TC Hafford Basement Systems Before & After Photos

This 1800s-era Ellsworth home has a wall that’s caving in, preventing the homeowner from being able to remodel and causing dips in the first-level floors. Log joists were rotting, and lally columns were rusting, only adding to the existing problems. Ready to move on from their burdens and finally remodel their home, this Ellsworth homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems to schedule a free estimate to address their home issues.

System Design Specialist Mark Smith met with the homeowner and surveyed their basement to design a system that would protect the health of the home, save their foundation, and give the homeowners the chance to remodel without concern that their work would be for nothing. The failing stone foundation wall was the biggest issue and needed to be addressed immediately. Typically, the home would need to be raised, the family would have to move out for a period of time, and a new foundation would have to be poured. Thankfully, TC Hafford Basement Systems offers a system called StableLock that prevents these steps. StableLock is a proprietary system that offers an effective and affordable alternative to save the existing wall. StableLock fills voids and stabilizes existing walls to leave a smooth, strong wall, eliminating the need for a family to move out of their home to fix their foundation.

SmartJacks were installed with a new supplemental beam to lift the sagging floors and create a level surface. SmartJacks can be adjusted as time goes on to keep the floors above stable and level. The rotten beams and rusty lally columns are no longer a concern for the homeowner. SmartJacks are galvanized for corrosion resistance and can support loads of more than 60,000 pounds.

This Ellsworth, ME, homeowner can now remodel their home without worrying about their work and money going to waste. Their home’s health is protected, and their foundation is fixed without having to move out of their home.

After putting a new addition onto their home, this Ellsworth, ME, homeowner has had issues with moisture in their crawl space. Not wanting to move on to other home improvement projects without fixing their crawl space, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems and scheduled a free estimate. System Design Specialist Mark Smith drove out and met with the homeowner to work with them on designing a crawl space encapsulation system.

First, TC Hafford removed the old plastic from the crawl space and laid down brand-new Drainage Matting. Drainage Matting features dimples that create a gap, allowing any groundwater to be channeled without causing any issues to the crawl space. CleanSpace is then laid on top of the Drainage Matting to create an inorganic barrier between outside elements and the crawl space. Finally, a SmartJack was installed to better support the floor above and remove any bounce the floor had.

Now the crawl space is encapsulated, and because of CleanSpace’s bright white color, light is reflected, resulting in a perfect storage area that is protected from critters, moisture, and any other outside element that could cause issues.

When it rains, this Ellsworth, ME, home has a problem with water coming in through the floor joints and bulkhead, and an old sump isn’t helping the situation. Worried about damage to their home and wanting a healthier basement, the homeowner scheduled a free estimate with TC Hafford Basement Systems for help. Excited to help, System Design Specialist Craig Ziegenbein met with the homeowner and worked with them to design a waterproofing system that would prevent water from coming in and causing issues for the homeowner.

The old sump pump wasn’t working and needed to be replaced. With the old sump gone, a TripleSafe Sump Pump was installed. The TripleSafe features a powerful Zoeller sump placed at the lowest level with a more powerful Zoeller ½ hp pump set higher to take over during situations with a high level of water. To protect a homeowner in the case of a power outage, a third pump is included. The UltraSump Battery Backup sump pump is set at the highest level and is capable of pumping 11,500 gallons or more on a fully charged battery. To catch water and channel it to the TripleSafe, WaterGuard Perimeter Drain and TrenchDrain were installed where needed. WaterGuard was installed under the slab and channels water to the sump pump and has built-in clean-out ports for easy maintenance to keep the system running at 100%. TrenchDrain was installed in high-traffic areas such as the bulkhead entrance to catch the maximum amount of water possible. The TripleSafe has to pump the water somewhere, so a Buried Discharge Line was installed that takes the water away from the home where it won't be a problem. At the end of the Discharge line, a LawnScape outlet was installed to prevent any critters or debris from coming into the line, keeping it clear and unobstructed. Winter months in Maine can get very cold, so to prevent freezing temperatures from slowing down the system, IceGuard was installed at the base of the Discharge line to prevent ice from building up and ensure the system running at 100% all year round. Finally, to prevent mold growth and damage from high humidity in the basement, a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier was installed to maintain a consistent and safe humidity level. Unlike most dehumidifiers, the SaniDry Sedona drains directly to the TripleSafe, so the homeowner never has to worry about emptying a bucket and can travel without the concern of humidity-causing issues in their basement.

Now that the homeowner is fully protected from water and their old sump pump is long gone, they are able to enjoy their home without worrying about water causing them issues. Their home is healthier; their basement can now be used properly and without the risk of their belongings being damaged

This Trenton, ME, homeowner has lived in their home for nearly a decade, and in the last three years they have had issues with water making it’s way into their basement. They couldn’t store anything on the floor without it being damaged, and wanting peace of mind that their home would be safe, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems and booked a free estimate. System Design Specialist Mark Smith worked with the homeowner to design a waterproofing system that would waterproof the basement and allow the homeowner to regain control of their basement.

WaterGuard was installed along the perimeter of the basement to catch and channel water to the new SuperSump Plus. The SuperSump Plus takes the water and pumps it out of the basement through an Exterior Buried Discharge line that takes the water far away from the home. The whole system is protected against ice buildup during winter with the installation of IceGuard on the Discharge line. This ensures that the system will always run, preventing flooding when snow melts. To finish out the waterproofing system, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier was installed to keep the humidity in the basement at a safe level, preventing musty smells and mold growth. Now the homeowner is happy that they are able to use their basement again without the risk or concern of their belongings and appliances being damaged because of water.

This Seal Harbor, ME, home has an issue. The homeowner wants to remodel the home, but with water coming in, nothing would be safe from damage. Large cracks in the slab were an invitation to groundwater, and when it rains, water was not shy about showing up without an RSVP. To add some salt to the wound that is a wet basement, this is a summer home and won’t be monitored full-time. This means that if it rains in the off-season, there would likely be no one home to check the basement, leading to more issues and drastically reducing the health of the home.

System Design Specialist Mark Smith worked with the homeowner to put together a plan to solve the issues in the basement and provide the homeowner with peace of mind. A new slab would be necessary as repairing the old one was not worth it. Before the new slab is poured, Drainage Matting is put down with a perimeter of WaterGuard. WaterGuard will take water that seeps in and channel it to a TripleSafe Sump Pump that’s attached to an exterior buried Discharge Line that will move the water away from the house, where it will no longer be a concern. IceGuard is attached to the Discharge Line, preventing the buildup of ice and ensuring clogging won’t be an issue in the winter.

Now that the system is in place, the homeowner is free to remodel the home without the concern of water damage or the need to check on the house every time it rains.