Job Stories

Leaky and clogged gutters had become a growing issue for this Greenwood, ME homeowner, and wanting to take care of the issue, they reached out to Gutter Shutter by TC Hafford Basement Systems.   System Design Specialist Josh Hamel drove out and met with the homeowner to go over Gutter Shutter and design a system that would surpass the expectations of the homeowner and protect the home from water damage. Wanting to keep the look of their home, the homeowner chose to go with a traditional white Gutter Shutter system that would blend into their home. The larger 6-inch gutter can handle more water, and the built-in shutter keeps organic material out, so clogging is never an issue.   The homeowner is able to relax knowing their home is protected, and they no longer have to worry about water pouring on their heads as they walk into their front door.

A homeowner in Westbrook began noticing a musty smell emanating from their crawlspace. This smell was due to moist conditions, and was likely be a formation of mold inside the crawlspace. The smell might have been the least of the homeowner’s concerns if it was indeed mold growing in their crawlspace. The mold can release spores into the air, which if inhaled by the homeowner, could lead to health concerns. Needing a way to deal with their moisture issue, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems after seeing us on their TV. We had a representative at the home in no time to give the homeowner their free estimate. Luckily, there was very little mold in the crawlspace, and drastic measures weren’t required. We got the go ahead from the homeowner and began work! With the little amount of mold present in the crawlspace, we needed to stop the moisture if we wanted to prevent the mold from spreading. To do this, we encapsulated the crawlspace with a CleanSpace Liner. This liner holds back moisture trying to enter the interior of the crawlspace through the walls or floor. Keeping the moisture out this way will keep the air and surfaces within the crawlspace dry. Without moisture in the air, the mold is unable to survive. Needing certain conditions to live in, the mold will eventually die off, and not grow back. Now this homeowner has no mold problem, and a dry crawlspace, thanks to CleanSpace!

It’s no secret that a home without gutters can lead to expensive issues. Without gutters, water can pool and rot a home’s fascia board, creating gaps and easy access for small rodents to make their way in and causing problems. Water coming off the roof will erode the soil around the home, ruining anything that is planted and potentially damaging the foundation, leading to water intrusion into the basement or crawl space. This Westbrook, ME, homeowner was aware of these issues and wanted to avoid the headache and expensive repair costs, so they booked a free estimate with Gutter Shutter by TC Hafford Basement Systems. System Design Specialist Brian Donnelly met with the homeowner and worked with them to design a Gutter Shutter system, specific to their home.   Gutter Shutter's unique design is capable of catching water off the roof without catching debris such as leaves and pine needles, keeping the gutter clog-free and preventing the homeowner from ever having to climb a ladder. Gutter Shutter features a seamless, aluminum construction that is formed and cut on site to ensure a perfect fit every time, whether the gutter needs to be two feet or 100 feet long. The integrated shutter allows for water to easily flow into the gutter, but debris and critters are kept out. Gutter Shutter's tough design means that it can hold up against the tough Maine winters. Water is handled better than normal gutters, making it harder for icicles to form, keeping the homeowner safer. Gutter Shutter comes in many different colors, allowing the homeowner to have options to choose from so the gutter will blend seamlessly into their home. Now the homeowner is protected from the rain, and they can enjoy their home without having to be concerned about damage to their foundation or the rest of the home.

This Westbrook, ME, homeowner had a unique problem on their hands. Not only did they have a basement with water coming in, but they also had an attached crawl space that wasn’t sealed, and a Blower Door Test proved that they had air leaking. Their basement was wet, and their energy bills were higher than they should be to keep the home warm during the winter months. The homeowner needed help and booked a free estimate with TC Hafford Basement Systems, which offers Dr. Energy Saver and can take care of all of the issues in the basement and crawl space at one time. Waterproofing the Basement Before making the basement more energy efficient, the area needed to be waterproofed. A WaterGuard perimeter drain was installed to capture groundwater and channel it to the new TripleSafe Sump Pump. The TripleSafe includes two Zoeller sumps with the addition of a battery-powered backup to protect the homeowner in the case of a power outage. The TripleSafe was connected to a Buried Discharge line that takes the water far away from the home and is protected against ice buildup with IceGuard. Sealing the Crawl Space The crawl space had a dirt floor and needed to be encapsulated to seal off the area from the outside elements. Drainage Matting was laid down and CleanSpace was installed on top and attached to the walls. CleanSpace is a durable vapor barrier that keeps moisture out of the area along with small critters that could cause issues. Once CleanSpace with Drainage Matting is installed, the homeowner is able to use the area for storage, and their belongings will be protected against the elements. Making the Space More Energy-Efficient To create a more energy-efficient area, the space needed to be insulated better than it was before. Two-inch-thick Foamax Board was installed along the basement walls to trap in heat and work to keep the cold out. Next, SprayFoam was installed along the rim joists and on the walls of the crawl space to insulate the area. Closed Cell SprayFoam insulates better than open cell and doesn’t absorb water, meaning it acts as a vapor barrier as well. After waterproofing the basement, encapsulating the crawl space, and making the area more energy-efficient, the homeowner is happy knowing their home is protected.

A homeowner in Windham had a basement that would flood during heavy rains. The homeowner was unsure how the water was getting in, but they needed something done to stop it. After receiving a piece of mail from TC Hafford Basement Systems, the homeowner knew we would be the perfect company for the job. They called us shortly after to set up a meeting to get their free estimate. After that, the homeowner gave us the go ahead and we got to work! To begin with the waterproofing of the basement, we needed to excavate the inside perimeter of the floor. We dug out a trench, and removed all of the debris from the basement. This allowed us to lay down our WaterGuard piping system. The WaterGuard is then covered over with loose rocks and cement to conceal it within the floor without hindering functionality. The specially designed pipes will capture water as it attempts to enter the basement through the walls or floor. The water is then guided out through a discharge line. This homeowner now no longer needs to worry about water flooding their basement, thanks to WaterGuard.

A homeowner in Windham, Maine, reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems after noticing that his existing gutters struggled to keep up during heavy rain. Concerned about water pooling near his foundation and the potential damage it could cause over time, he wanted a solution that would manage water efficiently and require minimal upkeep. After discussing his needs, we recommended our Gutter Shutter system. Designed to prevent clogs by keeping out debris, this system allows rainwater to flow freely through the gutter and away from the home. The Gutter Shutter’s durable design also eliminates the need for frequent cleaning, which is a big relief for homeowners looking for long-term, low-maintenance solutions. By keeping water away from the foundation, it helps to protect the home from potential damage that can be costly and time-consuming to repair.   During installation, we carefully fitted the Gutter Shutter system to align with the home’s roofline, making sure it provided full coverage and an effective drainage path. The homeowner was particularly pleased with how seamlessly the system blended into the look of his home. After we finished, he expressed satisfaction with the installation, appreciating both the quality of the materials and the added peace of mind that comes with knowing his home is now well-equipped to handle Maine’s rainiest days.     With the Gutter Shutter system in place, he can rest assured that his home will remain protected from the elements, season after season.

A homeowner in Newry, who had sump with a pump, was still having problems with water in their basement. This isn’t uncommon, due to there being no guaranteed way for the water to find its way to the sump. Being a prior customer of TC Hafford Basement Systems, this homeowner knew exactly who to come to in order to fix their problem. We had a representative give a free estimate, and we got to work! In order to guarantee the water entering the basement would find its way to the sump, we needed to install a WaterGuard pipe. To do this, we dug up the interior perimeter of the basement floor and removed all of the debris. Then we laid the WaterGuard piping around the trench, leading to the sump. This was then covered over with loose rocks and cement to hide it under the floor without disturbing functionality. The WaterGuard pipe will capture water as it enters the basement through the walls or floor, guiding it directly to the sump pump to be removed from the basement. Now this homeowner once again has a dry basement, and a system in place to keep it that way!

This Newry, ME homeowner had been having issues with their existing sump. During power-outages, their basement would flood without the sump removing water. Looking to resolve this problem fast, the homeowner called us at TC Hafford soon after hearing our ad on the radio. We set them up with a free estimate and soon got to work on improving their sump system! Upon arriving at the home, our installation crew got started by removing the old pump and replacing it with a TripleSafe sump pump. The TripleSafe, as the name suggests, houses three pumps inside itself. The primary and secondary pumps will pump the majority of the water from the home; with the secondary pump only activating if the primary needs assistance.  The third pump operates on a battery, kicking-in if the home loses power. Finally, outside the home, an IceGuard pipe segment was fitted to the discharge line the water exits through. The IceGuard segment has upward facing holes in the sides, allowing for any water blocked by ice or debris to exit the line without backing up into the basement. With these new additions to their home, this homeowner can now be at ease during any heavy rainfall, knowing their basement isn’t going to flood like it used to. The TripleSafe sump system will keep this basement dry in any weather for years to come!

This homeowner living in Newry, ME called us at TC Hafford Basement Systems with a problem. Their crawlspace was so damp it would cause a musty smell throughout their home. They needed a quick fix and after hearing about us from a family friend, they thought we were right for the job. We soon sent over our sales representative to take a look at the crawlspace and give the homeowner their free estimate on the cost of the repairs. The homeowner agreed to what we suggested and hired us to get started right away! As soon as our installation crew arrived at the property, they were able to get started on the crawlspace. To provide a proper vapor barrier for this space, they began by laying a Drainage Matting across the dirt floor of the crawlspace. This mat rests on built-in supports to sit just barely above the surface of the floor. This creates channels for any water blocked by the barrier to flow through until it finds where it can most easily drain back into the ground. Next, to complete the vapor barrier, a CleanSpace liner was used to encapsulate the interior of the crawlspace. Covering all of the walls as well as the floor, this liner will prevent water from accumulating within this space in the future. To handle the still present moisture problem within the space, a SaniDry CX dehumidifier was installed atop the new barrier. This dehumidifier will pull in the damp air from the space and separate the moisture from it. The newly dried air will be circulated back into the crawlspace while more damp air is pulled in. Any collected water is passed to a Condensate Pump that removes it from the home through piping. This process will continue until the crawlspace is once again completely dry. These new waterproofing measures will soon clear up the problem this homeowner was experiencing. The CleanSpace liner will prevent any moisture build up for years into the future!

A homeowner in Norway was having trouble with their vapor barrier in their crawlspace. Water was somehow leaking in through the old vapor barrier. Needing a vapor barrier that wouldn’t leak, the homeowner sought the right company to take care of their needs. They soon saw TC Hafford Basement Systems on their television, and did some research on our company. After their research, they found we were the best choice for the job. They called us the next day to set up a meeting to receive their free estimate. The homeowner decided on what work they wanted done and we got to work! We began by taking out the old vapor barrier. It was serving no purpose, and needed to be disposed of before we could install our own. Next, we laid down a Drainage Matting around the floor/wall joint of the crawlspace. This mat will hold back water trying to enter here, allowing it time to exit back into the surrounding soil before reaching the center of the crawlspace. We then encapsulated the crawlspace with a CleanSpace Liner. This liner is made of a thin plastic that water cannot pass through. Lining the crawlspace with this will completely lock out any moisture trying to reach the interior of the space, forcing it to drain away. These two systems working together will make an impenetrable vapor barrier for this homeowner. They no longer need to worry about their crawlspace gathering moisture.