Every waterproofing job starts with an inspection and ends with a hose test. What happens between those two points depends on what your wall needs. Here is what is standard on a RenovoBase waterproofing job, and what we quote separately if your masonry needs structural work first.
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Full moisture inspection
We test the wall with a moisture meter, tap for hollow spots with a hammer, and photograph every crack, spalled brick, and deteriorated joint. You get the report whether or not you hire us.
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Mortar joint repair
Failed joints get ground out and repointed with lime mortar or portland cement matched to your existing wall. We do not seal over crumbling mortar, because the sealer would just peel off with it.
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Crack sealing
Cracks wider than 1/8 inch get filled with flexible polyurethane sealant or hydraulic cement. Moving cracks get stitched. This is the step that stops water infiltration at the source.
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Breathable sealer application
Two coats of penetrating siloxane sealer on porous brick, one on dense block, applied at the manufacturer's coverage rate. The wall breathes, water beads, and the color returns to normal in a day.
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Hose test and walkthrough
We come back after the cure, spray the wall, and show you water beading instead of soaking in. You get a written maintenance schedule and a workmanship warranty on the application.
How it works
How our waterproofing process runs
01
Inspection
We walk the wall with a mason's level, a hammer, and a moisture meter. We tap for hollow spots, check mortar joints for deterioration, and look for efflorescence and cracked foundation. You get photos of every problem area and a straight answer on what needs sealing versus what needs rebuilding. Takes 45 to 90 minutes.
02
Surface prep
Waterproofing only works on a clean, sound surface. We grind out failed mortar with an angle grinder, tuck-point the joints with lime mortar matched to your wall, and chip out loose brick with a brick hammer and chisel. Then we wash the wall and let it dry 24 to 48 hours before any sealer touches it.
03
Crack and joint repair
We fill cracks wider than a credit card with a flexible polyurethane sealant or hydraulic cement, depending on whether the crack is moving or static. Settling walls get crack stitching. Chimney leaks get a new crown and flashing detail. This is the step that separates a 2-year fix from a 15-year one.
04
Sealer application
We spray or roll a breathable siloxane sealer at the manufacturer's coverage rate, usually 75 to 125 square feet per gallon. Two coats on porous brick, one on dense block. The wall darkens slightly while wet and returns to its normal color in about 24 hours. Most homes take one day.
05
Cure and walkthrough
The sealer cures in 24 hours and reaches full water repellency in 72. We come back, hose-test the wall, and show you where water beads instead of soaking in. You get a written maintenance schedule and a workmanship warranty on the application.
Tools & methods
Tools and methods we use
Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians — so the job is done accurately the first time.
Moisture meter
Reads the moisture content inside the wall so we know whether the masonry is dry enough to seal. Sealing a wet wall traps water and fails within a year.
Angle grinder and diamond blade
Grinds out failed mortar joints to a consistent depth so the new mortar bonds properly. Hand chisels leave a ragged joint that leaks.
Mason's level and mason's line
Keeps repointed courses straight and confirms whether a wall has moved. A wall that is out of plumb needs more than sealing.
Brick hammer and chisel
Removes spalled brick and loose mortar without cracking the surrounding units. The right tool saves brick that would otherwise be replaced.
Airless sprayer
Applies penetrating sealer at a consistent coverage rate across large wall areas. Roller application on rough brick leaves dry spots that leak.
Jointing tool
Finishes repointed mortar joints to the correct profile so water sheds off the joint instead of sitting on it.
Sakrete and Quikrete products
We use Sakrete and Quikrete repair mortars and sealers because they are rated for freeze-thaw exposure and available locally when a job needs a fast match.
Real results
Before and after.
Ardenwald basement wall, dry again
Before
A 1932 brick bungalow had water running down the inside of the basement wall every winter. The exterior mortar joints were eroded to a depth of half an inch and the base course showed spalling brick.
After
We repointed 42 linear feet of mortar with lime mortar, replaced 18 spalled brick, and applied two coats of siloxane sealer. The basement has stayed dry through two wet seasons and the moisture meter reads normal.
Milwaukie Heights chimney leak fixed
Before
A leaking chimney had stained the attic framing and the ceiling below. The crown was cracked, the flashing was rusted through, and the brick stack was covered in efflorescence.
After
We rebuilt the crown, replaced the flashing, sealed the stack with a breathable water repellent, and removed the efflorescence. No ceiling stains have returned in two rainy seasons.
Island Station retaining wall stabilized
Before
A 30-foot block retaining wall was bulging about 2 inches at the midpoint and water was running through the joints after every storm. The drainage behind the wall was clogged with roots and silt.
After
We cleared and rebuilt the drainage, added weep holes every 6 feet, waterproofed the face, and corrected the grade behind the wall. The wall has not moved in 18 months and the joints are dry.
Problems we solve
Water problems we solve in Milwaukie
Most masonry water problems in Milwaukie come down to five failures. We see them every week, and we know exactly how each one gets fixed.
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White stains on brick and chimney
We remove the salts, find the water source, and seal the wall with a breathable sealer. The stains stop coming back because the water that carried them never gets in.
Crumbling brickwork near the ground
We replace the failed brick with matched units, repoint the surrounding mortar, and seal the base of the wall where splash-back does the most damage.
Chimney leaks staining the ceiling
We rebuild the crown, replace the flashing, seal the brick stack, and waterproof the chimney from cap to roofline. Chimney leaks stop at the source.
Proof you can check
Licensed, insured, and accountable
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Oregon CCB LicenseOregon Construction Contractors Board
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OSHA Safety CertificationOccupational Safety and Health Administration
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ASTM Masonry Standards complianceASTM International
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IBC code-compliant installationInternational Code Council
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Masonry Institute of America CertificationMasonry Institute of America
Most residential jobs in Milwaukie run $1,200 to $4,800 in 2026, depending on square footage and how much mortar repair is needed. A single foundation wall averages $1,800. A full brick home with chimney and retaining wall can reach $6,500. We give you a fixed written price after the inspection, and the estimate is free.
RenovoBase does. We are an Oregon CCB licensed masonry contractor based in Milwaukie, serving Clackamas County since 2021. We handle foundations, chimneys, retaining walls, brick veneer, and stone. Call (855) 947-9500 and we will schedule an inspection, usually within the same week.
Yes. We cover every Milwaukie neighborhood, including Downtown Milwaukie, Ardenwald, Island Station, Hector Campbell, and Milwaukie Heights, plus ZIP codes 97222 and 97269. Masonry water sealing in Milwaukie Oregon is one of our core services, and we can usually get a crew to your property within seven days of the estimate.
A quality breathable sealer lasts 8 to 12 years on vertical brick and block, and 5 to 7 years on horizontal surfaces like chimney crowns and patio walls that take direct rain. We recommend a hose test every three years. If water stops beading, it is time to reseal, and a reseal costs roughly half of the original job.
More services
Related Services
brick masonry contractorWaterproofing only works on sound brick. If your wall has spalling faces or crumbling brickwork, our brick masonry contractor crew replaces the damaged units first, then seals the wall so the new brick lasts.Explore →
masonry contractors near meSearching for masonry contractors near me in Milwaukie usually means you have more than one problem. We inspect the whole envelope, waterproof what needs sealing, and quote any structural repair separately so you can decide.Explore →
chimney masonry near meChimneys take the worst weather on the house. We repoint the crown, replace flashing, and seal the stack so chimney leaks stop staining your ceiling and efflorescence stops blooming on the brick.Explore →
masonry fireplace contractors near meAn outdoor fireplace is a masonry structure that lives in the rain. We seal the firebox surround, the chimney, and the hearth so your fireplace masonry does not spall after two winters.Explore →
masonry restorationWhen mortar joint deterioration has gone too far for sealing alone, masonry restoration rebuilds the wall section by section with matched lime mortar, then waterproofs the finished surface to protect the investment.Explore →
stone masonry contractorNatural stone veneer and cast stone absorb water differently than brick. Our stone masonry contractor crews use penetrating sealers formulated for the stone type, never a one-size-fits-all coating.Explore →
emergency masonry repairIf a storm has opened a crack or dropped a section of wall, emergency masonry repair stabilizes it first. Once the wall is safe, we waterproof the repair so the same water does not find the same seam next storm.Explore →
24/7 masonry contractorWater damage does not wait for business hours. Our 24/7 masonry contractor line handles urgent calls for tarping, shoring, and temporary sealing until a full waterproofing crew can get on site.Explore → Ready when you are
Get masonry waterproofing Milwaukie OR before the next storm
Water damage compounds. Every storm that gets through the wall makes the next repair bigger. Call (855) 947-9500 for a free inspection and a fixed written price. Oregon CCB licensed, fully insured, and we answer the phone.
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Contact RenovoBase
Call (855) 947-9500 or email [email protected] and we will get back to you within one business day. For emergencies, the 24/7 line is always open. We schedule estimates Monday through Friday and can usually be on site the same day you call.
Call anytime(855) 947-9500Email the office[email protected]
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