Go Back   Alberta Outdoors Forum > Main Category > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-16-2017, 09:14 PM
Immigrant's Avatar
Immigrant Immigrant is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 804
Default Crawlspace advice please

I need some crawlspace advice please. This is what my new addition crawlspace looks like at the moment. The plan (according to the contractor)is to insulate the walls and run poly over the crushed rock up to the walls. The crawlspace is only 3 feet below grade. I have a sump in the one corner, and an access hatch on the opposite end. The sump will have a pump in it, but if i need to service the pump, will i not damage/puncture the poly? Is there a product that is thicker than poly that you can walk on.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Last edited by Immigrant; 09-16-2017 at 09:37 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-16-2017, 10:19 PM
Prairiekid Prairiekid is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Rocky Mountains
Posts: 536
Default

Do you need poly? My parents house doesn't have poly, it's just a sand gravel bottom with a sump pit. My condo doesn't have poly, just spray foam on the outside walls. I don't really understand the need for it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-16-2017, 10:20 PM
JustBen's Avatar
JustBen JustBen is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Claresholm, AB
Posts: 796
Default

Lay some treated wood planks before laying the poly if you are concerned about puncturing it.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-16-2017, 10:36 PM
jmedical jmedical is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 104
Default

If your worried about punctures create some panks to crawl on.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-16-2017, 11:25 PM
doetracks's Avatar
doetracks doetracks is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Aridzona
Posts: 3,456
Default

When we were selling our duplex in Fort St. John, this is what the crawl space looked like:



In order to sell, we basically had to poly and insulate. It was a work of art when we were done, and the property sold easily.

Poly is not that difficult to install, and good thick stuff won't puncture very easily.

Hardest part for me was shimmying under the joists. I apparently have a bit of claustrophobia.

__________________
“We need more gun laws because we don’t have time to enforce the ones we have.” - Joe Biden 2013

NRA/NFA Supporter and "...gun toting tea party psychotard..." -

Last edited by doetracks; 09-16-2017 at 11:26 PM. Reason: Grammar
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-16-2017, 11:26 PM
Grizzly Adams's Avatar
Grizzly Adams Grizzly Adams is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
Default

Last one I saw,poly was under the rock as I recall. Wooden foundations are pretty Passe these days. Engineered ?

Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-16-2017, 11:43 PM
Dewey Cox's Avatar
Dewey Cox Dewey Cox is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: 204
Posts: 5,660
Default

Put poly down, and pour a concrete slab.
That will protect the poly, and you'll have all the storage space you'll ever need.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
I don't think our taxes should be this high.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-17-2017, 05:30 AM
does it ALL outdoors's Avatar
does it ALL outdoors does it ALL outdoors is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,559
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey Cox View Post
Put poly down, and pour a concrete slab.
That will protect the poly, and you'll have all the storage space you'll ever need.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My thoughts exactly
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-17-2017, 09:08 AM
Grizzly Adams's Avatar
Grizzly Adams Grizzly Adams is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors View Post
My thoughts exactly
Actually a bit of a head shaker here, nothing but anchor bolts to resist soil pressure. Building wooden foundations is a science in itself and very demanding. usually requires an engineer approval, not having one can be a buggar at selling time.

Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-17-2017, 09:46 AM
LKILR's Avatar
LKILR LKILR is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Claresholm
Posts: 1,138
Default

Spray foam the walls and floor. Insulation and vapor barrier in one
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-17-2017, 09:56 AM
OpenRange OpenRange is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Medicine Hat
Posts: 337
Default

You can have a contractor lay a slurry slab. I have a crawl space that had a dirt floor, I just put down poly and had a guy come with a little pumper unit with a 2" hose line. They were able to pump into the area with this self levelling slab and it works for what I need. Just make sure you have lots of air circulation because the concrete creates a lot of humidity.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-17-2017, 10:56 AM
Immigrant's Avatar
Immigrant Immigrant is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 804
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
Actually a bit of a head shaker here, nothing but anchor bolts to resist soil pressure. Building wooden foundations is a science in itself and very demanding. usually requires an engineer approval, not having one can be a buggar at selling time.



Grizz


Not sure what you mean. The walls is sitting on this...



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-17-2017, 11:53 AM
Grizzly Adams's Avatar
Grizzly Adams Grizzly Adams is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Immigrant View Post
Not sure what you mean. The walls is sitting on this...



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Customary to pour an L shaped footing for the foundation wall to sit against if there is no floor intended.

Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-17-2017, 12:22 PM
Immigrant's Avatar
Immigrant Immigrant is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 804
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
Customary to pour an L shaped footing for the foundation wall to sit against if there is no floor intended.

Grizz
I see what you mean......
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-17-2017, 03:10 PM
tirebob's Avatar
tirebob tirebob is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Airdrie, AB and Part Time BC
Posts: 3,150
Default

http://www.basementsystemscalgary.co...e-barrier.html

This is the type of system we probably going with. It is similar to pool liner and is very tough and durable. In combination with a sump and dehumidifier it will be water tight, dry and clean.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 09-18-2017, 06:51 AM
Kim473's Avatar
Kim473 Kim473 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 6,470
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey Cox View Post
Put poly down, and pour a concrete slab.
That will protect the poly, and you'll have all the storage space you'll ever need.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just to add to this, Poly, styrofoam insulation, then concrete. Also a heat vent and your floor upstairs will not be cold in the winter.
__________________
Kim

Gonna get me a 16" perch.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 09-18-2017, 08:27 AM
NCC NCC is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Leslieville
Posts: 2,655
Default

If you do put a few tiny holes in the poly it won't hurt anything; many homes don't have a vapour barrier in the crawl space. If your worried about it, find some sump liner. It will be a PIA tocinstall but would puncture.

I wouldn't put a concrete floor in a 3' crawl space. You'll be unlikely to ever use it and if you do get water down there it will be difficult to get rid of, unless your contractors make the floor perfectly drained towards the sump. That's unlikely based on what I've seen in full height basements.
__________________
We talk so much about leaving a better planet to our kids, that we forget to leave better kids to our planet.

Gerry Burnie
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 09-18-2017, 01:52 PM
tchammer's Avatar
tchammer tchammer is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 423
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
Actually a bit of a head shaker here, nothing but anchor bolts to resist soil pressure. Building wooden foundations is a science in itself and very demanding. usually requires an engineer approval, not having one can be a buggar at selling time.

Grizz
Was wondering if that would get noticed. What we have done on crawlspace wood foundations has worked well and is economical. Lay a treated 2x6 down on the inside of the wall on the footing tight to the bottom plate. Quick bolt this down every two or three feet depending on backfill height with 5/8 quickbolts. Install these bolts a little over 1" in from the INSIDE edge of the 2x6, this allows you to have most of the strength from the 2x6 pushing on the bolts. Again I am referring to the edge that is closest to the gravel not the wall itself. Then install a 2x4 on the flat on top of the 2x6 butted tight against the bottom of the wall studs, nailing with galvanized spikes two every 12 to 16 inches. This not only anchors the bottom plate from pushing in, it also anchors the studs from being pushed in off the plate as well.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 09-18-2017, 04:14 PM
Immigrant's Avatar
Immigrant Immigrant is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 804
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tchammer View Post
Was wondering if that would get noticed. What we have done on crawlspace wood foundations has worked well and is economical. Lay a treated 2x6 down on the inside of the wall on the footing tight to the bottom plate. Quick bolt this down every two or three feet depending on backfill height with 5/8 quickbolts. Install these bolts a little over 1" in from the INSIDE edge of the 2x6, this allows you to have most of the strength from the 2x6 pushing on the bolts. Again I am referring to the edge that is closest to the gravel not the wall itself. Then install a 2x4 on the flat on top of the 2x6 butted tight against the bottom of the wall studs, nailing with galvanized spikes two every 12 to 16 inches. This not only anchors the bottom plate from pushing in, it also anchors the studs from being pushed in off the plate as well.
THanks for the info guys. I will see what i can do to address the issue
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.