Job Stories

A homeowner in Mexico, Maine had been having trouble with water gathering in their basement for years. They set up their own temporary sump, but it wasn’t quite enough. Requiring a permanent solution, the homeowner got online to search for the answer. This is where they found TC Hafford Basement Systems, who they called right away to set up a meeting. We had our representative head to the home to give them their free estimate, and then our crew got to work! We began by digging a trench around the inside perimeter of the basement floor. This trench allowed us to lay down our WaterGurd pipe system. This system will capture all water trying to enter the basement through the walls or floor via a phenomenon known as hydrostatic pressure. The WaterGuard is covered over with loose rocks and cement to hide it beneath the floor without hindering functionality. The water collected in the pipes is then guided to the sump, where we installed a SuperSump sump pump. Capable of moving 2,650 gallons of water per hour, the SuperSump will be more than enough to keep this basement dry! The water is evacuated through a PVC discharge line. On the exterior of the home, we attached a special IceGuard piece to the discharge line. This IceGuard will allow the water to exit the pipe, should the lower end become clogged by any sort of debris. With these three systems working together, this homeowner will never need to worry about water gathering in their basement again!

In Buxton, ME, Robert was having some foundation trouble. His foundation had broken in two places, and was beginning to pull the walls of his home down. This was a big problem for Robert, and he needed it fixed, ASAP. After searching the web, Robert had found our site, and contacted us. Once Tony Hafford arrived and thoroughly inspected the situation, the team was called in to begin work on the foundation.The exterior of the house was excavated around the foundation to make it accessible. Then, after the dirt was cleared away, Helical Piers were used to secure the foundation back into place. These are large steel screws which rest in the dirt and act as much stronger supports for the foundation.With his foundation back to normal, and stronger than ever, Robert was left satisfied and without worry.

Pam from Casco was having trouble with her old vapor barrier in her crawlspace. Water was pooling up in the crawlspace during rain, meaning that somehow, her vapor barrier was letting water through. Looking to have this addressed, Pam called TC Hafford Basement Systems after she saw us on the news. We had a representative inspect the crawlspace and give her a free estimate on the cost of a new vapor barrier. She gave us the go ahead and we got to work! We began by lining the wall/floor joint with a Drainage Matting. This would allow any moisture that manages to enter time to drain back through the way it came in. Without allowing it to pool up further towards the center of the crawlspace. We then encapsulated the entire crawlspace with a CleanSpae Liner, except for the ceiling. This plastic sheet of CleanSpace will hold back any moisture from the outside. Not allowing water to gather within the crawlspace itself. Finally, to keep the air quality dry, we installed a SaniDry CX dehumidifier. This will take in the moist air from around the crawlspace, and dry it out. Maintaining a dry, healthy atmosphere within the crawlspace. Now Pam has a dry crawlspace and a fully functioning vapor barrier. Water should no longer be an issue for this Casco crawlspace!

Howard in Paris was living in a rental when he noticed the drains in his basement were backing up. This became an immediate problem for Howard, and he contacted us as soon as he saw an ad on the television. We had a look at the property, and got to work. The perimeter of the basement needed to be dug out, and removed from the basement. This gave us room to insert a WaterGuard System, which ensures any water entering the basement is caught. Then to relieve the basement of this captured water, we installed an UltraSump sump pump. This pump will force any collected water outside the house through a drainage pipe. Once outside, we fixed an IceGuard filter to the drainage pipe. This special piece will allow water to escape the pipe should the lower end get blocked by ice or other debris. Howard’s drainage issue is a now a thing of the past!

High moisture plagued this Paris, ME crawlspace, and concerned about mold growing, the homeowner reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems for help. System Design Specialist Sam Crowley met with the homeowner and worked with them to design a system that would encapsulate their crawlspace and protect their home from moisture.   CleanSpace with Drainage Matting was installed to create an inorganic barrier between the outside elements and keep moisture and critters out. CleanSpace is attached to the rim joist with Spray Foam to ensure a complete seal. SmartJacks were installed to replace rusting and deteriorating supports to keep the floor above stable and remove any bounce that the floors once had. A SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier was installed to keep humidity at safe levels and connected to a Condensate Pump so the homeowner never has to worry about draining a bucket of water. Finally, a Smart Sump Liner was installed so a sump pump can be easily added in the future if the homeowner decides to. Now that the homeowner’s crawlspace is encapsulated, their goal of protecting their home is achieved, and they now have a safe area for storage.

A homeowner living in Oxford, ME had noticed their basement becoming unusually damp. They soon found the cuase of the problem being a crack that had opened along one of the walls of the basement. Having heard of us on their TV, they quickly called us to have the issue taken care of before it got worse. As soon as our crew arrived at the home, they began work on sealing the crack using FlexiSpan. First, a coarse brush was used to clear the crack of any debris that would interfere with the sealant. Next, the first layer of sealant was applied within the crack. This was then covered with a foam matting that will act as the backbone of the FlexiSpan seal. Finally, a second layer of sealant was spread over the foam to lock the structure in place over the crack. Now this crack will no longer leak water into this basement! With the crack in their basement wall selaed properly, this homeowner won't suffer from a damp basement any more. The FlexiSpan will prevent any leaks that would have otherwise entered through this crack.

A homeowner in Oxford, Maine, reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems after noticing uncomfortable temperature swings in their home, especially during the winter months. The homeowner wanted to improve the overall insulation of their attic, which was causing the cold to seep into the living areas.   Our team came out to assess the situation and discovered that the attic’s insulation was not only outdated but also insufficient to keep the home energy efficient. After evaluating the homeowner's needs, we recommended a solution that involved installing Dr. Energy Saver spray foam and Zip Foam for maximum insulation coverage. We also added TrueSoft cellulose to the attic floor to provide even more thermal protection and prevent air leakage. The combination of these products would help create a well-insulated barrier, ensuring that the homeowner could enjoy a more comfortable home all year round.  

This Oxford, ME, homeowner has lived in their home for 20 years, and within the last five years, they have noticed moisture in their crawl space getting worse and worse. They only go into their crawl space a few times a year, but they are worried about mold—and rightfully so. Looking to solve their problems and turn their crawl space into a usable storage area for more than a few lawn chairs, they reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems for a free estimate. System Design Specialist Sam Crowley met the homeowner and went into their crawl space to survey and measure the area and check for humidity and any other issues that could be causing the homeowner trouble. Together, Sam and the homeowner designed an encapsulation system that would seal up their crawl space and protect the health of the home from any outside elements.   To start the encapsulation process, CleanSpace with Drainage Matting was laid down. Drainage Matting creates a gap for groundwater to move under and be channeled to a sump pump. CleanSpace and Drainage Matting both create an inorganic barrier that keeps the elements outside without degrading over time. CleanSpace is then attached to the rim joist with SprayFoam to create a tougher seal, ensuring that CleanSpace will hold tight for the lifetime of the home. In case the homeowner decides to install a sump pump later on, a Sump Liner is installed; that way, in the future, the CleanSpace system will not have to be disturbed. CleanSpace Vent Covers were installed to enclose the crawl space, ensuring outside air would not penetrate its way into the crawl space, hindering the system. Finally, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier was installed to keep humidity at a safe level, and to make sure the homeowner never has to empty a bucket of water, a Condensate Pump is attached to the SaniDry Sedona to pump the water out of the home.   After working together, Sam Crowley and the homeowner were able to design an encapsulation system that is now protecting their crawl space. The homeowner also has the benefit of using the crawl space as a storage area where their belongings will be safe and protected from humidity and any critters that used to find their way into the crawl space.

Tom from Raymond was in the market for a vapor barrier for his crawlspace. He had been experiencing flooding in the space, and needed it to stop before any permanent damage happened. Tom soon saw TC Hafford Basement Systems on his television, and gave us a call. We had a representative at his home in no time to inspect the crawlspace and give Tom a free estimate. He selected the solution he wanted and we sent in our crew. In order to form a proper vapor barrier in the crawlspace, we needed to line the walls with sheets that wouldn’t allow for the passage of water. We began by laying a Drainage Matting around the perimeter of the crawlspace, at the wall/floor joint. This will hold back a good amount of water, giving it time to drain back into the soil before reaching the center of the space. We then encapsulated the crawlspace with a CleanSpace Liner. This is a plastic sheet that will lock out any moisture attempting to find its way into the crawlspace. These two layers working together will keep out moisture and maintain a dry crawlspace for Tom.

Bruce from South Paris was having trouble with water coming into their basement through the walls and floor. This happened due to something called Hydrostatic Pressure. This is when the water content in the surrounding soil is high enough where it has nowhere else to go but to be forced in through the concrete. This homeowner had a sump pump, but needed a reliable system that would remove the water no matter which part of the basement the water entered through. Thee homeowner took to the internet to find professional help, and came across TC Hafford Basement Systems. They called us right away to arrange their meeting with a representative and receive their free estimate. They chose what work they wanted done and we got to work! We needed to start by excavating the inside perimeter of the basement floor. This gave us room to emplace our WaterGuard pipe system. This piping was then covered over with loose rocks and cement to conceal it within the floor without hurting functionality. The WaterGuard rests just beneath the surface of the floor, able to capture all the water trying to enter through hydrostatic pressure before it reaches the surface. The water is then guided to the sump, where we replaced the old pump with a new SuperSump. The water is then pumped out of the home through a PVC discharge line. One the exterior of the home, we attached an IceGuard filter to this discharge line. This filter will allow for the water to continue to flow freely from the pipe, even if the lower end is blocked by ice or other debris. With these new systems in place, this homeowner won’t suffer from a wet basement any more. The moisture will be captured and removed before ever reaching the interior of the basement.