I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts are on decks that are situated over the enclosed area of a crawlspace. Obviously it creates ways for moisture intrusion, even if they are covered, due to wind driven rain but if it’s relatively well protected, the moisture getting in would be minimal and I would think it would actually assist in providing more ventilation by having the deck above it. Obviously that section wouldn’t be insulated, and I would think it’s also smart to remove the vapor barrier underneath that section. I received mixed opinions from those in my area, curious what y’all’s thoughts are?
I personally wouldn’t want that area of the crawl open to the rest of the crawl under the home. I can’t help but think rodents/pests could be an issue.
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Agreed. Other than that, not an issue as long as their is adequate drainage. No need for a vapor barrier, it would be useless. I do like a couple inches of gravel, good drainage and access.
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Did they have the rest of the crawl insulated? Or did they insulate the underside of the home’s floor? Hopefully the latter because insulating any of the crawl walls would be futile in this scenario.
Yeah, it’s kind of a strange setup but I can’t really say it’s wrong. In Portland there are a lot of old houses with partial basement/partial crawl space and the crawl extends under the front porch. I always do some ballpark measurements from the basement windows or other “landmarks” to be sure I’m accounting for all areas.
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Yup, they insulated just the underside of the flooring. I made note in the post that they didn’t insulate under the deck because I came across this same situation on a brand new custom home a couple weeks ago with insulation under the deck planks, which of course was already soaked…
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Whenever I see this, it always the same issues…water directed into the crawl and rodents. If the overhead floor is insulated, then the batts are typically fallen, deteriorated or infested. I recommend they seal it off from the exterior.
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So is the deck part of the crawlspace or outside of the crawlspace? Does it have its own crawlspace separate from the home’s crawl?
You’re spot on with the fallen insulation, that was the case here but a larger moisture issue at play too with lots of standing water in an isolated area away from the deck. But to answer your question, it is all within the same crawlspace so the deck is built off the same structure/piers and the vapor barrier just stops under that area. None of it was sealed off/separate.
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Yeah, poor design. I always recommend correction.
Morning, Brain.
Hope this post finds you well.
Why are you calling this a enclosed area of a crawlspace?
Crawlspace Definition: A an unoccupied, unfinished, narrow space within a building, ‘between the ground and the first (or ground) floor’
I see a masonry exterior wall, poor masonry clearance, too close to grade, with 3 pilasters columns projecting from a wall.
Between the pilasters are or what appear to be Crawlspace vents.
The deck. Planks, deck joists. As well I see daylight between the planks.
The bottom, soil.
You sure this is not was not a courtyard someone decked in?
How old is this building? The palesters are throwing me off.
I just mean that the front deck seen in the picture is situated over the crawlspace for the rest of the home with no form of separation. The home is 7 years old.
Might work in an arid desert climate, not a good idea in South Carolina.
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