COMMERCIAL
WATERPROOFING
IN DENISON, TX.
Denison earned the 2025 Great American Main Street Award — the result of 710 buildings rehabilitated and $74 million reinvested in a 30-block historic commercial core since 1988. The Designing Downtown Denison Phase 2 infrastructure project, at over $23 million the most ambitious in the city's 152-year history, is now underway. When the streetscape is upgraded, the pressure is on building owners to match it — and waterproofing is the foundation of every lasting facade restoration.
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. Critical for Denison's historic downtown buildings where brick laid in the 1910s through 1940s was never designed to accommodate modern freeze-thaw cycling without sealant support.
We apply coatings rated for multi-story substrates — concrete, CMU, brick, and stucco — with proper surface profiling to ensure adhesion that lasts 10-15 years between recoats. On historic masonry, we select breathable formulations that meet preservation guidelines.
Membrane Waterproofing
Self-adhering and torch-applied sheet membranes for below-grade walls, plaza decks, and parking structures. These create a continuous moisture barrier where elastomeric coatings alone can't handle hydrostatic pressure.
Denison's expansive black-clay soils swell up to 12% in volume when wet, exerting pressures exceeding 10,000 lbs/sq-ft on foundation walls. For commercial buildings along the Foundation Business Park corridor and older industrial facilities near Texoma Drive, below-grade membrane systems are the only reliable solution.
Sealant & Joint Replacement
Expansion joints, control joints, and perimeter sealants are the first line of defense — and the first to fail. We remove deteriorated caulking, prepare substrates, and install commercial-grade silicone, polyurethane, or polysulfide sealants matched to your building's movement characteristics.
For Denison's large-footprint industrial facilities — including the Ruiz Foods manufacturing complex at 2410 Texoma Drive — we use our 56' and 72' boom trucks to access upper elevations efficiently without scaffolding, keeping costs down on high-square-footage projects.
Penetrating Masonry Sealers
For Denison's historic downtown Commercial Overlay District — where over 200 independently owned businesses occupy 60-to-100-year-old masonry buildings — penetrating sealers absorb into the substrate without altering appearance. They repel water while allowing masonry to breathe, preventing the trapped-moisture deterioration that film-forming coatings cause on aged brick.
We evaluate substrate porosity, mortar condition, and previous treatment history before recommending a sealer system compatible with preservation requirements.
Industries We Serve in Denison
Why Denison Buildings Need Waterproofing Now
Denison's commercial building stock has a median year built of 1967 — constructed before modern elastomeric sealants, freeze-thaw-resistant masonry detailing, and waterproofing membrane technology became standard. Many downtown buildings date to the 1910s through 1940s. These structures were built to last, but they weren't built with today's waterproofing expectations baked in.
The Designing Downtown Denison (D3) Phase 2 initiative — approved at over $23 million, the most ambitious public infrastructure project in the city's 152-year history — is upgrading the streetscape around these buildings. That public investment creates direct competitive pressure: property owners who match it attract tenants; those who don't lose them. Waterproofing and facade restoration are the private side of that equation.
We're located 18 miles from Denison in Whitesboro and have worked on commercial buildings throughout Grayson County. We understand the clay soils, the historic masonry substrates, and the preservation-sensitive context of Denison's downtown — and we work within it.
Denison's commercial stock averages 55+ years — well past original sealant and waterproofing service life
710 buildings rehabilitated since 1988 — waterproofing protects that cumulative investment
The most ambitious public project in Denison's 152-year history — raising the bar for adjacent building owners
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. Denison won the 2025 Great American Main Street Award on the strength of 710 rehabilitated buildings and $74 million in reinvestment since 1988 — and waterproofing is the unsexy work that keeps those buildings performing for the next 40 years. Aging sealants, open mortar joints, and untreated masonry are the most common entry points in a stock where the median structure dates to 1967.
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 on exterior surfaces, visible cracks in mortar joints, and musty odors in lower levels. In Denison's historic downtown Commercial Overlay District — where many buildings are 60 to 100 years old — these signs are common. North Texas expansive clay soils also swell up to 12% in volume when wet, generating pressures exceeding 10,000 lbs/sq-ft on foundations and accelerating joint failure.
How is commercial waterproofing different from residential?
Commercial waterproofing addresses larger surface areas, multiple substrate types (concrete, masonry, curtain wall, metal panel), and stricter code requirements. Commercial buildings also require phased application to keep tenants and business operations running. We use industrial-grade elastomeric coatings and membrane systems rated for multi-story structures — not the consumer-grade sealers used on residential foundations. For Denison's historic masonry commercial buildings, we also coordinate with preservation guidelines to maintain historic character.
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. The right choice depends on your building's construction type, exposure conditions, and maintenance access. For Denison's downtown Commercial Historic Overlay District buildings, penetrating sealers are often preferred — they protect masonry without altering the appearance that earned the district its 2025 Great American Main Street Award recognition.
How often should commercial waterproofing be inspected?
We recommend annual visual inspections and a professional assessment every 3-5 years. After significant weather events — the June 2023 DFW-region storms produced $7-10 billion in insured hail losses — inspect immediately. For Denison's older commercial stock (median year built 1967), if your building has never been assessed, start now: a failed sealant joint caught early costs a fraction of what it costs after water has been working its way through brick for a season.
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 Denison Property
Whether you own a historic downtown building in the Commercial Overlay District, an industrial facility near Texoma Drive, or a commercial property along SH-91 — we'll assess your waterproofing needs and provide a detailed scope of work.