CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATION

According to data from the Survey of Construction, roughly 15% of new single-family homes have a crawl space foundation installed. The majority (54%) have a slab foundation, meaning that it is still the most popular choice. However, there are multiple reasons why architects and contractors may still suggest a crawl space foundation.

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Crawl spaces are so named because they are spaces accessible only through crawling – with roughly 18 inches of clearance, they are not large enough to use as a livable space. They may, therefore, seem like a poor compromise between a full basement and a concrete slab foundation. However, they actually combine many of the benefits of both – as well as providing a solid, durable base to your home, they also provide space to store plumbing systems and the electric panel.

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Crawl space foundations are built by elevating the home off the floor by, on average, 18 inches. The foundation is built by using footing and block walls around the perimeter of the foundation to support the home. These footings are usually made with cinder, although many homeowners choose to layer the cinder blocks with bricks in order to give a more pleasant appearance.