Crawl Space Entrance Cleanup?

[Rstark18]

I'm about to put a new crawl space entrance door on and wanted some ideas on what I should do about the dirt entrance. Any good ideas or should I just leave it.
Here are a few pics of it.

 

[CNGsaves]

Country, temperature, freeze line ??

Way too many variables unless all GJer's have ESP (extra sensory perception) or can read your mind !

By the way, welcome to GJ. Need details to get best advice.

 

[dumper]

Ya, post your location under your name- it can come in handy. As for your crawl space, I made a wood frame with screen to allow ventilation and keep the critters out. Also put a thin layer of crushed rock or pea gravel at the entrance so I could get in and out without getting covered in mud!

 

[pop pop]

Man, I'm glad I don't have to enter that opening! Built for midgets!

 

[Rstark18]

Oops sorry didn't think about that.
I'm in Los Angeles so obviously no freezing.
Winter lows are around 40 and summer highs are (rarely) mid 90's.
I like like the idea of gravel.
Btw, if you think the opening is tight you should see how I have to squeeze under some of the plumbing.

 

[CNGsaves]

For small spaces like that, my brother carpenter has always made them easy to remove (ie don't leave them down there to get in way, when you need to get into crawl space). Since you don't have any freeze issues in Los Angeles, CA then I'd recommend digging out several inches of dirt and putting down landscape fabric then gravel or rock.

Depending on how secure you want to make it, you could install a "bottom" made of angle iron with some corrugated steel attached going down into ground about a foot so critters couldn't dig under. With a square opening, you could make door that is tapered (again steel frame) so when it's pushed in, it would seal off the edges. A couple rods on both sides that slid into holes like a hinge (think wrought iron gate) could be secured on each side with locks by drilling hole through the rods. Middle part of "door" could be wrought-iron style bars with screen on backside to keep out insects.
That's my 2 cent idea !

I'm thinking a custom "door" by a wrought iron fence company would be great. Same fence company could make you a "lid" for the opening so that animals or people wouldn't fall down into that hole ; it would have hinge up on house to get it out of the way when needed.

 

[yhprum]

how about putting in some pavers at the bottom after removing some dirt?

 

[jimgreen]

Hijack.... How are these houses built then, are they basically on stilts? A void under the whole house ?

 

[djjsr]

Patio blocks or bricks. Set them in sand.

 

[where2]

I'd do two things: shop vac the leaves and gravel out, then add patio brick pavers at the bottom.

If you were as OCD as me, you'd make a plywood lid to cover that whole recessed hole and keep the leaves out.

 

[Rstark18]

Thanks everyone! Out of all the suggestions I like the bricks/pavers the best. Very easy and nice and neat.

Btw to whoever asked, yes the whole house is set on wood "stilts". I think they are 4x4 posts throughout. Amazingly in this particular house they are all straight (earthquake area). I've been under a few houses in the area that have some skewed posts but supposedly it's nothing to worry about according to the inspector.

I was looking at HD out of curiosity for a crawls pace door. What they sell are POS! The thinnest sheet metal I've ever seen as an excuse for a frame. So time to build my own. I don't have access to or know how to use any metal fabricating tools. So wood it is I guess. But, I don't want the door to take up what little space ther is to squeeze in. What would take the least amount of valuable frame space and still be functional? Whatever I end up doing needs to have a mesh screen on it as that is also a breather vent for that side of the house.

 

[yhprum]

You could make a cover out of lumber like you would put on a outdoors deck floor. It could be made to sit on top of your opening or you could recess it to fit inside the opening if you add some type of support to the inside of the entrance.
Space each of the boards far enough apart from each other for some airflow. Staple a screen on the inside to keep leaves an whatever else from getting into the crawlspace. Give yourself a means to pull it out easily. Sens photos when your done.