Inspec
Menu

Waterproofing Inspection Services

Protect your building with professional waterproofing inspection services. Ensure long-term durability, code compliance, and warranty support

Waterproofing systems are only effective when properly installed and maintained. Our waterproofing inspection services provide expert oversight during construction and post-installation to ensure long-term performance, code compliance, and warranty protection. This level of attention helps avoid costly failures and extends the life of the envelope system.

What Are Waterproofing Inspections?

Waterproofing inspections assess the quality, detailing, and condition of both above-grade and below-grade systems. Our team verifies flashing, sealants, drainage paths, membrane continuity, and transitions. We also check for proper sequencing and material compatibility to ensure the system performs as intended.

Additionally, we collaborate closely with contractors and design teams to resolve issues before they impact project timelines or warranties.

Why Inspect Waterproofing Systems?

  • Prevent water intrusion into occupied or structural spaces
  • Catch installation defects before costly repairs are needed
  • Ensure warranties remain valid through QA/QC documentation
  • Mitigate future maintenance costs and legal risk
  • Support contractor accountability with independent oversight

Our Waterproofing Inspection Services Include:

  • On-site QA/QC inspections during membrane installation
  • Leak investigation and failure analysis
  • Detail review for flashing, sealants, and transitions
  • Electronic testing for membrane continuity (EFVM, ELD)
  • Progress reports, punch lists, and compliance documentation

Case Study: Plaza Deck Inspection at Corporate HQ

Issue: Premature ponding and water intrusion at planters and expansion joints

Findings: Missing sealant transitions, improper slope to drains, and inadequate termination details

Solution: We directed immediate corrections during construction, avoiding expensive rework and preserving the warranty.

See waterproofing inspection guidance from the National Roofing Contractors Association.

Talk to us

Have a building we should look at?

Tell us about the building and what you are seeing. Our consultants work across Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

Contact Inspec

Common questions

Do you inspect waterproofing that is already covered by pavers or soil?
Yes, though access governs what we can see. We inspect at drains, terminations and any existing openings, and we may recommend selective removal of pavers, pedestals or planting media at representative locations. Where the overburden cannot be disturbed, we say what the visual inspection can and cannot conclude, and identify testing that could answer the remaining questions.
How is a waterproofing inspection different from a leak investigation?
An inspection documents the overall condition and quality of the waterproofing, whether or not anything is leaking. A leak investigation starts with a known symptom and works backward to find the entry point, often using water testing and selective opening. Owners frequently start with an inspection and move to an investigation only if active intrusion is confirmed.
Can INSPEC inspect waterproofing while a contractor is installing it?
Yes. Construction-phase observation lets deficiencies be corrected while the contractor is mobilized and the assembly is still open, which is far less expensive than remediation after overburden is placed. We report to the owner, not the installer, and issue field reports during the work rather than a single summary at completion.
Will the report tell us what repairs to make?
The report describes conditions, our opinion of their cause where evidence supports one, and recommended courses of action ranked by urgency. INSPEC does not perform repair work, so recommendations are not tied to any product or contractor. If you need construction documents for the corrective work, that is a separate design engagement we can discuss.
What should we have ready before the inspection?
Anything you can find helps: original or as-built drawings, waterproofing shop drawings and product data, warranty documents, records of past repairs, and a list of where water has appeared inside the building. Photographs taken during past leak events are particularly useful, because they show conditions that may not be visible on the day we visit.
Can you inspect waterproofing on an occupied building?
Yes. Most plaza deck, balcony and parking deck inspections are visual and photographic work carried out from the surface, so disruption is limited to the areas we are walking. If probes, openings or water testing are needed, we identify those in advance and coordinate access, protection and scheduling with your facility staff.
How often should a plaza deck or balcony be inspected?
There is no single interval that fits every assembly. Frequency depends on the age of the waterproofing, the amount of overburden, exposure, traffic and whether the space below is occupied. Owners often tie inspections to their capital planning cycle, to sealant and coating maintenance, or to the appearance of any new interior staining.
Can an inspection support a property purchase or sale?
Yes. A waterproofing inspection during due diligence documents the present condition of decks, balconies and below-grade walls so that likely future expenditure is visible before closing. The report describes what was observed and what remains unknown behind overburden, which lets buyers and sellers discuss risk with the same information.