Raising Crawl Space Floor Above Ground Water

Carson dunlop s comment that a dirt crawl can contribute several gallons of moisture per day into a home is the best case.

Raising crawl space floor above ground water.

If you have built a home on a flood plain then that 18 inch rise could be the difference between a minor annoyance and a major disaster. There is also the wood to consider as water damage and other forces can cause floor joists to begin to sag. Our page top sketch showing the effects of covering a dirt floor in a crawl space is courtesy of carson dunlop associates. When find standing water on the ground it is important to identify whether the source of the water is groundwater water flowing in or seeping up from the ground or if it is coming from above grade usually a leak in plumbing fixtures drain pipes or water supply pipes running in the space below the floor of the house.

A crawl space also serves to raise your home above ground level. Groundwater moisture vapor exposure over an extended period of time in a crawl space can cause significant damage to wood frame floor construction one way in which water migrates into the crawlspace is through seepage. If the crawl space is too shallow to enter the only way to access the floor system is to remove the subflooring. Cover the ground in the crawl space with plastic sheeting as long as water cannot pool on it need 1 2 first.

To increase the space you ll need to have the area beneath the home excavated as well. Make sure the ground under the house is higher than surrounding grade. Crawl space ground covers to help control crawl space moisture. Some techniques can be done from above or below while others require access to.

Cold air that sweeps through a crawl space meanwhile can lead to cold floors inside the home whether or not the space is wet. A crawl space under a house helps protect against certain pests but a crawl space with abundant moisture can invite problems including mold wood rot and vermin. Expanding your crawl space into a full basement is a big job and it absolutely has to be done right. Houses are built with all the floors parallel to the ground but this may change with time or damage.

If a floor develops a slope it can be a sign of the house settling or a foundational issue.