crawlspace be gone
#1
03-09-04, 06:26 AM
crawlspace be gone
We have a crawlspace under our family room. Its apx 20'x20'.This is how it was bulit. It was not an addition-- it was actually a mistake. The house was built in 1967. The rest of the house has a normal basement. We want to get rid of the crawlspace. Can we? and how? It has about 5' between the top of the floor and the dirt. ANY ideas would be GREAT. Thank you
#2
03-09-04, 09:37 AM
You dont say just what you have in mind for it??? 5' do you want to dig it out or what. Id Put the 6 mil poly down on the ground insulation on the walls and up on the sill plate in the joist space and put all the junk I have in there. Sure make a good storage place. To dig it out you would have to check with code there where you are and see how far you would have to stay back from the footings for this room first. Lot to think about here. ED
#3
03-09-04, 12:20 PM
We would like to make it into part of the basement. To take out all of the dirt etc.. and make it into another room. We don"t know if it is even possible. We want to finish our basement and that is an eye sore plus the room above is extermely cold. It has 3 outside walls plus the other wall is the garage. We also had a problem w/carpenter ants last summer. Thank you again
#4
03-09-04, 12:30 PM
I would check out the code there and see what or how close you can come to the old footing there when you take out the other
3 1/2' of dirt. Insulation on the walls would help with heat for now ED
3 1/2' of dirt. Insulation on the walls would help with heat for now ED
#5
03-09-04, 06:00 PM
Group Moderator
You are in for a whole lot of work... First, you are talking about removing literally tons of dirt. Since you are in a crawlspace it will most likely have to be done by hand.
Second. Your local Inspections Dept. will probably say that you need an engineer ($$$). Most codes will not let you disturb the soil extending in a 45 degree line from the bottom edge of your walls footer (the deeper you dig, the further you have to stay away from the footer).
So, if you decide to do it... Your new basement walls will probably be severl feet "in" from the family room walls (making it smaller). You will have a really sore back from moving all that dirt and your wallet will be lighter by many thousands of dollars.
Second. Your local Inspections Dept. will probably say that you need an engineer ($$$). Most codes will not let you disturb the soil extending in a 45 degree line from the bottom edge of your walls footer (the deeper you dig, the further you have to stay away from the footer).
So, if you decide to do it... Your new basement walls will probably be severl feet "in" from the family room walls (making it smaller). You will have a really sore back from moving all that dirt and your wallet will be lighter by many thousands of dollars.
#6
03-10-04, 05:10 AM
I believe most code states a 1X1 dig rule. In other words, if you dig down a foot, you have to step in a foot form the footer. I'm sure this varies for different parts of the country, but I may be wrong.
Digouts are really a lot of work. I'd go with Ed's advice: poly and use for storage. Its amazing how much Christmas junk you can fit in there
Digouts are really a lot of work. I'd go with Ed's advice: poly and use for storage. Its amazing how much Christmas junk you can fit in there
#7
03-10-04, 05:14 AM
There is also a product made by the Basement Systems product line called Cleanspace. Its basically a much thicker poly product. Not sure if I can post this or not, but here is a URL describing the product <URL>http://www.primoid.com/n_cleanspace.htm</URL>
I havent personally installed the product, but many of the dealers across the country use it and get great feedback from customers on it.
I havent personally installed the product, but many of the dealers across the country use it and get great feedback from customers on it.
