Competitor – John’s

TerraFirma Vs. John’s Waterproofing

Which is the better Waterproofing & Crawl Space Repair Company?

Both John’s Waterproofing & TerraFirma
Provide Expert solutions

But which company is Better?

Basement Waterproofing

If leaking water is a problem in your home, both TerraFirma and John’s Waterproofing offer excellent drainage, vapor barriers, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers.

Crawl Space Encapsulation

To combat dampness and enhance indoor air quality, TerraFirma and John’s Waterproofing both offer encapsulation including drainage solutions, moisture barriers and insulation.

Earthquake Retrofitting

John’s Waterproofing and TerraFirma both offer a range of seismic retrofitting and earthquake preparedness services including bolting, bracing and reinforcements for homeowners in Oregon and Washington.

foundation repair
Terrafirma vs john’s waterproofing

Understanding house settling vs foundation problems is important for any homeowner. While they may seem similar, there are key differences:

  • House settling is a natural process as the home adjusts to the soil. It usually causes minor cracks or slight shifts that aren’t serious.
  • Foundation problems are more severe and may include large cracks, uneven floors, or doors and windows that stick or won’t close properly.

If you’re unsure which issue you’re facing, it’s best to consult a professional. TerraFirma and John’s Waterproofing are both reputable companies that offer reliable foundation repair services in Oregon.

Solutions Terrafirma John’s Waterproofing
  Helical Piers X X
  Push Piers X X
  Pre-Construction Piers X  
  Grouted Micropile Tiebacks X  
  Slab Piers   X
  Foundation Crack Injection Repair   X
  Carbonarmor Wall Reinforcement X  
  Powerbrace Wall Stabilization X  
  Everbrace Wall Replacement X  
  Geolock Wall Anchors X X
  GHelical Tiebacks Wall Reinforcement X X
  Smartjack Support Post System X X

TerraFirma specializes in long-term foundation repair solutions for our customers.

What sets TerraFirma apart is the capability of taking on challenging builds, from the pre-construction stages to already existing foundations in the most extreme scenarios: steep slopes, deep sand, rocky or wet soil, or complex geology. Our experts and wide arrange of solutions enable us to tackle all kinds of projects.

Commercial micropile installation in Portland Oregon -
If leaking water is a problem in your home, both TerraFirma and John's Waterproofing offer excellent drainage, vapor barriers, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers.

basement waterproofing
Terrafirma vs john’s waterproofing

When comparing vapor barrier vs waterproofing, it’s important to understand that they address different types of moisture issues. A vapor barrier is designed to block moisture in the form of vapor from entering living spaces, while waterproofing is focused on preventing liquid water from penetrating the basement from the outside. Vapor barriers control indoor humidity and condensation, whereas waterproofing deals with more serious water intrusion problems.

  • Vapor Barrier
  • Installed on interior walls, floors, or under concrete slabs.
  • Prevents moisture vapor from seeping into indoor spaces.
  • Waterproofing:
  • Involves sealing foundation cracks, applying coatings, or installing drainage systems.
  • Keeps liquid water out of the basement.
  • May include exterior or interior systems like French drains or sump pumps.

Companies like Terrafirma and John’s Waterproofing provide both systems. When used together, they offer optimal protection against water damage and moisture.

Solutions Terrafirma John’s Waterproofing
  Waterguard Below Floor Drain X  
  Drytak Basebord Drain Pipe X  
  Flowguard Thin Floor Drain System X  
  Trenchlock Drain Inserts X  
  TripleSafe Sump Pump System X  
  UltraSump Battery Backup System X  
  SuperSump Premier Sump Pump System X  
  Vapoloc Elite Wall System X  
  Basement Air Dehumidifier Sedona Dehumidifier X  
  Basement Air Dehumidifier XP Upright Dehumidifier X  
  Sunhouse Window Wells X  
  Wellduct Window Well Drain X  
  Aspen Air Purifier X  

TerraFirma is proud to offer the best available products and full disclosure on our waterproofing solutions. Explore our website and see all the different professional certified options we have available for your basement issues.

Avoid surprises! Learn about what systems we offer even before your scheduled visit.

Terrafirma basement waterproof John's
If leaking water is a problem in your home, both TerraFirma and John's Waterproofing offer excellent drainage, vapor barriers, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers.

crawl space repair
Terrafirma vs john’s waterproofing

When evaluating crawl space encapsulation versus a vapor barrier, it’s useful to examine their key differences.

  • Vapor Barrier
  • Involves placing a plastic sheet over the crawl space floor.
  • Leaves walls and vents exposed.
  • More affordable but less comprehensive.
  • Crawl Space Encapsulation:
  • Seals the entire crawl space—floors, walls, and vents.
  • Often includes a dehumidifier for full moisture control.
  • Creates a controlled, dry environment.
  • Offers better long-term protection and energy efficiency.

Companies like Terrafirma and Johns Waterproofing provide both Vapor Barrier and Crawl Space Encapsulation services, helping homeowners choose the most suitable solution for their specific needs.

Solutions Terrafirma John’s Waterproofing
  Drainage Matting X  
  Perimeter Drainage X X
  Vaporloc Elite Vapor Barrier and Insulation X  
  CleanSpace Vapor Barrier   X
  TerraBlock Floor Insulation   X
  SilverGlo Walls Insulation   X
  TripleSafe Sump Pump System X  
  UltraSump Battery Backup System X  
  SmartDrain   X
  ShipShape Monitoring X  
  Basement Air Dehumidifier Sedona Dehumidifier X X
  SmartJack System X  
  Crawl Space Excavation   X
  Crawl Space Vent Covers X  
  Everlast Crawl Space Door X  
  Everlast Access Well X  
  Turtl Access Well X  

concrete sidewalk and driveway repair
Terrafirma vs john’s waterproofing

When deciding between foam vs mudjacking for concrete repair, it’s important to understand how the two methods differ in approach, materials, and performance:

  • Mudjacking
  • Uses a slurry mixture of water, soil, and cement.
  • Pumps the mixture under the sunken slab to raise it.
  • Requires larger drill holes in the concrete.
  • Heavier material can add weight to the soil, potentially causing future settling.
  • Foam Jacking (Foam Injection):
  • Uses a lightweight, high-density expanding foam.
  • Injected under the slab to lift it with precision.
  • Requires smaller drill holes, causing less damage.
  • Fast curing time—usually within minutes.
  • Water-resistant and longer-lasting in many cases.

In summary, foam vs mudjacking comes down to project needs—foam offers a quicker, less invasive, and more durable solution, while mudjacking can be a cost-effective choice for certain applications.

Solutions Terrafirma John’s Waterproofing
  Polylevel Lifting Foam X  
  Commercial Concrete Repair X  
  NexusPro X  
  SealantPro X  

While many recognize TerraFirma for its exceptional work in home foundation and concrete repair, the company also brings its expertise to large-scale commercial projects with equal precision and professionalism.

Notably, TerraFirma has successfully completed concrete repair work for the Oregon Department of Transportation, as well as other major institutions throughout the state.

Commercial Solutions Photo Album Advanced Energy Systems De icing Solar 2 John's
If leaking water is a problem in your home, both TerraFirma and John's Waterproofing offer excellent drainage, vapor barriers, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers.

Award Winning
Results Begin Here.

A+ Rating Logo

TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

Commercial foundation and concrete solutions require experienced engineers, stellar support, and results.
Our work on ODOT highways and bridges, the Portland Airport, schools, industrial facilities, and more speaks to the
level of trust TerraFirma has earned in Oregon & Washington. Check out some of our commercial work here.

Learn more about our Commercial Work:

tf commercial cracked driveways John's
helical piles
Stabilize sinking, settling commercial structures with Supportworks helical piers.
tf commercial sunken driveways garage John's
Micropiles & push piers
Expert micropile installation solutions for stability in tight-access and hard soil situations.
tf commercial uneven porche John's
Commercial concrete
lifting & leveling
TerraFirma concrete leveling utilizes high-strength polymers to fill voids under concrete.

Portland, Or
Homeowner
REVIEWS

Don’t take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.
From Lake Oswego to Beaverton, Gresham to Clackamas, and throughout the Portland area, our work speaks for itself.

TerraFirma was the third company to give us an estimate and the price quoted fell in the middle. Since Gloria liked Richard the best, we went with them. Due anticipated permitting and scheduling timelines we were not expecting work to commence until roughly mid July. As it turns out, we caught a couple of lucky breaks and Shea was able to get things going 1-3 June. Ryan and crew arrived on the morning of this year's so far hottest day. After he gave me a quick run-through of what they were going to do, they got to it. Throughout the entire project they were the picture of competence and professionalism. When they left this morning it was almost as if they'd not been here at all. The concrete that had to be removed was replaced and will blend in quite nicely. The mulch and gravel were raked back into position and every scrap of debris was removed. We couldn't be more pleased with the company and the crew.
Found this company through google search. They already had ~5 star reviews. And I am glad I picked them for sport court concrete support project. They were easy to reach for questions, gave reasonable quotes and were easy to get the project scheduled. The staff doing the work were friendly, explained what was happening clearly and cleaned up the job site well. They offer 5 year warranty on their work. Overall a positive experience thus far. Will use them for any future needs.
Had Seth Cunningham out this week for an estimate in Thurston County. We appreciated how thorough he was during the inspection and in creating the proposal. Seth was prompt, easy to work with and very professional! Unfortunately, full encapsulation of our crawl space was a little out of our budget as new homeowners, but if you are looking for any foundation or crawl space work done on your house we would definitely recommend having TerraFirma out to look at your place! I got the impression they are a top-of-the-line company that would take care of the homeowners they do business with. I would absolutely recommend them to friends and family... Also plan to call them out if I have any concrete or foundation issues in the future.
From free estimate to job completion, Terra Firma was a great, reliable company to work with. The no pressure estimate allowed us time to decide if / when we wanted our job done . After we decided to hire them the crew was fast, efficient and clean! They had photos of the completed job before and after (as I chose not to climb into the crawl space )and it looked stable, clean, and brand new! Very happy with Terra Firma and a job well done!
We had two companies come and provide evaluations of our foundation repair needs. TerraFirma was by far the most professional and responsive company. In the end we did not go with the lowest bid but we did go with the company that provided the most professional response and gave use the most confidence it would be done right. We were not disappointed 😊
Jeremy did a wonderful job in all our problem areas (sunken area and cracks). He was a very hard worker and represented his company very well. We were impressed & happy with the job. Thank you TerraFirma!!
The guys were great and did a fantastic job. The system works great and worth the expense. We could not be happier with the results. Great company and great warranty. Again the crew was fantastic, on time and we had a few laughs together. Gary and Kelly Schuler
We had a really great experience with TerraFirma Foundation Systems from start to finish. Danny was our first point of contact and handled our bid, and he set the tone right away - knowledgeable, straightforward, and easy to talk to. From there, everything stayed consistent. Jorge Valencia led the crew with professionalism and clear communication along with Juan B. and Alencio who all did excellent work on site. You could tell this was a team that knew what they were doing and took pride in it. It was incredibly muddy under our house, and not an easy job by any stretch, but the crew didn’t complain once. They just got in there and got it done. What really impressed me was that when they finished, there wasn’t a single speck of mud left behind. That level of care and respect for someone’s home says a lot. The work itself was done efficiently and with attention to detail, and they kept us informed throughout the process. No surprises, no confusion, just solid, reliable work. What stood out the most, though, was something more personal. I have a young son with Down syndrome who is very curious. I was honestly worried he might be in the way, but the crew handled it in such a thoughtful, human way. They took the time to acknowledge him, talk with him, and make him feel included. It was incredibly heartwarming. He felt seen and heard, and that meant a lot to us. It’s rare to find a company that delivers both high-quality work and genuine kindness, but this team did both. I would absolutely recommend TerraFirma.
from the time they gave us a bid until the job was done the company did a marvelous job. They gave me an estimate if I was to tear all the driveway out and replace the concrete, vs their technology. We are happy with the work and the cost savings.
We have experienced some sinking and cracking in our foundation so started looking around for a company that could help us. We contacted two different companies and ended up going with Terra Firma Foundation systems because they really seemed like they understood the problem and they were 100% sure of the solution. It's not a small budget job to fix your foundation of your home, so we were very pleased with our overall experience and our final outcome with Terra Firma and would recommend to family and friends.
6/25/2024 Seeing I did a review 2 months ago.. I am unable to make a new one- here is the update for the work we did! 6/21-6/24/2024 Work started and completed by TerraFirma! We do not even know what to say, THANK YOU WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH, You all went Way above and beyond expectations. I added pictures. To the Friday crew, to install a piering system, Jake, Aden, Steven (sorry if I spelled it wrong) what can we say, from start to finish this team was a well oiled machine, worked really really well together, put up with my husband Mark and I and all our questions and chit chat. The time that was taken to ensure EVERYTHING was going right, was explained and to ensure the safety of our home was just awesome. We had a lot of fun with these guys in conversation and jokes. When all the work was done, you could not even tell anyone was at the house working all day. These 3 great guys were some of the most fun and charismatic group we have had at the house in years. 🙂 Last but not least.... Jake you are a wonderful teacher to the crew, you have great leadership and a pretty awesome work ethic. Monday with Robert for the leveling of the driveway, walkway and stairs to front door. Working for TerraFirma for 2.5 years, Robert showed much skill and patience, as he worked alone and took his time to ensure that the proper amounts of polyfill was being pushed into all the tiny little holes he drilled all over the place. A tedious process and Robert defiantly has the patience for this part. I asked lots of questions and was pleased with all the knowledge. Again, a crew member that went above and beyond to ensure that what we expected was completed. Robert's ability to close the gaps, level a drive way that had repairs 2 times prior and failed and seeing the garage door with no gapping really blew our minds! We truly could not be happier with the outcome. Towards the end of the day, Jon, a field Supervisor came by to help with the concrete work to fill in the pier holes in the garage. Jon was just the nicest and in the short amount of time he was at our home helping, he was knowledgeable and we had great conversation while he helped with the perfect concreate work! Looks good Jon, Thank you! My family and I would like to say, the longest part was waiting for permits once the work started, it went quick, it was done RIGHT, we are truly 100% satisfied with the outcome. Hands down will recommend TerraFirma to anyone that we know needs this kind of work done on their home. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! ****************************************************************** original post: My family and I are just getting started and can not wait to see what the end results are. For now I am rating what I KNOW with 5 stars and wish I could give more. If the work, the work ethic, the understanding and the compassion towards customers follows through this entire project the way it has just begun, I will tell you, I will brag on this company all day long!! I came across TerraFirma at the Tacoma Trade show March 2024. I spoke with both Samuel and Tulane regarding the issues at our home in South Hill Puyallup. I filled out a form, was contacted later the following week to schedule a FREE Estimate and had Samuel come to our home. Thinking we would just show him a couple things and Sam would be in and out in 30 mins, my husband and I were almost confused and very IMPRESSED with the 2.5 hour inspection, overview, breakdown of cost and mapping per say of the work area for our home. We found out and were educated on the scale of " oh S**t that is going on and that there was more to our project than a sinking driveway. Sam was beyond respectable and patient 😉 especially when listening to my concerns and questions on the what is next... and the cost of the what's next. We have now put down our deposit for work to be completed, due to permits that are needed, work can be up to 4 months out now, so Pierce county, please hurry... 😉 From our family to TerraFirma.... we look forward to working with you all soon.
The technician Marcus that came to my home was wonderful, very polite and respectful. Showed me before and after pictures explained what was done. Would highly recommend him and the company 👌