A crawl space is a cheaper alternative to a basement, consisting of block walls and either a concrete or gravel floor. It can be accessed from both inside and outside the house. Moisture is a major issue, but insulation and a vapor barrier can help prevent damage. A fully finished concrete crawl space is the best option for preventing rodents and improving air quality.
A crawl space is an area built up between the ground and the floor of a house, creating a permanent foundation and used in place of a basement. It doesn’t have the depth of a normal basement, making it difficult for a person to be able to stand up when inside the small space.
This space is built with block walls for the house to sit on. It may also have a concrete floor, although some have gravel instead. The area can be accessed from both outside and inside the house, similar to a basement, depending on what the homeowner chooses when building the house. Double-wide manufactured homes, modular homes, and stick-built homes can all have crawl spaces as a permanent foundation.
There are advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before deciding on a crawl space instead of a regular basement when building a house. One of the benefits is having the house raised off the ground, as opposed to a concrete slab foundation. This is necessary when the house is being built in an area that is damp or prone to termite infestation. A basement also keeps the house off the ground, but a crawl space is much cheaper. It also makes plumbing and duct maintenance more affordable because it’s more affordable than a home with a finished basement.
Moisture is a huge drawback when building a crawl space and proper precautions must be taken to avoid the damage that moisture can cause. Water that collects in the space will travel upward, entering floorboards, drywall and insulation. This can cause serious health and safety issues for those living within the home. Properly installed insulation can keep moisture to a minimum, helping prevent mold and health problems. A properly placed vapor barrier will create a thin concrete barrier on the gravel floor, keeping out moisture and any rodents.
A crawl space consisting of a fully finished concrete floor and walls is overall best. With this configuration, rodents cannot dig underground tunnels and enter the house. Concrete can also block mold, various odors, bad air quality and minimize high energy bills.
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