Job Stories

A homeowner in Portland, Maine, reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems looking for a more reliable solution for their gutter system. After dealing with issues like clogs and overflowing water that threatened the foundation of their home, they decided it was time for an upgrade. We visited the property and determined that the best course of action would be to install the Gutter Shutter system along with a RainChute to manage the water flow more effectively.   The Gutter Shutter system provides a clog-free design, eliminating the need for frequent gutter cleaning. It directs water away from the home, even during heavy rains, ensuring that the foundation and surrounding landscape are protected. The RainChute further helped to move the water safely away from the home’s foundation, preventing potential issues with erosion and/or pooling. This installation offered the homeowner peace of mind and a lasting improvement to their home’s exterior, safeguarding it from water damage for years to come.  

This Portland, ME, home was built on silty fill, and over the years, the home had settled, leading to the foundation cracking and allowing water to seep in. Needing to stabilize the foundation to prevent damage to their home, the homeowner booked a free estimate with TC Hafford Basement Systems. System Design Specialist Brian Donnolly worked with the homeowner to design a waterproofing and stabilizing system that would protect the health of the home and keep the family safe. First Push Piers were installed to stabilize the foundation and prevent it from further settling, protecting the home from costly damage. The Push Pier system utilizes high-strength round steel tubes and brackets to lift sinking foundations. WaterGuard was installed to capture and channel water to the new UltraSump to keep the basement dry all of the time. The UltraSump pumps the water through an Exterior Buried Discharge line that takes the water away from the home. The system is protected against ice buildup during the winter with the installation of IceGuard. BrightWall was installed along the wall where cracks had previously formed to act as a vapor barrier and channel any moisture to the WaterGuard. Now the homeowner is able to enjoy their basement and use it for storage without moisture or water causing them issues, and they can live in their home without the concern of their foundation potentially failing.

Nancy from Portland had started to notice a musty smell emitting from her basement. This was being caused by very moist air. The smell could also be an indication of mold growth in the basement. Seeking professional assistance with this moisture problem, Nancy contacted TC Hafford Basement Systems. We had a representative at the home shortly after to give the homeowner her free estimate. She selected what she wanted done, and our crew started working. To remove the moisture from the basement air, and keep the air dry, we installed a SaniDry XP dehumidifier. This dehumidifier takes in the moist air immediately surrounding itself, dries it out, and then pushes it out into the basement. The pressure created by this pulls in more moist air, allowing the process to continue until all of the air within the basement is dry and healthy. This will not only kill off any mold starting to grow, but it will prevent it from spreading, or re-growing in the future. Now Nancy has clean, dry air in her basement, and no need to worry about a musty smell, or mold growth!

Carl from Gray, Maine, was having water enter his basement through a large crack in one of the walls. This was an issue for Carl, because not only did this cause damp conditions and humid air; but it also would allow the basement to flood during heavy rains. Carl quickly reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems once he heard about us through a friend. After Carl spoke with Mike Morin, TC Hafford was soon on the scene. Our workers quickly filled the crack with a 7.5' urethane injection. This injection sealed the crack, no longer allowing any water to slip through from the outside. Leaving Carl happy, and his basement dry.

A homeowner in Falmouth was having trouble with their sump pump. It was allowing water to gather within the basement. The water would enter the sump normally, but then the sump would back-up and allow the water to overflow, back out into the basement. This was an issue they needed professional help with, so after consulting the Yellow Pages, they called TC Hafford Basement Systems. We got them their free estimate, and then we got to work! We began by removing the old pump from the basement. It could be thrown away, as it served no further purpose. We then installed a TripleSafe sump pump. This device contains three separate pumps. The first, primary pump is for the majority of the water. The secondary pump is there in case the primary fails for any reason and stops working. Finally, the third pump is a battery backup and will operate when the power in the home is out. Now this new pump will keep the homeowner’s basement dry is all weather conditions.

A homeowner in Falmouth, Maine, reached out to TC Hafford after discovering water entering their damp crawl space. Upon inspection, our team found excess moisture accumulating, threatening the structural integrity of their home. To resolve the issue, we installed a CleanSpace liner to serve as a moisture barrier, paired with drainage matting to redirect water away from the home’s foundation. Dr. Energy Saver spray foam was applied to seal gaps and prevent heat loss, while IceGuard was installed to protect against freezing temperatures. The combination of these systems ensured a lasting solution, and the homeowner couldn’t be more pleased with the immediate improvement in their crawl space’s condition.

Over the past year, this Falmouth, ME homeowner has been dealing with water in their basement and, wanting to use the space, decided it was time to tackle the issue. Wanting to make sure their basement stayed dry, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems for a free estimate. System Design Specialist Lou DiStasio worked with the homeowner to design a system that would channel water, keeping the basement dry and the homeowners’ belongings safe.   The homeowner wanted to keep their whole basement dry year-round, so WaterGuard was installed around the perimeter of their basement. The WaterGuard channels the water to a connected TripleSafe Sump Pump that is connected to a Buried Exterior Discharge Line. In high-traffic areas such as doorways, TrenchLock is installed in place of WaterGuard to ensure all water is being collected. To finish off the system and keep the homeowners’ belongings safe, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier was installed. Unlike most dehumidifiers, the SaniDry Sedona is connected to the TripleSafe Sump Pump, so the homeowner never has to worry about emptying a bucket of water, keeping their basement at an ideal humidity level.   The homeowner is able to spend Christmas now focusing on festivities and less on their basement, as it is now waterproofed and their belongings safe.

This Falmouth, ME, homeowner has noticed their basement wall bowing in over the year and a haft that they have lived in their home. Not sure what to do, but knowing that they wanted to take care of the issue soon, they reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems for help and a free estimate. System Design Specialist Michael Penna met with the homeowner and worked with them to design a stabilizing system that would prevent the wall from further issues. PowerBraces were installed on the bowing wall to stabilize it and protect the home from any damage. The PowerBrace system is constructed of zinc-plated steel beams and is custom fit to the basement wall height. PowerBraces are secured tight against the basement wall with brackets anchored to the basement floor and floor joists above. With the PowerBrace system, no invasive drilling or digging is necessary, and the homeowner can be home during installation.

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.