COMMERCIAL
WATERPROOFING
IN DENTON, TX.
Denton's building stock spans more than a century — from UNT's Curry Hall (1912) and Peterbilt's 700,000-sq-ft manufacturing plant (1980) to 1990s Loop 288 commercial development now hitting its 25-30 year exterior maintenance milestone. Each era used different masonry systems and sealant chemistry, but all of them sit on North Texas's expansive clay belt, where soil movement stresses foundations and joint sealants year-round. May 2024's hail event delivered over $2.3 billion in regional property damage. Denton's wide range of building ages means the waterproofing needs here are among the most varied in the region.
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. For Denton's South Loop 288 corridor commercial buildings — constructed in the 1990s from concrete block, brick, and metal panel — elastomeric coatings restore moisture resistance as original systems approach the end of their designed service life.
We apply coatings rated for multi-story substrates with proper surface profiling to ensure adhesion that lasts 10-15 years between recoats. For large-footprint industrial buildings like Peterbilt's manufacturing campus, we self-perform with our boom trucks to keep costs down on high-square-footage applications.
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.
Denton sits at the heart of the I-35E/I-35W confluence on North Texas's expansive clay belt. Seasonal soil moisture cycles swell and contract the clay beneath foundations, generating lateral pressure on below-grade walls that only properly installed sheet membrane systems can reliably resist over the long term.
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 Denton's university district — where UNT and TWU operate buildings from 1912 through the present — joint sealant replacement must be matched to each building's substrate, age, and movement profile. We assess each facade condition individually before specifying a sealant system. Our 56' and 72' boom trucks provide upper-elevation access without scaffolding.
Penetrating Masonry Sealers
The 1896 Denton County Courthouse — constructed from granite, sandstone, and limestone — has undergone exterior restoration twice (1987 and 2004). For historic stone and brick masonry like this, penetrating sealers absorb into the substrate without altering appearance, repel water while allowing the masonry to breathe, and prevent trapped-moisture deterioration that film-forming coatings cause on aged stone.
Downtown Denton's Historic District has received over $132 million in reinvestment since 1990. Penetrating sealers protect that investment at the substrate level without compromising the historic character that drives commercial value.
Industries We Serve in Denton
Why Denton Buildings Need Waterproofing Now
No city in this region has a wider range of commercial building ages. Denton's downtown holds structures from the 1890s. UNT's campus dates to 1912. Peterbilt's plant has operated since 1980. Loop 288 commercial development from the 1990s is hitting its 25-30 year maintenance window now. Each cohort faces different waterproofing challenges — different substrates, different failure modes, different regulatory contexts.
What they share is geography. Denton sits at the confluence of I-35E and I-35W on some of North Texas's most active expansive clay soil. Seasonal moisture cycles expand and contract that clay, stressing every foundation, parapet, and sealant joint in the city. The May 2024 hail event added acute storm damage on top of that chronic structural stress.
Griffin Restoration has 26+ years of commercial exterior work across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. We understand masonry substrates from limestone courthouse stone to CMU industrial block, and we bring the access equipment — 56' and 72' boom trucks — to work at scale without disrupting the facilities below.
Curry Hall — over 110 years of North Texas exterior exposure, representing the oldest end of Denton's institutional building stock
45 years of continuous manufacturing at 238 acres — industrial-scale exterior maintenance across multiple buildings and eras
Golf-ball to softball-sized hailstones — buildings not professionally inspected afterward have undetected active infiltration points
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. Denton's building stock spans over a century — from UNT's Curry Hall (1912) and the 1896 Denton County Courthouse through 1990s Loop 288 commercial construction and Peterbilt's massive 700,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility (1980). Each era used different materials and detailing, but all share the same vulnerability: original waterproofing systems eventually fail and need professional replacement.
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. The May 2024 North Texas hail event caused more than $2.3 billion in regional property damage — if your Denton building sustained impact and hasn't been professionally inspected since, cracked sealants and compromised mortar joints are actively admitting water. Denton's position in the expansive clay belt also means soil movement is constantly stressing foundation walls and lower-elevation sealant joints.
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. Denton's university district — UNT at 963 acres, TWU at 270+ acres — contains buildings from 1912 through modern research facilities, each with different substrate requirements. Peterbilt's 700,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility, operating since 1980, requires industrial-scale access and application that residential waterproofing contractors are not equipped to provide.
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 the 1896 Denton County Courthouse — built from granite, sandstone, and limestone in Romanesque Revival style — penetrating sealers that don't alter the historic stone's appearance are essential. For Peterbilt's large-footprint industrial campus or Loop 288 commercial buildings, elastomeric coatings and below-grade membrane systems address different exposure conditions.
How often should commercial waterproofing be inspected?
We recommend annual visual inspections and a professional assessment every 3-5 years. The 1896 Denton County Courthouse has undergone exterior restoration twice — in 1987 and 2004 — on roughly a 17-year cycle that aligns with North Texas's climate demands on masonry. For commercial buildings on South Loop 288 built in the 1990s-early 2000s, that 25-30 year exterior maintenance milestone is here now. After significant weather events like May 2024's $2.3 billion damage event, inspect immediately.
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 Denton Property
Whether you manage a historic downtown building, a university-adjacent commercial property, an industrial facility near the airport, or a Loop 288 retail center — we'll assess your waterproofing needs and provide a detailed scope of work.