What can i do with a crawlspace?

[StormySar]

The house we just moved into has a very small basement, and then a crawlspace under the rest of the house. There is an access door from our basement wall in which we can enter it.

My husband was considering closing off all of the ground level access areas (which SHOULD be anyway, but our landlord doesn't believe in that!) and making use of the space to store things like tools and pantry items.

Problem is, we live very close to grain mills, and rats can be a problem. I have yet to see any, but I know they have to be out there and they'll eat through just about anything.

If properly put together, could our crawlspace work as a root cellar?

What can I store things like flour and grains in, that mice and rats can't get through? I'd like to buy a few canned or pantry items each time we go shopping and slowly start building up a supply to help us through the times coming up ahead. I;d also like to extend the life of my garden harvest, somehow, for things that would typically be stored in a root cellar.

[Wisconsin Ann]

metal trash cans work to keep out rats/mice. don't use plastic...they'll gnaw right thru it.

hmm. aluminum or steel trunks.

You could store grains and such in foodsafe plastic buckets inside a metal container.

root cellar....interesting idea. does the crawl space get damp when it rains? How tall is it? We had a crawlspace under the house in Kansas and it was maybe 3ft high, but I've seen some that are 5ft and still called "crawl space".

If it's damp in there, you'll have problems with cans of stuff rusting or the paper covers coming loose and you can't identify the items. keeping inside plastic tubs might solve that. roots (in a real root cellar) need air circulation, so be sure of that.

Interesting idea. I hope others here have ideas for you.

[WayneR]

The landlord may restrict what you can do with the space. Is there a vapour barrier in place and has the space been tested for Radon gas?

As you are renting, you need to consider the probable eventuallity of moving everything if/when you relocate.

[StormySar]

Our landlord has given us the ok to do whatever we want to the house, short of huge renovations, so long as its all out of our pocket. I don't think he'd care much if we used the crawlspace.

Now a vapor barrier being in place, I have no idea. Would this be something I can see? I have no idea if its been tested for radon gas. I'd imagine the entire house could be effected if there is gas, right? Is this something I shoudl ask my landlord to test for us, or is this something the city may do, or is it soemthing we can do?

[jasper]

i will be watching this thread. i have a huge crawl space under my house. at times there is dampness but certainly not a chronic problem. i should say that is it not a dampness that requires a sump pump at all. during hard driving rains though, there will be some accumulation for a day or so. i have just completed some sillplate repairs and will be creating better drainage on the outside of that particular area.

i have tried to figure out how to use that space as a root cellar but the occasional dampness is what bothers me. all the vents holes are covered with mesh so no critters can get in. it has one small access door on the side of the foundation. inside is total earthen floor. headspace is about 4' at a highest level and down to a inches at the lowest. the highest level is closest to the access door obviously.

so i continue to wonder how to build shelving down there but protect the storage items from the dampness.

[wy_white_wolf]

With no vapor barrier the crawl space needs to remain vented to the outside or else you will have humidity problems. But anything you wish to store in plastic totes or matel cans to protect from rats. Screens can be placed over the openings to keep vermin out.

[jasper]

Originally Posted by wy_white_wolf

With no vapor barrier the crawl space needs to remain vented to the outside or else you will have humidity problems. But anything you wish to store in plastic totes or matel cans to protect from rats. Screens can be placed over the openings to keep vermin out.

yes i am vented to the outside, with the standard foundation openings about 3"x6" all around the foundation. they are covered with mesh to prevent critters from taking up residence.

on the occasional times that the crawl space gets damp, all i do is put a window screen over the access door and leave it open. within a day or so, all dampness is gone.

would this be acceptable for storage? if it is, i have been missing out on some valuable real estate.

[agmantoo]

There are emerging businesses here that encapsulate crawl spaces. I have also been told that the building codes are going to be altered the eliminate the crawl space vents, floor insulation and adding perimeter wall insulation. The encapsulated crawl space supposedly is much more energy efficient and reduces a lot of problems. I have seen one home that has used the professionals to have their crawl space done and it appears to have lots of merit. I like the idea of the duct work and the plumbing being in a tempered area plus having the access to under the home being sealed against vermin.