Job Stories

Sometimes it feels like there is no solution to a wet basement. Add an attached crawlspace in need of help, and the hopes of having a dry and usable space begin to seem unobtainable.   Luckily, this homeowner in Kittery, Maine knew to call TC Hafford Basement Systems! System Design Specialist Brian Donnelly met with the homeowner and developed a plan to keep water out of their basement and encapsulate their crawlspace. To do this, Brian created a system using a range of Basement System products that are exclusive to TC Hafford in the state of Maine.   First things first, the crawlspace. While the crawlspace is relatively small compared to the basement, it is necessary to encapsulate it. Along with protection from mold and rot, a dry crawlspace will also be inhospitable to termites, cockroaches, ants, crickets, and many other pests that need excess moisture to survive. Mice and rats are deterred by the plastic vapor barrier, and flooding waters will be kept at bay. By sealing a crawlspace, you also keep away odors and allergenic mold spores that would otherwise rise up through the floor and into your home due to the stack effect. By sealing your crawlspace, you keep the summer heat out of your home and the winter cold away from your furnace, water heater, and other utilities. To encapsulate the crawlspace, first, a layer of drainage matting is placed down, followed by CleanSpace Vapor Barrier. To finish the crawlspace, SprayFoam is sprayed where necessary, and now the homeowner has a usable storage area.   Now it’s time to keep the basement dry all the time. While this may seem impossible at first, no job is too big or too small for TC Hafford Basement Systems. Around the perimeter walls of the basement, WaterGuard and TrenchDrain is installed to channel the water to a TripleSafe Sump Pump with an UltraSump Battery Back-Up. The inclusion of the UltraSump Battery Back-Up is important to keep water out of the basement even during power outages, which tend to be very common in Maine during storms. Once the water gets to the TripleSafe Sump Pump, it has to go somewhere. A discharge line is connected and fitted with IceGuards to prevent freezing and buried. Water is taken away from the home where it is no longer a problem. To keep the discharge line from being clogged, a LawnScape Outlet is fitted to the end of the pipe to prevent anything from entering the discharge line. To take care of any humidity in the basement, a Sanidry Sedona dehumidifier is set up with an additional line attached to the TripleSafe Sump Pump so the homeowner no longer has to go into the basement to empty their old dehumidifier.   Now the homeowner has complete use of their home and no longer has to worry about their belongings being ruined. If you are experiencing a similar situation with your basement or crawlspace, please reach out. We will be happy to help!

This Kittery homeowner reached out to TC Hafford Basement Systems after their basement flooded for a second time. We protected their basement using WaterGuard connected to our TripleSafe Sump System. From the TripleSafe, all water is pushed out of a buried discharge line, far away from the house and in an area that will no longer cause any issues for the homeowner. Typically, this would be the end of the work, but this homeowner has a crawl space connected to the basement that would still need to be delt with to fully protect the home and give the homeowner piece of mind. To do this, foreman Jesus and his crew put down a layer of Drainage Matting and encapsulated the crawl space with CleanSpace and Spray Foam.   Now this Kittery homeowner can sleep easy at night knowing they no longer have to worry about waking up to anymore floods in their basement.

A homeowner in North Berwick was having trouble with their sump pump. Even though they had one installed a few years ago, their basement was starting to gather water again. Their pump was malfunctioning. Seeking a way to remedy this, the homeowner saw TC Hafford Basement Systems on their television and called us right away. We sent out our representative to look at the basement and give the homeowner their free estimate. They selected which options they wanted and we got to work! We began by removing the old sump pump. This was disposed of properly, and left the sump with an open slot for a new pump. We then installed a SuperSump sump pump in the sump. This sump will easily be able to handle any amount of water trying to gather in the basement, being able to pump 2,650 gallons per hour. To maintain a dry basement in any weather, we attached an UltraSump backup battery to the SuperSump. This will keep the pump operating even in such storms that the power in the home goes out. The water leaving the basement exits through a PVC discharge line. On the exterior off the home, we attached an IceGuard pipe to this discharge line. This specially designed pipe will allow water to continue to flow from the line even if the lower end of the pipe becomes blocked by any debris. These systems operating together will maintain a dry basement in any condition. The homeowner no longer needs to worry about a failing sump pump.

A homeowner in North Berwick, Maine, reached out to us at TC Hafford Basement Systems looking for a dependable gutter system to protect his property. Living in a region where rain is frequent, he wanted a solution that would effectively divert water away from his home and minimize potential foundation issues.   After discussing his concerns and preferences, our team recommended our comprehensive Gutter Shutter system. This system not only directs water safely away from the foundation but also requires little maintenance—ideal for homeowners who want reliable performance without the hassle.   Once installed, we walked him through how the system would work to protect his home during even the heaviest rainstorms. The homeowner appreciated the attention to detail, noting that the Gutter Shutter system blended in seamlessly with the home’s exterior. With his new gutter system in place, he could now enjoy peace of mind, knowing his property was well-protected against the elements.    

This homeowner in South Berwick wasn’t very happy with the windows they had in their basement. They were leaky, and didn’t look very good. This led them to contact TC Hafford Basement Systems to get the job done! The three windows in the basement were taken out, and replaced by three Everlast Basement Windows, which are waterproof and extremely durable. The homeowner also purchased two SunHouse Basement Enclosures, as well as two domed covers for their new windows. These keep water and debris away from the new window, while the white painted interior of the SunHouse Enclosure will reflect plenty of light into the basement.

This home owner in South Berwick, ME was having trouble with water coming into their basement and decided to call TC Hafford Basement Systems. Utilizing WaterGuard, TrenchDrain and a TripleSafe system, we were able to protect this homeowners basement and give them peace of mind.   When our installation crew arrived at the home, they got started on this basement floor by excavating a shallow trench into the perimeter of the floor. Within this new trench, they were able to lay WaterGuard surrounding the basement floor. Buried beneath a fresh layer of concrete, these pipes will collect any water entering this basement as it passes through the typical entry point, the floor itself. The water then travels through these pipes to the sump where it enters the TripleSafe pump installed within. The TripleSafe unit houses three pumps, each activating at different times to keep the basement water-free around the clock! The first and second pumps may be active at the same time, with the secondary pump only activating if and when the primary becomes overwhelmed. This leaves the third pump, which is powered by an internal battery as opposed to the other two pumps running off the power in the home. This will enable the TripleSafe to keep removing water from the home even during a power outage. Any water leaving the home through the sump will exit through a PVC discharge line that carries the water a distance from the home. With these waterproofing systems in place, this homeowner should soon notice their basement remains dry even during the exceptionally wet time of year. The WaterGuard & TripleSafe installations will keep this basement water-free for years to come!

A homeowner in Kittery Point was having trouble with their foundation letting water into their basement. Needing professional help with this issue, they started to ask around for ways to stop the water. They soon got referred to TC Hafford Basement Systems, who they contacted right away to receive their free estimate. The homeowner decided on what work they wanted done, and we dispatched our crew to get to work! We began by digging out the current floor of the basement. This allowed us to pour a new slab of concrete. This new basement floor would hold up against water much more effectively than the previous stone floor the homeowner had. We left a sump in the slab to allow us easy installation of a SuperSump sump pump. This pump will collect the water gathering in the basement, and push it up and out of the basement through a PVC discharge line. On the exterior of the home, we attached an IceGuard pipe piece to the discharge line. The IceGuard will allow water to continue to flow from the pump, even if the lower end of the pipe becomes blocked by ice or other debris. This homeowner now has a dry basement with a fresh slab, that will remain dry for years to come, thanks to SuperSump!

This Kittery Point, ME homeowner wanted to use their basement for storage but felt uncomfortable doing so because of water problems. Looking to take care of their issue and regain control over their basement, the homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems for a free estimate. System Design Specialist Michael Penna met with the homeowner to go over their concerns and design a system that would keep the home healthy and their belongings safe. First, the old sump was removed and replaced with a SuperSump that is connected to a Buried Discharge Line. The SuperSump takes all groundwater and pumps it through the Buried Discharge Line far enough from the house where it can’t cause any trouble. To keep the system running all year round without issue, IceGuard is installed to prevent ice buildup during the harsh Maine winter months. Now the homeowner is able to use their basement for storage without concern of their belongings being damaged.

A couple in West Newfield was experiencing flooding in their crawlspace during heavy rains. This moisture could lead to not only damage, but mold growth; which could then cause health issues for the inhabitants. The water was coming in through the dirt floor rather easily, and the two needed a way to hold back the moisture that was entering. They soon found the answer to their problem online, with TC Hafford Basement Systems. We heard from them shortly after and had a representative take a look at the crawlspace to give a free estimate on what we could do and how much it would cost. The couple decided on what work they wanted done, and our crew started the project! We installed a SmartSump sump pump into the crawlspace to pump out any water that found its way inside. Next, we laid a Drainage Matting in around the inside edge of the crawlspace to hold back moisture coming in through the walls, allowing for it to drain back into the soil. Finally, we encapsulated the entire crawlspace, save for the ceiling, with a CleanSpace Liner. This liner completely locks out moisture trying to come in through the floor or walls. Any moisture coming in this way will now never see the interior of the crawlspace. Now this couple has a moisture free crawlspace and peace of mind!

A homeowner was experiencing water seeping into their basement during heavy rains. This homeowner attempted to solve the problem by acquiring a wet vacuum. This didn’t help much at all, and the problem proceeded to get worse. This brought the homeowner to the internet, where they found us, TC Hafford Basement Systems. They gave us a call and we sent our a representative to take a look and give a free estimate. The homeowner then decided what work they wanted done and we got to work! We dug out a sump for the homeowner, this is a location where all the water entering the basement will gather. Then we installed a TripleSafe sump pump. This pump will then take this gathered water and force it up and out of the basement. The water travels through a PVC pipe, on the outside of the house, we attached an IceGuard piece to this PVC discharge line. The IceGuard filter will allow water to continue to be pumped out of the house if the lower end of the discharge line gets clogged by ice or other debris. Now this homeowner will have a much dryer basement.