Building a crawl space in your home is essential to improve the air quality, prevent mold, and increase structural stability. Additionally, it helps with the reduction of pests, and it acts as a moisture barrier.
Therefore, the crawl space is one of the most crucial sections of your house.
So, you might be wondering, how much does it cost to build a crawl space? And how much does it cost to insulate it?
Do you want to find out more? You’ve come to the right place!
In today’s article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about all the costs of building a crawl space in your home, including the prices of the foundation, the jacks, insulation, and more. Let’s dive in.
How Much Does a Crawl Space Foundation Cost?
The crawl space foundation’s cost range depends on your crawl space size. Installing a crawl space foundation can cost around $13.65 per square foot.
That includes all the materials and labor you’ll need to install the foundation. In addition, this price can increase for more complex designs and extra features in the crawl space.
The average range for installing the foundation is around $15,350 if you hire a contractor. However, if you do it yourself, it can cost $7,400 on average.
Keep in mind that these numbers can vary depending on the contractor, the price of the materials, and the complexity of the crawl space design.
How Much Do Crawl Space Jacks Cost?
Are you dealing with a bouncy, bowing, or sagging floor? Crawl space jacks are the solution to your problem!
Crawl space jacks are essential to stabilize your house. After all, they help carry the house. Furthermore, they’re a lot easier to install than concrete beams while still being sturdy.
That said, crawl space support jacks aren’t cheap, and you’ll need plenty of them. Typically, jacks are installed 6 feet apart, so the larger your crawl space, the more support jacks you’ll need.
Additionally, the installation team will need plenty of time and materials to set up the crawl space. This can increase the cost substantially.
Crawl space jacks are available in different heights and sizes to jack up your floor joists. On average, installing crawl space jacks can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000.
The price can even be higher if you have other issues that need to be fixed, like damaged girders.
How Much Does Crawl Space Cleaning Cost?
The answer to this question can be a little complicated. That’s because cleaning can be as simple as clearing out a small amount of dirt or might involve repairs and replacements.
If your crawl space is in good shape, a basic clean-up will cost about $750 to $2,500, depending on the crawl space size. Yet, this figure can increase if the crawl space has a significant problem, such as mold or pest infestation.
To eradicate all pests, such as rats, a professional crew will need to remove them as well as block out any entry points. This can cost up to $2,000.
As for mold, professional antimicrobial treatment can range between $1,000 to $2,000.
Generally, you should clean the crawl space twice a year. This way, it’ll be in the best condition possible and free of mold and mice.
How Much Does It Cost to Waterproof a Crawl Space?
Waterproofing your crawl space is necessary to maintain floor integrity and prevent moisture from leaking from the ground.
Furthermore, if you leave the crawl space without waterproofing, you might risk mold growing in your household.
Waterproofing a crawl space can cost anywhere between $3 to $7 per square foot, depending on the material. So, you’re looking to pay about $7,000 for an average-sized home.
You should also consider the cost of repairing any cracks or installing extra drains and pipes in the crawl space during the waterproofing process.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Vapor Barrier in a Crawl Space?
The vapor barrier is a thin plastic sheet that can be taped in your crawl space to prevent moisture. It’s a cheap material.
In fact, the cost of installing a vapor barrier mostly goes to the labor, not the material.
The plastic that makes up vapor barriers varies in thickness from 6 to 20 mils. Still, the plastic vapor carrier only costs $0.15 to $0.5, depending on the thickness.
Yet, after adding the sealing tape and the extensive manual labor, the cost of installing a vapor barrier in a crawl space can range between $1,000 to $4,000.
How Much Does It Cost to Fill a Crawl Space?
You must take into consideration the cost of all the extra preparations. The reason is that before filling a crawl space, it must be completely clean, undamaged, and insulated.
That’s why if you’re planning to replace the joists or install vapor barriers, you should do so before filling the crawl space. Otherwise, you might have to remove the filling altogether and then redo it.
The cost of filling a crawl space is about $3 to $7 per square foot. You’ll also need the proper permits, which cost about $200.
Lastly, the labor cost can vary depending on your contractor.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Floor Joist in Crawl Space?
Joists are relatively easy to replace and aren’t expensive. A single joist can cost between $100 to $300.
So, unless the crawl space has been substantially damaged, replacing the joists shouldn’t be an issue.
However, this depends on your crawlspace. It might cost more if you can’t easily access the joists due to fillings or insulation.
That’s because you’ll need professionals to remove these barriers completely, then they’ll need to be installed again. So, while the joist itself doesn’t cost much, the process can be difficult and expensive.
How Much Does It Cost to Insulate a Crawl Space?
Insulating the crawl space is crucial. Not only does it increase your property value, but it also prevents loss of energy, thus reducing costs in the long run.
Without insulation, your home heating and cooling will be almost obsolete as the warm or cool air can be lost through the floor. Additionally, insulating the crawl space helps prevent the flow of air from the outside to the inside.
The best and most common material used to insulate crawl spaces is foam board. Foam boards can cost about $1 per square foot. So, you should expect to pay upward of $3,000.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does it cost to build a crawl space?
Building a crawl space can be an expensive project, especially if you don’t know what to expect.
There are many aspects that go into building the ideal crawl space. First, all the joists need to be undamaged. You should also have solid support jacks for a cleaner process.
Moreover, any moisture and air should be completely separated from the indoor area. That’s why you’ll need insulation, waterproofing, and a vapor barrier.
The final step would be filling the crawl space to ensure its integrity. Naturally, all these processes can add up to thousands of dollars. However, a high-quality crawl space can spare you many problems in the long run.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel