While businesses and homeowners often overlook their crawl spaces, they provide many benefits. A crawl space is an incomplete, thin gap between your building’s first floor and the ground and generally replaces the need for a basement.
Many homeowners explore a crawl space door replacement for better crawl space access. Your crawl space allows access to your home’s electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems, and plumbing.
What Is a Crawl Space Access Door?
Sometimes, your home’s crucial systems may need repairs or maintenance services.
Besides tinkering with electrical and plumbing systems, homeowners may want to clean their crawl space. Regular cleaning prevents issues like wood rot, mold, and pests. A crawl space door replacement allows you to access this area quickly.
The Need for a Crawl Space Access Door
Besides easier access, homeowners choose to install a replacement crawl space door for storage. Since a crawl space is so out of the way, homeowners may decide to store hazardous chemicals or items, enabling homeowners to keep these dangerous risks away from children and pets.
The Steps for Replacing a Crawl Space Access Door
A professional installation for crawl space access doors generally follows these steps:
Choosing the Crawl Space Access Door
Your first step is to choose what type of crawl space access door to buy. Many big home improvement stores carry different models. However, it would be best to research beforehand to ensure you’re picking the right door.
Interior Crawl Space Access Door
The main advantage of choosing an interior replacement crawl space door is its cost-effectiveness. You can choose various materials, including the following:
- Metal
- Plastic
- Coated aluminum
With an interior crawl space access door, you can directly enter your crawl space from within your home. These doors protect against pests like snakes, rats, mice, spiders, and insects.
Exterior Crawl Space Access Door
Depending on their needs, homeowners may choose an exterior crawl space access door. While you can use all-purpose materials for exterior doors, selecting materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions is better.
The main drawback of an exterior crawl space access door is that you can only access it outside your house. This drawback presents safety risks but can be a popular choice if you only use your crawl space for storage purposes.
Setting Up the Frame
After selecting the right crawl space access door, the first installation step is setting up its frame. Most doors come with a frame already. However, if your door doesn’t, you can create your frame using 2 x 4 framing.
First, build the frame’s bottom by cutting and measuring your frame. Your frame must fit snugly between your walls’ openings. Next, secure the frame to your foundation with masonry screws.
Install the Latch and Hinges
You’ll need to place hinges on either side of your crawl space door replacement. Ensure they face outwards, allowing your door to swing in the right direction. Attach while centering the latch to the door’s other side.
Install the Door Lock
Some homeowners may not opt for a latch or a lock. Installing a latch, screwdriver lock, or padlock will give your crawl space extra security.
Install the Door to the Frame
The final step for your crawl space replacement door is to fit its door to its frame precisely. You can mark where your hinges and latch will go with a pencil, and you can also use a screwdriver to drill your guide holes. Screw the guide holes in place to complete the job.
Costs for Replacing the Crawl Space Access Door
Replacing a crawl space access door can have various costs, all of which affect the final price tag:
- Materials: Materials can include aluminum, plastic, metal, and wood. Materials like plastic are the most expensive but also feature better resistance.
- Functionality: You have swing-out doors, insulated doors, and slide-away doors. You can also add a crawl space encapsulation system, and all of these costs can vary across the board.
- The Installation Process: The actual installation process influences the cost. While you can attempt DIY, hiring a professional often saves you money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Crawl Space Access Door
Let’s explore some FAQs regarding a crawl space door replacement:
Can You Just Swap a Crawl Space Access Door?
Moving your crawl space access door to a new opening is possible.
However, most experts don’t recommend this because you generally will need to learn the ins and outs of your home’s current architecture. For example, you will need to know about your crawl space’s ceiling and how it interacts with your walls.
As such, it’s better to make a new opening an exact replication of the old one as much as possible.
Is It Cheaper to Make a Crawl Space Access Door or Buy One?
Generally, it’s usually cheaper to buy a crawl space access door already made. However, a customized design and built crawl space access door will feature many more benefits.
Experts will develop your customized crawl space door with your home’s needs and exact measurements in mind.
What Is the Best Material for a Crawl Space Door?
Choosing the suitable material for your crawl space access door is challenging. Crawl space doors can keep pests and excess dirt away from your crawl space. They can also protect your crawl space from harsh weather.
Some materials provide better resistance but often have a bigger price tag. Conversely, materials like wood are cheaper and prone to more damage. Ultimately, choosing the “best” material for your crawl space door depends upon these factors:
- Whether you’re installing an interior or exterior door
- The budget you have
- Your home and region’s needs
- For some homeowners, aesthetics also play a role
Call Our Expert Team Today
A crawl space door replacement can help homeowners maintain a cleaner environment and also provide access to crucial systems like plumbing and electrical wiring. For the best customer service, let Attic Projects replace your crawl space door today.
Call our Crawl Space Door professionals today!
