Job Stories

Since 1967, this Arundel, ME, homeowner has lived in their home, and over time they have noticed their floors sagging more and more. With braces rotting and not wanting the problem to get worse, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems to book a free estimate. System Design Specialist John Wright met with the homeowner and worked with them to design a system that would meet the needs of the home and keep the homeowner safe.   The floor above needed to be braced and supported to level the floor and prevent sagging from happening in the future. SmartJacks were installed where needed with the addition of a new Supplemental Beam. SmartJacks can correct problems such as sloping and overly springy floors and out-of-level door frames. Because of the design of SmartJacks, they can be adjusted overtime as needed to compensate for changes in the home. SmartJacks are galvanized for corrosion resistance and can be used with the CleanSpace system if an area is plagued with high moisture or water issues. Now that the SmartJacks are installed, the homeowner is able to have a level floor without it feeling like a trampoline, and their home is no longer at risk of wall cracks or unsafe living conditions.

Kennebunkport, ME homeowners were experiencing issues with water and humidity in their crawl space, and contacted TC Hafford Basement Systems for help. Through the stack effect, the air in a crawl space becomes the air being breathed in the home above, so it is important to keep the crawl space healthy. To address the humidity and air health, we installed the SaniDry Sedona, the world's most efficient dehumidifier and air filtration system. The SaniDry can remove 100 pints of water per day, and has a MERV8 filter to remove dust and mold spores. In addition, we also installed the TripleSafe sump pump with TrenchDrain. TrenchDrain captures water and directs it to the TripleSafe to be pumped away from the home. The TripleSafe has two Zoeller pumps, plus a third battery back up pump to continue functioning even if power goes out. 

A homeowner in Weld was beginning to notice a smell coming from his basement. He had recently had the space waterproofed with a WaterGuard system, but the moisture was still persisting in the air. This was allowing a small amount of mold to grow. Seeking a way to prevent the mold from spreading, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems, and we were on the job! Even though water was being kept off of the floor, moisture was still finding its way into the air. To prevent this from continuing, we installed a SaniDry XP dehumidifier within the basement. This dehumidifier takes in the moist air surrounding it, and dries it out. Once dry, the air is shot out into the basement, forcing more moist air back towards the SaniDry. This creates a cycle unitl all of the air within the space is dry. This new dry air will eliminate the habitat in which the mold can grow, killing it off. This homeowner now has a perfectly waterproof basement!

When this homeowner living in Weld, ME began to notice moisture beneath their home, they needed to have it dealt with as soon as possible. Leaving the state for a while, the homeowner did not want to come home to a flooded home and mold problems. Needing both their basement and crawlspace protected from the elements, the homeowner was unsure where to start. To find out how to get the job done, the homeowner searched online and soon found TC Hafford Basement Systems. They called us up and we dispatched our sales rep. to give the homeowner a free estimate on the cost. After this, they gave us the green light to get started on waterproofing their home. When our installation crew arrived at the home, they first began work on the crawlspace. TO keep water from entering, a vapor barrier was to be used. First, a Drainage Matting was laid across the dirt floor of the crawlspace. The Drainage Mat has holes throughout it and sits elevated off the floor slightly. This enables water blocked by the finished barrier to flow out through the dirt using the channels below the mat. Next, a CleanSpace liner was used to encapsulate the crawlspace completely. This covered the floor and walls of the space with a thin white sheet, sealing off the interior of the crawlspace from any leaking moisture and finishing the vapor barrier installation. Moving to the basement, a sump system would be installed to prevent water from gathering on the floor of the basement. A SuperSump sump pump was placed inside the concrete basement floor and an UltraSump backup battery was connected nearby. The SuperSump can pump over 2,600 gallons of water from the home every hour, plenty of power to keep out any leaking rainwater. The connected UltraSump will provide the SuperSump with power during any outages in the home, protecting the home from especially heavy storms while the homeowner is away and charging when power returns. The pumped water exits the home through a PVC discharge line, where it flows a distance away from the home. Attached to this line are two special pipe segments to further the protection of this basement. The first was an IceGuard pipe segment attached just beyond where the line exits the home. The IceGuard has upward facing holes built-in, to allow for trapped water to escape the line. This will prevent ice inside the line causing the water to backup inside the home and flood the basement. Finally, a LawnScape discharge port was added to the end of the line. The LawnScape section ends the line with a grate, blocking debris from entering the pipe while allowing the water to freely flow. With these improvements to their home, this homeowner can now leave for extended periods of time without needing to worry about their home flooding while they are away. The SuperSump system and CleanSpace encapsulation will ensure this home stays dry for years into the future!

A couple in Peru was having trouble with a flooding basement. Their basement would regularly gather up to three inches of water on the floor. Looking for a way to seal out any moisture, the homeowners visited a home show in Bangor. This is where they found TC Hafford Basement Systems, and they knew we could assist them with all their basement troubles. They set up a meeting and we got to work on the home! To start on the basement, we dug out the interior perimeter of the floor. This enabled us to lay our WaterGuard pipe system under the floor. It was then covered with loose rocks and cement to conceal it without hindering functionality. The WaterGuard pipes are designed in such a way where they collect all the water trying to press up through the foundation. The water is guided to the sump within the basement, where we installed a SuperSump sump pump. The SuperSump was given an UltraSump backup battery to keep it running in any condition. The water pumped out by the SuperSump traveled through an IceGuard piece of pipe we attached on the exterior of the home. The IceGuard would allow water to flow normally, while in the event of the pipe clogging, allowed the water to exit the sides of the pipe. With this waterproofing in place, a flooding basement was a thing of the past for this couple!

Potential buyers for a Gorham, Maine home had an inspection done which revealed that the house needed new posts in the basement to support the beams above. At the recommendation of the home inspector, we installed new SmartJacks, which are galvanized steel posts. SmartJacks will never rust like traditional lally columns. They are custom fit to immediately lift and level any sagging floors above, and can be tightened over time to adjust as the home shifts. 

A couple in Gorham was looking experiencing moisture gathering in their crawlspace. They needed a proper vapor barrier to help keep out this water. Looking for the right company for the job, they came across TC Hafford Basement Systems one day while watching television. They called us soon after to set up a meeting with one of our representatives. We gave them their free estimate, and they chose to go ahead and have us install a proper vapor barrier for them. We sent in our crew and got to work! We began installing the vapor barrier by laying down a Drainage Matting. This mat lays against the wall/floor joint around the inside perimeter of the crawlspace. This is where most of the water coming in will coalesce and the mat allows this water time to drain, without it reaching the interior of the crawlspace. Next, we encapsulated the crawlspace with a CleanSpace Liner. This is a thin plastic sheet that covers everything except for the ceiling of the crawlspace. This will lock out any moisture trying too finds its way into the interior of the crawlspace. Whether it’s trying to pool up on the floor or make its way into the air, no water is going to be entering the crawlspace from the outside anymore. Now this couple has a proper vapor barrier, thanks to CleanSpace.

Homeowners in Gorham, Maine had an old sump pump system that was not keeping up with the water in their basement. They frequently experienced flooding, and specifically wanted to find a sump system that had a battery backup. We installed a TripleSafe sump pump to replace their old pump. The TripleSafe has two Zoeller pumps, and a third battery backup pump that keeps the system operating even when the power goes out. The TripleSafe system can handle over 6,000 gallons of water per hour in high capacity events. 

We recently helped clients who were under contract to purchase a Gorham, Maine home when a home inspection report revealed the home needed more support posts. We installed SmartJacks steel posts in the affected area, stabilizing the home above. Moisture in a crawl space can cause the wooden beams to weaken over time, and eventually even rot. SmartJacks are zinc-coated so they will never rust, making them a great option in damp spaces. 

A homeowner in Gorham, Maine, reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems to explore an upgrade for their existing gutter system. They were particularly interested in the Gutter Shutter system, which is designed to prevent clogs and keep water flowing away from the home, ensuring long-term protection from rainwater damage.   After a thorough assessment, our team recommended not only the Gutter Shutter system but also RainChute for additional protection. By combining these two systems, we ensured the home was fully safeguarded from water damage by directing rainwater away from the foundation and keeping debris out of the gutters. The homeowner was delighted with the final result, feeling confident that their home is now better equipped to handle heavy rains without the risk of foundation issues or water damage.