Dig Outs: What Are They & How Do We Do Them?

Almost every house has a crawl space. A crawlspace separates your house floor from the cold, hard ground underneath. The recommended height for a crawlspace, at the minimum, is 18 inches and about 24-48 inches maximum. But some are much smaller than this and smaller crawl spaces are cramped and hard to crawl through. 

Being unable to easily crawl through a crawl space can lead to problems, such as limited or restricted access to pipes, plumbing ducts and other components that may be necessary to easily get to, in case there is an issue. 

Some crawl spaces have dirt floors and no barriers between, and dirt floors have moisture, which can make your crawl space damp. Because of this, another problem that can occur is damage to your floors (e.g. sagging, slumping) due to mold or dry rot from the moisture. This is something you definitely want to avoid for you and your family’s safety. 

A solution to these problems is a dig out. You may be wondering, what is a dig out and how is it done? Well, Your Crawlspace Guys are here to explain. 

What is a Dig Out?

Simply put, a dig out is the process of digging up the ground, and making the crawlspace roomier or spacious and easier to crawl through, usually digging out to at least 18 inches of clearance, if not more, between your floor and the ground. 

Why Do We Do Them? Why Are They Important?:

We do dig outs to provide clearance for easier access throughout the crawlspace, in order to gain access to components in the crawl space that need to be fixed; which otherwise may have been restricted and harder to reach, due to cramped spaces. 

Here are a few more reasons why dig outs may be important:

Accessibility to Components

• You want to have easy access to essential components such as pipes, plumbing ducts, wires, etc., in order to be able to assess problems in a timely manner. You want to catch crawl space issues sooner rather than later because it can lead to bigger and more problems in the future. So having more clearance available will make the process much faster. 

Limit Moisture & Dry Rot Problems

• Dry rot and moisture problems will be less occurring/likely, especially if you add a foundation floor in your crawlspace. They are also more likely to be caught during inspections.

Easier & Faster Repairs

• Floors that are sagging due to moisture or dry rot may not be able to be easily fixed in a tight, cramped crawl space, if at all. There needs to be enough room for tools and equipment, as well as the contractors. With a crawl space that is roomier, it is more likely your sagging/slumping floors will be able to be spotted and fixed quickly and easily.

Easier inspections for infestations

• Inspections for infestations, spotting and getting rid of critters, such as rats or termites, will be easier to conduct in a roomier crawlspace. In a tighter crawlspace, critters may be able to hide/be hidden in small corners and spaces that are harder to see and more likely to be missed.

How Are Dig Outs Done?

Dig outs are not an easy task, and it is a lengthy process. But Your Crawlspace Guys can do it!

The first step is an Assessment. In an assessment, our contractors will meet with you and also examine or assess your crawlspace to see what needs to be done, where issues lie, and determine how big the project will be. 

Once a plan is in place, we can get started! We start by digging a hole and making our way deeper into the crawlspace ground. If there is not much room, one of our contractors will start digging up dirt and shoveling it out to our other contractors, who will dispose of the dirt. 

Once enough space is created/available, more contractors can start digging in the crawlspace. Once the dig out is finished, we will do the repairs in the areas that are necessary.

Do you need a Dig Out or are you having issues with your crawlspace? Call Your Crawl Space Guys Today at (503)-980-1564.