We have published numerous articles about how gross, damp, dark, and stale crawl spaces all across the nation are. The dangers of mold growth in your crawl space and how the moisture that intrudes inside can eat away at the foundation of your home. Bacteria and other substances can procreate there as well, even critters!
Needless to say, we make it our business to make your crawl space a better place for you and your family. Have you recently had mold removed, an encapsulation performed, a sump pump installed, or any number of other repairs performed on your crawl space? Perhaps it is time to look at what kind of renovations can be done there, how exciting!
When a crawl space is properly taken care of, it could become just as useful as some other normal rooms you would find in your home. With the right materials and work done, there are plenty of uses for this new space, how creative can you be? The next few examples are from other people that have taken on the task to do just that.
These folks turned their crawl space ideas into a pint-sized basement. They first enhanced the structure of the crawl space by repairing the beams, posts, footings, and concrete retaining wall. They then reinforced the foundation by installing a vapor barrier below. After that, a concrete slab was installed over top of the waterproofing measures. Once these thing were put into place, the crawl space was then filled with common storage items and other organizational components. Take a look!
What better place to look for inspiration than history. Root cellars were the primary means for the refrigeration of both homemade and dried goods for homes without electricity. Following the inspiration, this family turned their crawl space ideas into a root cellar. The block wall that exists to section off the space from the home was opened up to gain full access to the space. The dirt against the walls of the space was dug out to make the room for the goods. Once the floor was leveled, the concrete was applied, shelving was placed inside, and a door was hung, the root cellar was complete.
This homeowner turned their crawl space into a wine cellar. With plenty of spiffy materials and design, the space below the floor was built to communicate with the main floor above it. A trap door that opens up to the shelving below makes this a great idea for anyone that wants to use up all the space they can. Maybe you want to invest in some creative flair that doubles as a utility.
A crawl space is not usually the first item on the list of places we want to go. There is also a pretty common notion that it is a lot of work to convert a crawl space into a basement, which is true more often than not! There are plenty of ways to utilize a crawl space that doesn’t involve the installation of electricity, building materials, and other things. Take this storage idea for example: This homeowner found a way to combine their need for rain barrels and the extra space they had below their home.
Last, but not least, one way to come up with ideas is to go way out on a limb! Creative individuals might jump at the chance to make something really unique happen. This individual built a handmade roller train that zooms across the space below their home. We doubt the line of people waiting to ride will be winding down the block, but with the right lighting and safety measures, this ride surely could provide some escape from boredom.
Now that you have some great inspiration about what to do with your crawl space ideas, the next step is to plan something great! Our team of specialists at Barrier Waterproofing Systems encourages you to schedule an encapsulation right away. This way, no matter what you decide to do, moisture won’t enter in and damage any of your hard work.
Give us a call today at (615) 257-1060 | (931) 536-1168 for all of your crawl space ideas or basement waterproofing needs, both inside and out!
This post was originally published on 4/21/2020 and updated on 1/28/2021 for accuracy and a larger scope of information.
