How to Build a Crawl Space
A crawl space is defined as a narrow space, usually less than four feet high, that gives workers access to plumbing or electrical systems. A common type of crawl space is one that takes the place of a basement, a space between the ground under the foundation and the first floor of a house. Types of crawl spaces vary widely with home designs, and rather than a manual for building, this article offers some basic guidelines for designing a crawl space. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Consider your ground area. You may want to sweep or pack earth below the house as a floor for your crawl space. Any debris should be dealt with to make the resulting crawl space as clean as possible. Plastic sheeting can also be installed.
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Build in access as needed. Put access doors/traps near home infrastructure like water/sewer pipes.
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Consider weight issues. The crawl space will be part of a load-bearing structure and, as such, it needs to be designed to hold whatever is on top of it. Be very careful when designing any load-bearing elements of the home. Some lax homeowners end up with rooms unsupported by anything but the bare minimum, and the structures are in very real danger of collapsing.
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Install necessary equipment first. Decide what will be in your crawl space and what will be above it. It may be hard to install equipment in the crawl space after it is built. One item that homeowners sometimes include in a crawl space is a dehumidifier to deal with moisture.
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Figure out venting issues. Ventilation is one of the most important, and among the most controversial, aspects of crawl space design. Builders disagree on the necessity of ventilation and the methodology. Some recommend a two-window system where air flows through the crawl space from one side to the other. Others install more sophisticated air-moving equipment, citing the potential for mildew, rot and other effects of stagnant air and moisture. Decide which works better for you.
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Comments
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projectmgr
Aug 14, 2008
Your crawlspace access hatch should be large enough to get any equipment in or out when it needs replacement. For the design and requirements of the crawlspace construction you will need to meet or exceed the local building code requirements, so that is where you should start from. -
projectmgr
Aug 14, 2008
Your crawlspace access hatch should be large enough to get any equipment in or out when it needs replacement. For the design and requirements of the crawlspace construction you will need to meet or exceed the local building code requirements, so that is where you should start from.
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projectmgr
Aug 14, 2008
Your crawlspace access hatch should be large enough to get any equipment in or out when it needs replacement.
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projectmgr
Aug 14, 2008
Your crawlspace access hatch should be large enough to get any equipment in or out when it needs replacement.
