Failing Stone Foundation Preventing Remodel

Challenge

This 1800s-era Ellsworth home has a wall that’s caving in, preventing the homeowner from being able to remodel and causing dips in the first-level floors. Log joists were rotting, and lally columns were rusting, only adding to the existing problems. Ready to move on from their burdens and finally remodel their home, this Ellsworth homeowner called TC Hafford Basement Systems to schedule a free estimate to address their home issues.

Solution

System Design Specialist Mark Smith met with the homeowner and surveyed their basement to design a system that would protect the health of the home, save their foundation, and give the homeowners the chance to remodel without concern that their work would be for nothing. The failing stone foundation wall was the biggest issue and needed to be addressed immediately. Typically, the home would need to be raised, the family would have to move out for a period of time, and a new foundation would have to be poured. Thankfully, TC Hafford Basement Systems offers a system called StableLock that prevents these steps. StableLock is a proprietary system that offers an effective and affordable alternative to save the existing wall. StableLock fills voids and stabilizes existing walls to leave a smooth, strong wall, eliminating the need for a family to move out of their home to fix their foundation.

SmartJacks were installed with a new supplemental beam to lift the sagging floors and create a level surface. SmartJacks can be adjusted as time goes on to keep the floors above stable and level. The rotten beams and rusty lally columns are no longer a concern for the homeowner. SmartJacks are galvanized for corrosion resistance and can support loads of more than 60,000 pounds.

This Ellsworth, ME, homeowner can now remodel their home without worrying about their work and money going to waste. Their home’s health is protected, and their foundation is fixed without having to move out of their home.