Job Stories

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.

Westbrook, ME rental property owner reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems for help with their 3 unit condo building. All three units had basement drains with water coming up into the basement. System Design Specialist Peter F. met with the property owner to assess the space. We installed a TripleSafe sump pump system. The TripleSafe features two Zoeller sumps and a battery-powered backup in the event of power loss. The TripleSafe drains water out of the basement and through an Exterior Buried Discharge line that is protected against ice buildup in the winter with IceGuard.

A homeowner in Canton bought a home with a bowing basement wall. He hadn’t realized just how bad this could be for the home, and upon this realization, he searched online for what could be done to help it. He soon found TC Hafford Basement Systems, and received a free estimate from one of our representatives. The homeowner wanted us to get the job done, so we dispatched our crew and got started! To resolve the issue with the wall, we needed to push the wall back into place. To do this, we used PowerBrace. The PowerBrace is a series of steel I-beams anchored to the cement floor, against the bowing wall. They are fitted to the wooden joists in the ceiling with adjustable screws. The pressure applied to the wall slowly pushes it back into place over time. We will later revisit this basement to tighten the PowerBrace system. This will further align the wall with its original location. With these new PowerBraces in place, a caved in wall is now nothing this homeowner needs to be concerned about.

In Canton, ME, a homeowner had recently noticed a problem in their basement. A few cracks had opened on the walls of their concrete foundation over time and had begun to leak water into the basement during rainfall. The homeowner, worried about damage to their property, sought a solution to their problem online and soon discovered TC Hafford Basement Systems. After a phone call with our office staff, the homeowner was set up with an appointment with one of our sales representatives for their free estimate. Once they heard their options, the homeowner hired us right away to waterproof their basement! When our installation crew arrived at the home, they first began work on utilizing FlexiSpan on a crack running along one of the open-face walls. The crack was first brushed clear of debris to better allow our seal to adhere to the wall. Next, a primary layer of sealant was applied within and slightly around the crack. This was immediately covered over with a foam mat, which will enable the final seal to bend slightly to any changes in the shape of the crack over time. Finally, a second layer of sealant was used to cover the foam, completing the FlexiSpan structure. This will now prevent water from entering the basement through this crack. Next, our crew needed to seal a crack that was running along a wall covered by several wooden supports. This would prevent FlexiSpan from being used. After being brushed clear, this crack was covered over by a layer of sealant. Small plugged tubes were inserted into the crack as the sealant was applied, spaced out along the length of the crack. Once dried in place, the plugs were removed and starting from the lowest tube and working upward, a Polyurethane sealant was injected into the interior of the crack. Plugging the tubes after each injection, the crack was soon completely filled with Polyurethane. Now this crack is also sealed from the outside elements. With their basement walls sealed properly, this homeowner can rest assured their property won’t suffer from any water damage in the future. These two seals will keep this basement water-free for years to come!

A homeowner in Minot was having trouble with water gathering in their basement. This could easily lead to water damage. The homeowner need this fixed as soon as possible. They contacted TC Hafford to get the job done. We had a representative head out to take a look, and discuss with the homeowner the potential solutions for this issue. The homeowner decided on what they wanted done, and we got to work! We started by digging up the perimeter of the basement. This trench made way for us to install a WaterGuard pipe system. This is then buried under cement to hold it in place. The WaterGuard system will capture any moisture entering the basement through the walls or floors. The water is then channeled to a newly installed SuperSump sump pump. This pump will take the collected water and push it up and out of the basement. Now this homeowner no longer needs to worry about water gathering in their basement!

Living in Minot, ME, this homeowner has recently noticed a musty smell around their home. They soon discovered the smell to be coming from moisture building up in the crawlspace beneath their home. Without a vapor barrier, any rainwater or melting snow could easily leak in through the walls and floor, allowing mold populations to thrive. To remedy this moisture problem, they searched online for a solution. After reading about TC Hafford Basement Systems, they gave us a call to receive their free estimate. Soon after, we began work on waterproofing the space. As soon as our crew arrived at the home they were able to begin the vapor barrier installation. This began with a Drainage Matting being laid across the floor of the space. This mat sits just above the surface of the floor and has many holes throughout. This allows any moisture caught within the vapor barrier can flow back toward the ground and flow out of the space. Next, a CleanSpace liner was used to encapsulate the crawlspace. This sheet covers all of the walls, as well as supports and the floor. This completes the vapor barrier, which will now completely lock out any new moisture trying to enter the space. With their vapor barrier in place, this homeowner should notice their moisture problem soon dissipate. Without any moisture, any mold will be unable to sustain itself.

Soon after noticing a puddle of water on their basement floor, this Minot, ME homeowner discovered a crack along one of the walls. The water had been entering through the crack and the homeowner had to manually remove any pools of water that would build up. Looking to have something done about the crack, the homeowner searched online where they found our TC Hafford Basement Systems website. The homeowner called us shortly after and we set them up with their free estimate. They agreed to what our sales representative suggested, and we got to work waterproofing this basement! After the homeowner had their free estimate, our installation crew was dispatched to seal the crack causing the problem. Because the crack ran across a wall covered by several wooden supports, a special sealing method was used. An initial coat of sealant was applied over the top of the crack, with plugs being placed in the sealant every few feet. Once the plugs were dried in place, they were opened and Urethane was injected into the crack through each, until the crack was completely filled. This will prevent any future moisture from entering the basement through this newly sealed crack. Now this homeowner should no longer need to deal with pools of water gathering in their basement. The Urethane Injection in the crack will keep the leaks at bay in the future!

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.

Cold basement walls make your entire basement colder in the winter, leading to higher heating bills. During the summer, the colder walls create condensation, resulting in higher humidity and a greater chance for mold growth. Insulating your basement is as important as the walls of your home. With energy costs rising, it’s important to test your home to make sure you’re not throwing money down the drain.   This Scarborough, ME, homeowner called Dr. Energy Saver by TC Hafford Basement Systems to schedule a Blower Door Test and discovered they had room for improvement. System Design Specialist Nima Farshid worked with the homeowner to design a DR. Energy Saver system that would save them money on their energy bill and make their home more comfortable. Foamax Board was installed on the basement walls to insulate the area. Foamax has a white foil finish on the front to create a clean-looking and brighter basement. Foamax also features a foil vapor barrier on the back side that helps to control basement humidity. SprayFoam was installed along the rim joist to finish out the Dr Energy Saver System, and the homeowner is able to live more comfortably and save money on their energy bill now that their home will be more energy efficient.