Hi. I was wondering what other people with decks do to cover (if at all) the dirt grade below the deck. I have a deck off the rear of my house that is only about 3 feet to 4 feet high, enough for a decent crawlspace below it. The previous owner had placed a large thick plastic sheet below the deck covering the dirt (see the photo). I was recently under there cleaning things out and noticed the sad shape of this plastic as well as all of the mole/mouse trials in the dirt and holes below it. I even had to wack a few of the critters scurrying below the plastic as I worked. Do I need this sheet? If I get rid of it what’s the best covering I could put on the ground? Do I need anything at all? The grade does slope away from the house. If I use fill to fill in some divots and troughs nest to the foundation, do I use a clay type fill? Do they sell that specifically at lumber or concrete supply places? Thanks in advance! I appreciate the input. I have a basement that does get humid in the summer and thought that a new covering would help in that regard a little.
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My suggestion is to get rid of the plastic---a more than likely a bug habitat. If you are certain that the grade falls away from the home then dump pea grave(3-4 inches) and use the space for storing gardening items, your mower, bikes,???
Little furry buddies will be a given looking at the image you provide.
ditto what Lou said, plus you might put a wire fence (vinyl leaf guard) around the perimeter to keep leaves from accumulating and biodegrading under there.edit: that was supposed to be addressed to pizza.
Edited 5/2/2006 6:00 pm ET by TGNY
Remove the existing plastic, smooth/slope surface of the ground, Replace plastic or use ground fabric, cover with pea gravel to protect fabric and hold it in place.
If I'm the electrician who has to crawl under there to run conduit to wire your new Hot tub, I think you shoud put very smooth concret under there that you always keep very clean and dry....What's that? I'll have an apprentice that day? Nevermind, crushed rock will be fine.
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Don't normally do anything.
Had one customer request plastic covered by gravel. I did it. I was a bunch of extra work.
Haven't done it since.
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