Many Florida single family homes have crawl space foundations. There are good reasons for this as crawl spaces have some benefits over slab or concrete foundations. Yes, crawl spaces aren’t spacious, but they do add one to two feet of space between the ground and first floor. This makes it large enough to house HVAC, plumbing and electrical elements, making them readily accessible for maintenance, repairs, etc. And the advantages don’t stop there. Some people opt to use the space for storage – but don’t confuse this space with a basement.
The Basics of Crawl Space Foundations
Crawl space foundations raise the home off the ground and generally have a dirt floor. Other than the pipes and wiring, they are empty spaces. This type of foundation is beneficial on uneven lots as the base pillars can be adjusted to different heights to keep the building above level.
Another advantage is air flow. Crawl spaces allow air circulation under the home. Probably one of the biggest advantages applies to us in Florida – water and moisture! Our rainy and hurricane seasons can often produce flooding. Apart from extreme flooding conditions, crawl spaces help keep the water flow at bay. But water brings up the issue of moisture which is something you don’t want in your crawl space as it will create mold, attract pests, and damage the home’s structure over time.
What’s That Smell?!
Oftentimes, homeowners experience unwanted odors from the crawl space. Sometimes, this odor can be confused with smelly carpets. The nature of the terrible odors can come from mold, decaying pests or other rot from years of moisture or leaky plumbing.
Crawl spaces require more maintenance than concrete slab foundations, but the benefits often outweigh the disadvantages. Our foundation experts at Heavenly Foundations know the ins and outs of crawl spaces and can maintain and repair all aspects of the space, from mold to pests and unwanted odors.