A time forsaken for buildings on the ground, the crawl space in a new house today regains its letters of nobility. It must be said that it does not lack assets, since it participates in the creation of a healthy home, comfortable and durable.
Thanks to a comfort thermal, sa effective fight against humidity and termites, as well as its adaptation to different types of terrain, the crawl space offers many advantages for sustainable construction. Find out what its many advantages are.
What is a crawl space in a new house?
The crawl space is an empty space located under the low floor of a house, between the natural ground and the concrete slab which supports the structure of the construction. The floor is then placed above the ground. Its height varies between 0,20 and 1,80 meters.
The other solution would be to build the concrete slab directly on the ground. Although this technique is particularly simple, it is not suitable for all terrains. And today, the construction on crawl space is becoming more frequent, because it responds to many constraints.
Limit rising humidity
One of the greatest advantages of the crawl space in a new house is its moisture protection the capillary rise are a real calamity in a house. This problem is linked to moisture contained in the ground which is gradually absorbed by the materials and seeps into the house.
This phenomenon is difficult to stem and the humidity in the walls of the house is the cause of damage (insulation, woodwork, paints, coatings, etc.), and the appearance of mold and other more formidable fungi in the accommodation. Ventilated, the crawl space allows the absorbed water to evaporate before it reaches the interior of the house.
Crawl spaces in new homes: an all-terrain solution
The crawl space makes it possible to build on all types of land, whatever their nature or their gradient. In the South West, many terrains are subject to risk of shrinkage swelling of clays. The constructive solution chosen by the builder houses Sic aims to reduce the risks of these difficult terrains as much as possible.
Le crawlspace separates the floor from the ground to avoid risks of settlement or soil movement as a function of humidity (clay soil). This construction method, which is so suitable for sloping land, than to those consisting of embankments, makes it possible to adapt to all floor configurations.
To find out how to build on difficult ground, read our article » Soil study: stage 1 of a sustainable house in the South-West"
The thermal comfort of a raised floor
Do you know that the better insulator is the air? THE crawlspace is a buffer zone between the ground and the house. It thus naturally insulates the floor of the house, but must be supplemented by a thermal insulator. The crawl space is a practical solution that allows the implementation of various thermal insulation processes, since the slab can be insulated both internally and externally. The choice ofbottom floor insulation will therefore be made according to the constructive choices or the heating system chosen by the customer.
To learn more about the importance of insulation, read our article: 5 questions to understand the insulation of the new house"
A crawl space in a new house to protect against radon
Where is there radon in the Southwest?
Did you know that we can perhaps be exposed to radioactivity of natural origin? THE radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that can be emitted by rocks in the ground. It is considered in France to be the second cause of death from lung cancer after tobacco.
In the South West, its frequency is less important than in other French regions such as Brittany or the Massif Central. However, this risk is clearly identified in the Pyrenees, the South of Arcachon bay,Aveyron, Tarn and various scattered municipalities.
How to build a house without radon in the South-West?
For eliminate radon of the dwelling, it must be prevented from penetrating inside the building and evacuated. THE crawlspace then turns out to be a good constructive solution since it limits the surface in contact with the ground of low floors. THE basement of a house subject to radon emissions must also be well ventilated to avoid the accumulation of radon.
The regulations governing the construction of new houses, the RE2020, by hunting down heat loss, also makes it possible to fight against radon, since it requires airtight houses and perfectly well ventilated. All these tips will also contribute to the good quality of the air in the home.
To find out the radon potential of your municipality, visit the IRSN website.
Limit damage during flooding
Similarly, in the event of a flood, water is less likely to reach the interior of the house. Indeed, the crawlspace protects from rising water table which sometimes intervene in the event of heavy rain.
During floods from inside and outside the house, the crawl space allows water to drain more quickly. Walls and floors can dry faster, which reduces the consequences of such inconvenience.
The crawl space: less damage in a new house
Separated from the ground, the floor places its loads on the foundations through the facade walls and other load-bearing walls. The depth of the foundations was determined by soil study. These rest on a hard ground to secure the construction over time.
If the ground moves, the house remains stable. There is therefore no risk of seeing the pipes break since the paving and the exterior walls are united and protected from the movement of the ground.
A crawl space to protect against termites
Le great south-west is particularly infested by termites. While termites appreciate confinement and humid atmospheres, a well-designed crawl space provides good ventilation of the area and prevents humidity. Without being a anti-termite system, it makes it possible to regularly check the built floor interface.
Provided that the sub-floor height is sufficient, the occupant of the house will inspect the floor, the walls, the underside of the floor and the various spaces which could allow the passage of insects approximately twice a year.
