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Crawl space foundation systems with a drop girder/pier system are ideal. They allow for easy repairs of plumbing, heating, and wiring. Also, if any part of the system sags putting the floor out of level, it is very simple to jack it and shore it up to correct the problem. The biggest advantage though is they allow for up to R-30 insulation to be installed, and some are even "conditioned" to control moisture buildup and heat loss.
A sealed crawlspace, or conditioned crawlspace is extremely energy efficient. The predecessor being a ventilated crawlspace was done to allow moisture out of the crawlspace, but it also let moisture in as well as hot and cold air. Sealed crawlspaces cut off the moisture/energy transfer, and if somehow moisture does build up, a simple dehumidification system can be installed rather easily.
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Originally Posted by sunnie741
Anyone know anything about sealed crawl spaces? I guess these are more energy efficient and the builder keeps raving about them.
Thank you, everyone, for this information! My husband is completely obsessed with getting a home in NC with a basement, even after a builder told us it would add 30K to 40K to the cost of a new house. Now I armed with facts to talk him out of it, and just in the nick of time.
A friend of mine once said, "nothing good ever happens in basements." A mantra to live by, IMO.
Gracious, in FL it's ALL SLAB b/c we're on SAND. and concrete DOES expand and contract, meaning CRACKED CERAMIC TILES. What a pain!!! I know it's the way it's "done" in FL, but having read all the folks on here saying to stay away from slabs, and having my cracked tile ($1000 repair on a 3-year-old house) problems, we ended up making an offer on a crawl space house--I hope it wasn't a mistake!
I've had 5 houses, all built on crawl space, and never had any problems.
Before anyone considers buying a basement, crawl or slab foundation, do a google search and check out the EXPERTS opinons and proven theorys. Its great to have this Forum and great to have everyone's opinions but its more necessary to base what type of home you are buying and which area you are buying in, on your own research and opinions.
My Mom had a home with radiant heat. Pipes embedded in the slab leaked in many homes in the subdivision causing expensive heartaches for the owners.
Several replaced the radiant heat pipes with baseboard radiators.
I would not feel comfortable having radiant heating in a slab. Without the access, that can be a real pain. Now that I know slabs are actually better in our area, due to the issues with clay soil, I am actually happy I bought a home with it. Our gas and electric come through the wall, not the slab, so that is not an issue. The main water supply comes through the slab, but it is just in one isolated area. If I had radiant floor heating, I would be nervous about a problem, although I don't know how often that actually happens. I just would not want to be the one.
May I ask, how does the floor feel with a crawlspace-does it get cold in winter? What is under the floor-does the crawlspace have a 'ceiling'? Just curious, since we may very well have one when we buy, and they are not existant where I am now.
The underside of your sub-floor is insulated so the floors do not get very cold at all. The sub-floor is also your "crawlspace ceiling". In simplified terms, the top side of a crawlspace is joists/girders (or trusses is some cases) with a plywood or OSB cap which is what the floor in your living area is attached to.
I also don't know how often that happens, but I'm guessing not too frequently. My parents were one of the unlucky ones who actually got to experience this about six years ago. All homes in south FL are on slabs (with concrete subfloors) for a vast variety of reasons.
My parents' 30+ year old home ended up with pipes that had not been sloped enough, and the pipe that ran from one side of the house to the other accumulated enough sludge over the course of 30 years that the pipe ended up eroding away. They had to dig up the entire floor in the middle of their house (entryway and main hallway that goes from one side of the house to the other). They couldn't live in the house while the work was being done and had to stay in a hotel for a few weeks.
So I'm wondering, what effects can be seen as a result of plumbing issues on slabs? Since pipes are underground, how would you detect or see issues that come up?
Water leaks up into the home? Low water flow volume/pressure? Smell of gas odors? Wet soil around foundation?
SP2SCV, Hi cadillac 811 here. I'm thinking of moving to the Apex-Cary area, have been posting for a few months, But I've got to tell you. I need a basement. It's a cave-survival-man thing with me. I just feel safer and more stable with a basement. I don't know if it's a holdover from all those "Duck and Cover" films I saw as a kid in school in the early 60's or what. But a basement is a must for me. I currently live on Long Island which has sand and dirt, but not much clay.We take precautions with our basements, de-humidefiers and such. Any sugestions, perhaps waterproff membrane outside and de-humidefier inside. Thanks for any feedback, Cadillac811
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