Have you had your home's crawl space cleaned out?

cantdrv55 · 03-04-2009, 05:45 PM

Rodents have made my home's crawl space their home. It's been raining so much that I guess the ivy on the hillsides aren't enough to keep them dry so they've found their way under my house. I have hundreds of rat poop underneath there and I swear I can smell the little fuchers. Anyway, I was wondering if you've ever had your crawl space professionally cleaned out.

I'm looking into getting the area rodent and moisture proofed. There are outfits that come in and close up all holes leading outside, sanitize the area and then do a complete clean out. Afterwards they'll lay down a moisture barrier that is supposedly thick enough and rip proof so that it can be walked upon. That's good since my crawl space is about 5 foot tall and I'd like to use it for extra storage.

Has anyone ever used this service or have cleaned out your crawl space yourselves? I don't think I'd want to do the job myself because it's nasty down there so I'm willing to stimulate the economy a bit. If you hired out, was it worth the money or did pests and smell come back?

MT930 · 03-04-2009, 09:18 PM

I hired some 18 year old kids to pick every thing up and bag it. I am not a crawl space sort of guy, I then went in myself and sealed all voids. Not a big deal alt ho I did carry a sidearm (.22 pistol) in case I ran across varmint's, I did need to dispatch one in close quarters it was a marmot never had a problem for the rest of the time I lived there. I did do all the work during construction on the current house no critters not even bugs now. I did price it with a contractor it was over the top for what I wanted to do. It's very DIY able.

cantdrv55 · 03-04-2009, 09:32 PM

I could probably do it except for all the rodent dung in there. The space is seriously nasty. If only I can hire someone to do the clean up, I would do the rest.

onlycafe · 03-04-2009, 10:13 PM

that is not the kind of crawl space find i was looking to read about. i was hoping for baseball cards or a copy of the declaration of independence.

ikarcuaso · 03-05-2009, 12:03 AM

Roof rats were breeding in our crawl space when we first moved in. We hired Clark Pest Ctrl to set traps, block access points, etc. For awhile, we were trapping those fuchers pretty frequently. Most times, we wouldn't know it until it smelled, but Clark was good about coming out ASAP to get the dead ones. Once, one got caught in a trap above the ceiling in the lower level of our home, at like 2:00 A.M. The bastard was "crying" and "screaming" for over 30 minutes, and we could hear it banging around trying to get free. Very creepy.

After a few months or so, this massive, pregnant female and what we believe was the alpha male were trapped and taken away at the same time. Both were much larger than anything caught previously. We haven't had an issue since - been about three or four years now.

A big help, we believe, was also trimming any tree branches away from the perimeter of our roof, to eliminate that access. I do this at least twice a year. We haven't really had our crawl space professionally cleaned, however. Clark did pick up any dead bodies they happened to see down there. You definitely want to get rid of the rodents as well as eliminate their access before doing a cleaning like that, IMO. Good luck.

Mr.Puff · 03-05-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikarcuaso

After a few months or so, this massive, pregnant female and what we believe was the alpha male were trapped and taken away at the same time. Both were much larger than anything caught previously. We haven't had an issue since - been about three or four years now.

Rat king.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

We did it ourselves when we renovated our home and added 1200 sq ft to it. Cleaning and moisture-proofing the crawlspace pays big dividends with improved heating/cooling and cleaner air not to mention that you can use the space for storage.

herr_oberst · 03-05-2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

That's good since my crawl space is about 5 foot tall and I'd like to use it for extra storage.

You should dig out another couple of feet and have a basement.

(a friend of mine actually did this, with just shovel and a wheelbarrow. He converted the space to a beautiful rec room with a bar and a pool table and a bathroom. He's also the hardest working person I have ever met.)

My crawlspace is no more than 3.5 feet tall, the visqueen barrier is a joke, and the place is a filthy mess. I really need to get down there and spruce it up, but I am 6 feet tall and slithering around in the dirt is not as appealing to me as watching FIM racing on speedvision. . . .

jyl · jyl's Garage

I like the idea of digging out another 4 feet and getting a full, finished basement.

scottmandue · 03-05-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

You should dig out another couple of feet and have a basement.

You might want to check to be sure the foundation can handle that.

I'm no engineer but it seems like if a foundation was designed to be supported by dirt on both sides then you remove the support on the inside you might have problems.

I had to craw under the front house to remove a dead skunk... good times... good times...

After that I replaced the foundation vents (some rusted out) and have not had any problems since.

Tried to crawl under a friends house to replace the pilot light in his floor heater... after about five minutes I crawled... at 52 my crawl space days are over.

herr_oberst · 03-05-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

You might want to check to be sure the foundation can handle that.

I

My buddy had all the new foundation work engineered and permits pulled. It was a lot of work and a good portion of it came from his back.

targa911S · 03-05-2009, 08:14 AM

We had fruit rats in the attic in our house in FL. I had to have all the insulation removed and then blown back in after sanitizing. I pitied the poor guys that did the job. It has to be one of the worst jobs on the planet. 115 degrees and rat poop along with fiberglass dust. Just awful.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-05-2009, 09:02 AM

Anyone ever find anything cool? I once found a box of Playboys from the 70's and a pack of Camel nonfilters, lol.

Nasty nasty work. I had to repipe a kitchen, ended up cleaning the whole crawlspace out.. not again.

Bill Douglas · 03-05-2009, 11:01 AM

Once the rat poop has dried out ie summer time, it's fine. Plus finding the odd dehydrated rat - just add water and you have your very own rat.

looneybin · 03-05-2009, 11:41 AM

instant rats, just add water HA HA HA

I did find a box of old Lionel trains in my attic when i moved in