DIY Chatroom -  DIY Home Improvement Forum
    DIY Forum     DIY Blogs     Photos     Woodworking     Advertise     Contact Us  

CLICK HERE AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY...IT'S FREE!
Go Back   DIY Chatroom - DIY Home Improvement Forum > Home Improvement > Building & Construction

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 01-28-2011, 11:45 AM   #1
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Question

Finishing crawl space


Hi. My cape cod style house was built circa 1970. We have a crawl space that I'd like to finish as a play area for kids. I'm concerned, however, about air quality (e.g., asbestos, airborne fiberglass, etc). It appears to be fiberglass insulation - can I rule out asbestos? What's the best way to finish and seal the space? Right now there are bare joists on the floor with insulation in the spaces and nails sticking straight down through the roof into the ceiling. I was thinking of covering the floor joists with plywood base board, putting wallboard on the wall and canted ceiling, and then carpeting the floor. Any precautions I should observe? Any suggestions from folks who have done this already? Among other things, do I need to get my fiberglass insulation tested for asbestos? Thanks!

Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Join DIYChatroom.com

Join the #1 DIY Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

DIYChatroom.com - Are you about to start a new home improvement task and need some help? Do you need advise on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that DIY Chatroom is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free.

Join DIYChatroom.com - Click Here
JOIN FOR FREE


Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. DIYChatroom.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any home improvement task!
Old 01-28-2011, 01:24 PM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 9,519
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Neofite View Post
Hi. My cape cod style house was built circa 1970. We have a crawl space that I'd like to finish as a play area for kids. I'm concerned, however, about air quality (e.g., asbestos, airborne fiberglass, etc). It appears to be fiberglass insulation - can I rule out asbestos? What's the best way to finish and seal the space? Right now there are bare joists on the floor with insulation in the spaces and nails sticking straight down through the roof into the ceiling. I was thinking of covering the floor joists with plywood base board, putting wallboard on the wall and canted ceiling, and then carpeting the floor. Any precautions I should observe? Any suggestions from folks who have done this already? Among other things, do I need to get my fiberglass insulation tested for asbestos? Thanks!
This smacks of child abuse. Does your wife know you want to imprison the young'uns in the crawl space?
Ron

Ron6519 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 01:29 PM   #3
Experienced
 
Jackofall1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 2,801
Default

Finishing crawl space


Pictures would be good, how tall is the crawl space?

I am sure Ron6519 was just kidding, at least I hope he was.
__________________
When its all said and done there is usually more said than done
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Jackofall1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 01:39 PM   #4
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron6519 View Post
This smacks of child abuse. Does your wife know you want to imprison the young'uns in the crawl space?
Ron
Disturbing thought!

Actually, the idea came when we were playing hide and seek and I used the attic crawl space to hide. Realizing that if it were cleaned up properly, it would be a fun "fort", I thought I would look into this. We have some friends who did something similar and their kids love it.
Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 01:43 PM   #5
Experienced
 
Jackofall1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 2,801
Default

Finishing crawl space


I imagine they would, hence the question, how much head room is there, is the space already insulated, sounds like there is a concrete floor already.
__________________
When its all said and done there is usually more said than done
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Jackofall1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 01:46 PM   #6
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackofall1 View Post
Pictures would be good, how tall is the crawl space?

I am sure Ron6519 was just kidding, at least I hope he was.
Me too!

I'll try to post a photo later today. It is about 60" tall. The floor, wall, and ceiling form a right triangle. So wall is 60" tall, floor is 60" wide, and ceiling is about 84" (from top of wall down to floor at 45 degree angle). The length of the crawlspace is about 8 feet. Even if we ended up using it for storage, it seems like a lot of space to not utilize in some way.
Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 01:48 PM   #7
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackofall1 View Post
I imagine they would, hence the question, how much head room is there, is the space already insulated, sounds like there is a concrete floor already.
No concrete floor. Maybe I erred by calling it a "crawlspace". This is not at the foundation level, it's more like an attic crawlspace I guess.
Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 01:59 PM   #8
Experienced
 
Jackofall1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 2,801
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Neofite View Post
No concrete floor. Maybe I erred by calling it a "crawlspace". This is not at the foundation level, it's more like an attic crawlspace I guess.
That is a horse of a different color.

I would be more concerned with structure at this point. What size are the joists that you refer to in the original post that I misinterpreted.

Was the area ever intended for occupation, ie, designed to carry a load.

I know you said you neihbor did this but is this just an accident waiting to happen?
__________________
When its all said and done there is usually more said than done
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Jackofall1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:18 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,548
Default

Finishing crawl space


Jack, I'm probably not going to be around the computer much more today, or over the weekend, so if you don't mind, I'll also just plant a seed about air flow, particularly if he had planned to insulate between the rafters; not knowing all of the details, that sounds like it would likely present a problem. Then, the next thing would be the added weight of sheathing on the bottom of the rafters.
DexterII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:21 PM   #10
Experienced
 
Jackofall1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 2,801
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by DexterII View Post
Jack, I'm probably not going to be around the computer much more today, or over the weekend, so if you don't mind, I'll also just plant a seed about air flow, particularly if he had planned to insulate between the rafters; not knowing all of the details, that sounds like it would likely present a problem. Then, the next thing would be the added weight of sheathing on the bottom of the rafters.
I am confused last post by Dexter original post by Neofite?
__________________
When its all said and done there is usually more said than done
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Jackofall1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:26 PM   #11
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackofall1 View Post
I imagine they would, hence the question, how much head room is there, is the space already insulated, sounds like there is a concrete floor already.
Please see attached photos.
Attached Thumbnails
Finishing crawl space-dscf5603.jpg   Finishing crawl space-dscf5604.jpg   Finishing crawl space-dscf5605.jpg  
Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:36 PM   #12
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackofall1 View Post
That is a horse of a different color.

I would be more concerned with structure at this point. What size are the joists that you refer to in the original post that I misinterpreted.

Was the area ever intended for occupation, ie, designed to carry a load.

I know you said you neihbor did this but is this just an accident waiting to happen?
Thanks for your ongoing correspondence. As far as I can tell the joists are the same as the ones supporting the adjacent floor. What is the risk here?
Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:37 PM   #13
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Default

Finishing crawl space


Quote:
Originally Posted by DexterII View Post
Jack, I'm probably not going to be around the computer much more today, or over the weekend, so if you don't mind, I'll also just plant a seed about air flow, particularly if he had planned to insulate between the rafters; not knowing all of the details, that sounds like it would likely present a problem. Then, the next thing would be the added weight of sheathing on the bottom of the rafters.
Not sure I understand the airflow issue, but I'm open to learning more about it. Thanks.
Neofite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:41 PM   #14
Experienced
 
Jackofall1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 2,801
Default

Finishing crawl space


If that is the case then you should be good structurally, the next thing is, insulating the roof side if you are thinking of covering the rafters.

It looks as if you have this area open to the house already. Is it not cold where you are, that being said how hot will it get in the summer?
__________________
When its all said and done there is usually more said than done
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Jackofall1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2011, 02:45 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,548
Default

Finishing crawl space


Sorry; I didn't mean to confuse anything. Neo, it sounds like you may be describing an attic space behind a knee wall, possibly off of an upstairs bedroom? Assuming this is correct, I believe that there are a couple of other things that you need to consider. First of all is venting, and if you look down at the lower corner of your triangle, where the rafters set on the first floor walls, I believe that you can probably see light through you soffit vents. Air needs to be able to flow through these vents, up between your rafters, and out your roof vents. Maybe I am reading the situation wrong, but if this appears to be the case, you need to ensure that whatever you do does not impede this flow of air, i.e., you can't extend your flooring out too far, and you can't insulate between your rafters, without making other provisions for venting. Secondly, by attaching drywall, plywood, or whatever you decide to the bottom of your rafters, you are affecting your roof load. Sounds like a nice area, and I played in similar areas in my parents and grandparents homes, 50 some years ago, but some things to think about.

DexterII is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
asbestos, crawl space, fiberglass, safety


-->
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

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
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bad smell in crawl space. John_W General Discussion 28 10-20-2011 11:24 AM
Jacking Up Floor Joists in Tight Crawl Space killerformula Building & Construction 2 06-11-2009 04:23 PM
crawl space and moisture Jeremy Hillary Boob, PhD Building & Construction 5 11-27-2008 09:13 PM
thoughts on crawl space heating rtoni HVAC 3 09-30-2008 01:47 PM
Crawl Space In Basement -- Please Help thekid Building & Construction 7 01-04-2008 09:15 PM


Top of Page | View New Posts


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:21 PM.


© 2003 - 2010 The Building Network LLC