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This Old Orchard Beach, ME, homeowner was looking to retire and spend time enjoying their home, but they were unable to relax when they knew that work needed to be done to their crawl space. The homeowner’s cinder block foundation was moving in the corner and even crumbling in section. They already had to replace carrying beams because of rot due to high moisture. Looking for a solution that would fix their problems and give them peace of mind, they booked a free estimate with TC Hafford Basement Systems. System Design Specialist Brian Donnelly met with the homeowner, and together they designed a system that would surpass the homeowner’s expectations and stabilize and protect the home.
First, the failing foundation wall needed to be addressed to protect the home from shifting and causing damage to the walls and putting the homeowner in unsafe living conditions. A StableLock wall system was installed where necessary to stabilize the wall and prevent it from ever shifting again. StableLock fills voids and creates a smooth wall with the best qualities of a newly poured foundation without the need to lift the home, which is more expensive and requires the occupants to move out for a period of time. StableLock can be set up and installed in just two days without the homeowner having to leave the property at all.
Next, the moisture and high humidity needed to be taken care of to protect the home against mold and more wood rot. To handle groundwater, Perforated Pipe was installed to channel water to the new TripleCrawl Sump Pump system. The TripleCrawl system is capable of taking large amounts of water and pumping it out of the crawl space through a Buried Discharge Line that takes the water far away from the home. To keep the system running all year round without being interrupted by the harsh Maine winters, IceGuard was installed on the Discharge line to prevent ice buildup.
The area needed to be encapsulated for maximum protection, so CleanSpace with Drainage Matting was installed to create an inorganic barrier between the outside elements and the crawl space. Drainage Matting is laid down first. Drainage Matting features a durable construction with large dimples that help channel water and keep the CleanSpace above clean. CleanSpace is installed and attached to the walls with SprayFoam to create a tight seal that keeps out moisture and critters that could cause damage. CleanSpace is a super durable vapor barrier that is a permanent fix and turns an open crawl space into an encapsulated area that is perfect for storage.
Finally, a SaniDry Sedona was installed that drains directly to the TripleCrawl Sump Pump so the homeowner never has to worry about emptying a bucket, and their crawl space is kept at a safe humidity level 24/7. Now the homeowner is able to retire into the home and enjoy the peace and quiet without worrying about the stability of their home or their crawl space being an area of misery anymore.
Since 2012, this Portland, ME, homeowner has had a problem with their foundation shifting and moisture in the basement creating a musty smell. Worried about air quality and the health of their home, they booked a free estimate with TC Hafford Basement Systems for help. System Design Specialist Lou DiStasio met with the homeowner and worked with them to design a system that would save their home and create a safter basement.
The shifting foundation needed to be addressed first, and to take care of it, StableLock was installed to save the foundation. Over time, stone foundations break apart and shift, resulting in an unstable home and sinking floors that could ultimately result in the foundation totally failing. Typically, with a failing foundation, the home would need to be lifted for a period of time in order for the old foundation to be removed and a new one poured. With StableLock, not only do homeowners save money, but they don’t have to move out of their house, and SableLock can be completed in just a few days. StableLock fills the voids in the old wall and uses modern concrete forming and shoring methods to stabilize the old wall, leaving a new, smooth foundation wall. With StableLock installed and the foundation stabilized, the next step was to address the moisture issues of the basement. To maintain a safe level of humidity and prevent mold and musty smells, a SaniDry Sedona was installed with a Condensate Pump so the homeowner won’t have to ever empty a bucket of water. Not only does this keep the SaniDry Sedona running as needed, but the homeowner can travel without concern of their dehumidifier not working. Now the home is protected against moisture, and their foundation is no longer at risk of failing and is stronger than before.
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.
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.
After living with basement troubles for some time, this homeowner thought it was time they finally had something done about it. They contacted us at TC Hafford Basement Systems, and we got to work right away! The main problem concerning this homeowner was their cracking basement wall, which needed additional support. To protect this wall from further damage, nine-foot PowerBrace beams were installed against the surface of the wall, fastened to the floor and joists above the wall. These beams can be tightened over time to force the wall back into position and hold it there permanently. Lastly, to handle the moisture accumulation the homeowner reported, a SuperSump pump was installed in the natural low point of the floor. This will take in any water gathering in the basement and pump it out of the home through a discharge line protected by an IceGuard attachment on the exterior of the home. IceGuard pipe segments protect homes by allowing any water blocked by ice or debris to escape the sides of the line before backing up into the basement.
Now that their basement wall is secured and the moisture problem has been addressed, this homeowner no longer needs to worry about their basement sustaining any long-term damage.