What is an open crawl space and why does it need to be "fixed"?
A typical open
crawl space has
open foundation
vents and an exposed or partially
covered dirt floor.
This type of foundation construction is very common throughout
the United States and Canada.
Reasons a home is
built on a crawl space
There are several reasons a home is built on a crawl space
instead of a basement or a slab foundation. The two major reasons are cost and
ground water problems.
Ground water problems
An area that has a high water table
or is near a lake, river
or canal will have little choice but to explore a crawl space foundation or a
slab to build a home on. Basements most often are not an option unless they are
located on high ground due to the dept of the foundation required to build a
basement.
Cost
Another reason homes are built on crawl spaces is because it
is cheaper. Most crawl spaces are only 20" to 36" to the bottom of the home
floor joists. Compared to a basement which has an average height of 8', there is
much more work and expense involve in making the foundation 5-6' deeper into the
ground for a basement. Although homes on a crawl spaces are less expensive
to build they are more expensive to heat.
Open crawl space problems
The list of problems associated with an open crawl space goes
on and on. For all homes built on a crawl space there are similar problems but
always one or two major reasons to get it fixed. What we hope to do here on our
website is to alert you to what else might be going on under the floor and help
you find a solution that won't break the bank.
There are five major problems
with six common symptoms and
four distinct causes to the negative
issues associated with the open crawl space
environment.
To help you better understand what is going on in the crawl space you
have to first separate the real problems from the symptoms. Once you
understand the problem you can fix your crawl space instead of medicating
the symptom.
Symptoms
- Odor
- Mold/Mildew/Fungus
- Wood Boring Insects- i.e.
Termites, Powder Post Beatle,
Carpenter Ant
- Structure Rot
- Cold Floors
- Condensation
    
Problems
- Moisture
- Standing Water
- Energy Loss
- Rodents
-
Radon Gas
    
Causes
- Open Earth- Even if
partially covered
- Foundation Vents/Outdoor
Accesses
- Foundation Walls
- Gaps Around Sill Plate and
Rim Joist
What does this all mean?
Although many homeowners see the symptoms listed above as the real
problem they actually are not. Like any part of life, fixing a symptom will
only gain short term results and with a crawl space it may end up causing
more problems. By identifying the real problems, as listed above, we are able
to find the cause. Take odor for example, there are two factors that
increase odor, heat and moisture. A dead animal on the side of the road does
not smell as offensive in the winter as it does in the hot summer. A dog
might not smell bad when he is dry but if he gets caught in the rain he will
smell like a wet dog and that's usually not pleasant. The point I am trying to make is if you fix the cause of the
problem, the symptoms go away. It is easier and less expensive than you may
think to get these problems fixed as a DIY Project. It is however, a bit
more complicated that just putting down plastic. Keep in mind this project
is just as much about what not to do as it is about what to do. Click the
link below to read about a "closed crawl
space" or navigate back to the home page to learn
more about how the crawl space directly affects your home.
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