KNOW WHAT LIES BENEATH
Crawl spaces are both good and bad. Here's how to circumvent some of the drawbacks
Your crawl space, if your home has one, is a foundation system that creates a hollow space between the ground and the main floor of the home. The height can vary, but it'll typically be a few feet high — not quite high enough to stand up in, but you could certainly crawl around (which explains the name).
Depending on how and where your home was built, you may have a crawl space dwelling underneath your feet — even if you didn't know it.
BENEFITS OF A CRAWL SPACE
Crawl spaces tend to offer easier access to your plumbing and electrical utilities — meaning it's easier to get at them to make any needed repairs. They tend to be easier to build than a slab foundation in lots where there's a lot of sloping. To get a full slab down, you'd have to excavate down so the area for the slab is level with the lowest point. Whereas with a crawl space, less digging will be necessary. If you're building a home from scratch on a new lot, this may be an important consideration for you. They're great for flood prone areas — if your home has a raised crawl space area, your home may be less likely to flood if the water levels rise.
When the space is properly insulated — it can also make it easier to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. However, historically crawl spaces weren't insulated and didn't have vapour barriers. That makes the house harder to keep warm, and could lead to some moisture problems.
If you're insulating the space, you'll have to close off all the venting, and then insulate the walls. I'd use a closed cell twopound spray foam, because that will also give you the vapour barrier you need to stop that moisture. You will also need to heat the space, so your HVAC pro will need to add proper air exchange with the rest of the home. Once this is done, your crawl space could provide some extra needed storage space for your holiday decorations, or other items that don't see a lot of use.
DRAWBACKS OF A CRAWL SPACE
Moisture and potential pest problems abound with crawl spaces that aren't properly set up. A lot of the air we breathe in our homes rises up from our crawl space or basement area — so if that air isn't healthy, it could begin to have a negative effect on the homeowners. The best way to combat that is to install some kind of vapour barrier in the space. This can prevent issues like mould, rot, termites, poor air quality, and more. A dehumidifier may help as well.
Moisture is a huge concern, so you should make sure your home is actively working to defend you from water problems. Good grading around the home, proper eavestroughs, and strong waterproofing can go a long way in keeping water moving away from your home and crawl space.
Can you turn your crawl space into a livable space?
The short answer is yes. With enough time and money, you could expand your crawl space to be a full room. But it's not something I like to do. Why? It's a huge undertaking — and when not done properly can create all sorts of structural issues for the rest of your home. The area will need to be excavated and properly underpinned. You'll have to waterproof the new foundation to keep moisture at bay.
It's a lot of work. If possible, I'd recommend extending your home into the yard if possible, rather than going underneath.
You'll also likely need to upgrade your HVAC and electrical to be able to supply ample power and heat to the area without negatively affecting the rest of your home. Your home's systems should be sized to provide enough power for their size. When you start putting in additions, you'll need to be able to generate heat and power for a whole extra zone — you need to be prepared for that.
Even though it's mostly out of sight, don't keep your crawl space out of mind. Make sure it's protected against water, and if you haven't checked yours out in awhile — take a look to see if there are any noticeable signs of water issues.