COMMERCIAL
WATERPROOFING
IN ARDMORE, OK.
Ardmore's Historic Commercial District contains 119 masonry buildings on Main and Hinkle Streets — many rebuilt after the 1915 gas tank car explosion and now over 100 years old. The Carter County Courthouse has stood since 1910. Valero's refinery has operated since 1913. When your building inventory spans a century of construction, waterproofing isn't a single treatment — it's a layered program matched to each era and substrate.
What Commercial Waterproofing Includes
Comprehensive moisture protection for commercial facilities — from elastomeric coatings to full membrane systems.
Elastomeric Coating Systems
Spray-applied or roll-applied flexible coatings that bridge hairline cracks and expand with temperature changes. Appropriate for Ardmore's mid-20th century commercial and industrial buildings in the Depot District, Westport Industrial Park, and along I-35 corridors where 1950s-1970s concrete and CMU construction has long since passed its original coating service life.
We apply coatings rated for multi-story and industrial substrates with proper surface profiling to ensure adhesion that lasts 10-15 years between recoats and withstands south-central Oklahoma's severe weather cycle.
Membrane Waterproofing
Self-adhering and torch-applied sheet membranes for below-grade walls, plaza decks, and elevated slabs. Mercy Hospital Ardmore's facility combines the original 1955 structure with a 180,000-sq-ft five-story patient tower added in 2010 — each phase requires membrane waterproofing at transitions, connections, and below-grade areas that must meet Joint Commission facility-condition standards.
For FTZ #227 industrial facilities in the Ardmore Industrial Airpark and Westport Industrial Park, membrane systems handle the hydrostatic loads that surface coatings alone cannot manage on below-grade applications.
Sealant & Joint Replacement
Expansion joints, control joints, and perimeter sealants are the first line of defense — and the first to fail on Ardmore's 55-year-average commercial stock. We remove deteriorated caulking, prepare substrates, and install commercial-grade silicone, polyurethane, or polysulfide sealants matched to each building's movement characteristics and substrate chemistry.
On multi-story buildings in Ardmore's commercial core, we use our 56' and 72' boom trucks for efficient access without scaffolding — important in an active commercial district where lane closures and sidewalk enclosures are disruptive.
Penetrating Masonry Sealers
For Ardmore's NRHP Historic Commercial District — 119 buildings, many from the post-1915 rebuilding campaign — penetrating sealers are the appropriate primary treatment. They absorb into the brick and mortar substrate without forming a film that traps vapor in century-old masonry, repelling water while preserving the historic character required for preservation compliance.
We evaluate substrate porosity, original mortar composition, and previous treatment history — and can match lime-based mortar formulations for tuckpointing work prior to sealer application on the Carter County Courthouse (1910), Ardmore Carnegie Library, and other designated historic structures.
Industries We Serve in Ardmore
Why Ardmore Buildings Need Waterproofing Now
Ardmore is the principal trade center for a ten-county region of south-central Oklahoma and home to some of the longest-operating commercial facilities in the state. Valero's refinery has run continuously since 1913. The Carter County Courthouse has stood since 1910. The Historic Commercial District's 119 buildings cluster on Hinkle and Main Streets between C Street and the Santa Fe Railway right-of-way — a concentrated block of 100+ year old masonry that absorbed the full force of Tornado Alley weather for over a century.
Ardmore's economy is in active transition. Following Michelin's wind-down displacing approximately 1,400 workers, the Ardmore Development Authority received $250,000 from Oklahoma's Rapid Community Response Program. Circulus is opening a new manufacturing plant; Woodside Energy purchased approximately 90 acres at Westport Industrial Park. Economic development activity means site-selector scrutiny — and available buildings with visible exterior deterioration lose to markets with maintained, inspection-ready inventory.
Griffin Restoration is licensed in both Texas and Oklahoma. From our Whitesboro headquarters, we serve south-central Oklahoma including Carter County, with experience on commercial, industrial, and historic masonry structures appropriate to Ardmore's diverse building stock.
NRHP Historic Commercial District masonry buildings on Hinkle and Main Streets — many rebuilt after 1915, now over 100 years old and requiring preservation-appropriate waterproofing
One of the longest continuously operating refineries in Oklahoma — industrial buildings accumulating over a century of atmospheric exposure require recurring exterior masonry and coating maintenance
Ardmore Industrial Airpark and Westport Industrial Park — active industrial recruitment zone where building envelope condition drives site-selector decisions
Why Choose Griffin Restoration
Commercial exterior restoration since 2000
Licensed in TX, OK, AR, and LA
56' and 72' — self-performing capability
Full coverage for commercial projects
Commercial Waterproofing FAQ
What is commercial waterproofing and why does my building need it?
Commercial waterproofing protects your building envelope from moisture infiltration that causes structural deterioration, mold growth, and tenant complaints. In Ardmore, the Historic Commercial District alone contains 119 masonry buildings on Main and Hinkle Streets — many rebuilt after the catastrophic 1915 gas tank car explosion and now over 100 years old. Add Valero's 1913 refinery infrastructure, the 1955 Mercy Hospital core building, and commercial corridors with a median year built of 1971, and Ardmore has one of the most age-concentrated commercial building inventories in southern Oklahoma. For facility managers here, waterproofing isn't maintenance — it's structural risk management.
What are the signs that a commercial building needs waterproofing?
Look for water stains on interior walls or ceilings, efflorescence (white mineral deposits) on exterior masonry, bubbling or peeling paint or coating on exterior surfaces, visible cracks in mortar joints, and musty odors in lower levels. In Ardmore's downtown historic district, deteriorated lime mortar in pre-1920 brick construction is an especially common pathway for water infiltration — the original mortar is often softer than the brick it binds, and once it erodes, water tracks freely through the wall section. South-central Oklahoma's 2-3 significant severe weather events per year accelerate envelope damage on aging stock that lacks active maintenance programs.
How is commercial waterproofing different from residential?
Commercial waterproofing addresses larger surface areas, multiple substrate types (concrete, CMU, brick, historic masonry, industrial metal), and stricter code requirements. Facilities in Ardmore's FTZ #227 industrial corridor — including Westport Industrial Park, where Woodside Energy purchased approximately 90 acres — require industrial-grade coatings rated for heavy atmospheric exposure. Mercy Hospital Ardmore's campus combines a 1955 main building with a 2010 five-story patient tower: each era requires a different waterproofing approach and compatibility assessment before any treatment is applied.
What types of waterproofing systems are used on commercial buildings?
The three primary systems are elastomeric coatings (spray- or roll-applied flexible membranes), sheet membrane systems (self-adhering or torch-applied), and penetrating sealers for masonry substrates. For Ardmore's historic commercial district buildings, penetrating sealers are typically specified to maintain historic character while blocking moisture — standard elastomeric coatings would trap vapor in 100-year-old masonry and accelerate spalling. For industrial facilities in Westport Industrial Park and the Ardmore Industrial Airpark area, elastomeric coatings and full sealant replacement at panel and wall joints are the standard approach.
How often should commercial waterproofing be inspected?
We recommend annual visual inspections and a professional assessment every 3-5 years. South-central Oklahoma's position at the southern edge of Tornado Alley means regular hail, high wind, and ice storm events — each of which can compromise envelope integrity on buildings that haven't had recent maintenance. For Ardmore's aging commercial stock (median 1971), where the Ardmore Development Authority's 2025 plan specifically targets building readiness for site-selector presentations, a documented inspection history is also a direct asset in economic development discussions.
Related Services
Commercial waterproofing often works alongside these complementary services.
Caulking & Sealant Replacement
Failed sealant joints are the #1 cause of water infiltration in commercial buildings. Often combined with waterproofing for complete envelope protection.
Learn more about our sealant services →Exterior Building Repair
Waterproofing after concrete or masonry repair ensures the restored substrate stays protected. We coordinate both services to avoid redundant mobilization.
See our exterior repair capabilities →Parking Garage Repair
Traffic-bearing waterproofing membranes are essential for parking structures. Our team handles structural repair and waterproofing as a single scope of work.
Explore parking garage services →Protect Your Ardmore Property
Whether you manage a historic Main Street building, a healthcare campus, an industrial facility in the FTZ #227 corridor, or a civic property — we'll assess your waterproofing needs and provide a detailed scope of work.