I have a very tight crawlspace that needs to be lowered to at least 24". It's very hard clay so a tool to break it up would be a great idea. Anyway, I've been researching and it seems to be common practice to excavate an external opening and dig out from there. However, I was wondering if I could pull up the floors (which need to be replaced due to mold issues anyway) and access the area from above. One problem I see is getting around the floor joists to dig. Would I be able to move them out of the way (remove/replace them) as we go or is that a bad idea? Are there other concerns I need to consider? Its not a very large area and it has deep footings so I don't think 2 feet down will destabalize them.
Inadequate Crawlspace
- Thread starter robertri
- Start date
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First things first, why do you have to make the crawl space so deep?
Why do you have to lower it to give 24" clearance?
Is it a ventilation issue?
Is it a ventilation issue?
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The crawlspace is too shallow to be accessed. Nobody could fit into it. It's not a lot of digging but it will be hard work. I plan on getting a few helpers to make it go quickly.
I need to get in there to mitigate moisture issues. I need to either encapsulate it or put in a cement floor.
OP, have you considered rolling out a vapour barrier on top of the oversite soil?
Though how you would get good coverage and access would be a difficulty.
Digging "trenches", almost tunnels, below a floor is just possible at great expense or your own free sweat. Lifting the floors would be easier and cheaper.
First, you would have to dig an external investigation pit to examine the footings etc.
If your intermediate supporting posts are on conc blocks and splashes of concrete then you will risk de-stabilising the posts.
Are you located at the foot of a hill or in a flood basin?
There are a number of ways of approaching penetrating water issues by preventative measures from outside the house footprint.
There are specialists in this kind of work and you might try a brief heads up with one?
Though how you would get good coverage and access would be a difficulty.
Digging "trenches", almost tunnels, below a floor is just possible at great expense or your own free sweat. Lifting the floors would be easier and cheaper.
First, you would have to dig an external investigation pit to examine the footings etc.
If your intermediate supporting posts are on conc blocks and splashes of concrete then you will risk de-stabilising the posts.
Are you located at the foot of a hill or in a flood basin?
There are a number of ways of approaching penetrating water issues by preventative measures from outside the house footprint.
There are specialists in this kind of work and you might try a brief heads up with one?
I need to get in there to mitigate moisture issues. I need to either encapsulate it or put in a cement floor. I have spoken with contractors and many of them didn't want to take the job. Most said that it is a vary hard and expensive task. Also they all agreed that something needs to be done to provide access to the area by code.
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