Crawl Space Inspection, er..Observation

[xmrdfghap]

actually, I would like to see a picture of you after inspecting the crawl space. :lol:

but I would not go under there unless I saw something significant that warranted further inspection. Even then I would simply disclaim and suggest an inspection by an engineer or pest control guy or something.....pass the buck on this one......

 

[Dick Dolman]

There is a difference between "crawl" and "slither". The GAD (Generally Accepted Definition) of crawl is to move on one's hands and knees. Slithering places one's navel in direct contact with the earth. If I would have to resort to slithering to observe what is purported to be a crawl space, I would conclude that the dwelling in fact does not have a crawl space and I know of no reference to a requirement to observe a slither space. The recommendation for correction would be to remove sufficient material from the area to create a crawl space providing for a minimum of an 18" clearance between the surface and the bottom of the floor support system. If such removal would cause erosion under the footings, an underwriter would probably be prudent in finding the property ineligible as security for a loan. Someone will raise the point that the clearance specification references bottom of floor joists which suggests that clearance below beams could be less. It is my opinon that less than an 18" clearance below a beam violates the concept of a crawl space and I will limit my crawl to the point that my progress is impeded by a beam. I will not slither.

 

[Dave Smith]

Even a crawl space access that is from inside the house is not necessarily safe. My experience: trap door in the laundry room, with ladder into the 5' crawl space. I backed down the ladder, three rungs of the rotten ladder broke under me (I weigh 160 lb), I landed in a foot of cold water. I know, I shoulda used a flash-a-lite first. Live and learn.

Anyway, I don't do very many crawl space inspections any more and only when I think it is really material to the value of the property for me to know what evil lurks in the crawl space.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Don't Go in the Basement! :lol:

 

[Kathy in FL]

In the words of my brother in law, who was going to check the ductwork under his house...

"THAR'S SPIDERS UNDER THAR!"

(OK, you have to picture this with a southern accent...they called the AC guy to come out and do it...my BIL is terrified of spiders. )

If you can't do it without a delousing afterwards, don't do it.

Kathy in FL

 

[Theresa in Oregon]

You guys crack me up. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

No way am I crawling OR slithering (yikes). I handle it this way: When I make an appointment with the homeowner, I tell them that I will need to inspect the crawl space, so please empty that hall closet (or wherever, but it's usually the hall closet) of all the coats, bowling balls and other crap folks tend to store over a crawl space trap and please remove the access door by the time I arrive. Never been refused my request, because I make it very nicely.

I have two tools: My wood yardstick and my flashlight. I dip the yardstick down through the trap, then pull it up to see if it is wet (and how many inches). Then I shine my flashlight down there to determine whether or not there is a visqueen ground cover. If I can't see the visqueen or my yardstick comes up wet, I call for an inspection. If there is visqueen and no water, the coast is clear and that's what I report.

Of course, this only works with typical 2'-3' crawl spaces. Sometimes, in a house built partially below grade, there is a crawl space from the exterior with a door access. This I inspect - but I usually let the homeowner go first (spiders and all, you know). Invariably, he tries to convince me that this is not a crawl space but "basement space that will be finished". Sigh.... :roll:

Once, I appraised the same property two years in a row and damned if the homeowner didn't finish that crawl space between the first and second years. With the SAME good quality materials that he used in the GLA. Even with iffy head clearance, it was beautiful. Turned it into an office.

Got me thinking about what lies beyond that attic scuttle in MY 100 year old house. But my husband caught me staring at it one day (I was pondering the possibility of a drop stair thing) and he must have read my mind because he looked me in the eye and said, "Don't go there. Seriously, YOU ARE NOT GOING THERE!" :x Sometimes, husbands just have no sense of adventure. :wink:

- Theresa

 

[Nancy in Friday Harbor]

Thanks for all your great responses!!!

Crawling, slithering -- maybe the worst prospect of all is the mental picture I have of my 50-something butt disappearing under a deck in a large mud puddle!! :roll:

Dick, if you can crawl on your hands and knees without slithering in an 18" tall space, I might think that you were vertically challenged. 8O But, even if you are VC, I'll forgive on the strength of your attic inspection periscope. :lol:

Greg, if I had gone under that deck in that amount of water & mud, you would have had to stand me in a corner and turn on the hose!! 8O

Theresa, your common sense approach to the problem indicates that, indeed, the best man for the job is a woman!! Thanks for a great idea!!

Laughing in Friday Harbor

PS Thanks again. I really needed the chuckle this week!

 

[Dick Dolman]

Theresa,

Thanks for the yardstick tip. Gonna cut me a birch branch to use in the future. About 15 years ago the local FHA office asked me to do a special review of a condo project. Upon lifting the lid on the crawl space access, I carefully pointed my flashlight down the hole and saw nice dry polyethylene sheeting. I went down the ladder and confidently stepped off on to what I assumed would be a solid surface. Wrong! The plastic was floating on 8 inches of sewage which immediately rushed into the depression that I had created which explained the offense to my olfactory system. Received a lot of curious stares as I drove home with my left foot hanging out of the door of the car.

 

[Dick Dolman]

Nancy,

I am 5' 11" which is probably about average but you piqued my curiosity. So, I assumed a preambulatory position and measured the distance from the floor to the top of that point that plumbers are prone to display. 20.27 inches. That means that in an 18" crawl space, I don't crawl and don't slither - I slink.

 

[Nancy in Friday Harbor]

Dick,

Your post begs the question .... who held the measuring stick for this little investigation? If you measured your own preambulatory position, you are truly a man of many and wondrous talents!!!

Nancy