If you’re trying to cut costs when building your home you may choose to have a crawl space rather than a basement. While this may work well in some parts of the country, it may not work so well in others. But what exactly is a crawl space and how does it differ from a basement?
What is a Crawl Space?
If you have a crawl space under your home, you will have around 3 ft. of headspace with no room to walk around. Hence, in the name, you must crawl to enter it. However, you do have enough room to make repairs if there are any issues. You can get to your utilities such as wiring, plumbing, air conditioning, or ductwork. But if you are looking for storage space a crawl space is not the place.
What is a Basement?
A basement is easily accessible through stairs or an egress entrance. There is a lot of space for storage or a laundry room. In some cases, a basement is large enough for an entire living area. You have access to plumbing, wiring, and sewage. Your basement will give you a strong foundation under your home, but not every home has a finished basement. It may be a dark damp area with rodents, spiders, and who knows what else living there, and can be difficult to upkeep.
The Pros and Cons of Crawl Spaces
. Cost-wise, a home builder will save thousands of dollars by having a crawl space under the home rather than a basement. You can get to plumbing, ductwork, electrical wiring, and air conditioning units rather easily.
. Little to no storage
. Crawl spaces will get damp and sometimes mold with grow in these areas causing severe health concerns. Due to the small space, it is difficult to take care of these problems for the homeowner alone and a professional will be called in most of the time.
. Encapsulating a crawl space takes less money and time than a full basement for the same results.
The Pros and Cons of a Basement
. A basement will cost much more than a crawl space if you’re building your own home. It’s the place to go when a tornado hits, and if it’s dry with adequate ventilation, you can have extra living space for a recreation room or extra bedroom.
. If you are buying a home be sure to check for standing water, cracks in the foundation walls, and proper drainage. An experienced home inspector will point out these potential dangers to you.
Toledo Basement Repair is a reputable company serving the greater Toledo area, northeastern Ohio, and southern Michigan. They have a Healthy Base Certification that speaks for itself. They install air filtration systems and dehumidifying systems, waterproof basements and crawl spaces, install sump pumps, and repair cracked foundations.
Save 10% off services when you call today. Check out more information on crawl spaces on our webpage. You can also like us on Facebook.