How Do You Dig Out A Crawlspace?

A crawlspace is a narrow space left between the ground and the floor of a building that allows minimal storage and access to pipes or wiring for repair and maintenance. Houses often have a crawlspace rather than a full basement, or because the house is located on a site where you cannot have a full basement (such as houses built at sea level). Consider digging out your crawlspace to gain a little more room, or to create a full basement. There are several steps and considerations you need to follow when digging out a crawl space in order to avoid damaging the integrity of your foundation. Figure out the range of support you need to maintain the integrity of the soil surrounding your footings, foundation walls and pilasters (if you have any). Do this by using the formula to figure out the sides of a triangle {a(sq) + b(sq)=c(sq)} using the depth you wish to dig for "a" and 3 feet for "b." "C" will equal the angle at which you can slope the dirt from the depth you have dug back up to ...  more