I would say that, about half the time, the door on a crawl space is inadequate. There is nothing particularly unusual about the arrangement below. The problem, if one thinks about it, is pretty obvious. First, the various flaps of wood are touching the ground so they are rotting. That condition is conducive to attracting wood destroying insects as well. After that, how about all the gaps and openings. It is not uncommon to have rodents under manufactured homes, at least in my experience. And when they have this kind of access, you can figure they will move in. And, based on the gaps here, you might get raccoons, possums, skunks, cats. Who knows? It is a common sense matter that is commonly not figured into the overall scheme of things. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
It Should Be More Than Just a Piece of Wood
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
20 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • July 25 2009 11:25AMComments
This blog does not allow anonymous comments
Post © 2009 Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc). Design © 2009 ActiveRain Corp.
Logos and service marks owned by copyright holder.
Steven, crawl spaces are scary places. Looks like this one would be easy to cover up.
That can't be good. I saw one last year that was fiberglass with a latching, locking door knob. It was really slick looking.
OOps!!! Me thinks that someone forgot to do something...
Helping you live your American Dream...
The do-it-yourselfers are really creative. I assume that is a half wash tub that is neatly cut. I think he wanted some critters to get in and some critters to not get in.
If there are rats, hopefully the cats will hear them and move in too...
Mr James,
If you would like to learn from an ACE, I can be on your doorstep Federal Express by Tuesday morning.
Nutsy
Howdy there Steven and Nutsy
Crawl spaces sure are a lot of fun to go in to. I had one to go in to last year, that there was only about 4" between me a and the subflooring of the manufactured home, that I was inspecting. The subflooring was just about all rotted out. My client was non to happy about what I found under there.
Sorry I ain't been by before now, been working on writing Hyper-Local posts. And the looks of the posts them selves.
Nutsy, I will have the crawl
space lubricant ready and waiting when you arrive.
Mr James,
The boss is telling me that he wants me to start traversing all furnace ducts and vents. So I am wondering if that special lubricant might be something I should carry in my tool belt for this kind of job below.
Your buddy,
Nutsy
Steve - So, what did you find when you crawled into that crawled into that space?
Nutsy, In order to use the special lubricant you have to pass a training and certification course of which I'm the only instructor.
Mr James,
That is so exciting. Can I wear my lemon outfit?
Nutsy
Howdy there Steven and Nutsy
Nutsy - I don't think you, should be going to visit Mr. James. It looks as if he's only up to no good.
Mr Dale,
He says he would grease me up and it would make my crawling around easier.
Nutsy
Howdy Steven and Nutsy
But Nutsy did you take a real close look at, what Mr. James wants to put on you? Its not at all a lubricant, its Tabasco sauce. Do you know what thats used for?
Mr Dale,
He says it lubes me up for crawling in tight places. No?
Nutsy
Mr James also says that I should learn electric wiring. He suggested I get going by getting familiar with electric panels. He said I should slather on some of that sauce and then grab on where he put the arrows. Mr James is my friend and looks out for me. He says it will be more fun than a fish fry.
Nutsy
Howdy there Steven and Nutsy
Nutsy little friend! that there Tabasco sauce, that folks puttes on some things they are going to eat.
Nutsy stop and think, just what would happen to you, if you grab a hold of those wires if you were all wet with water?
I do think Mr. James is wanting to is fryed Nutsy! Your to fine of a helpper to Mr. Steven, to let or have that happen to you!
Mr Dale,
That makes two of us who do not want to see anything happen to Nutsy. Thanks for the sage advice on the devious mind of that Nasty Mr James.
Nutsy