Using the crawl space

Growroom Design
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Hello,

Looking for tips if anyone has used a full sized crawlspace (more like unfinished above ground basement with outdoor access only) for a grow space.

The area is quite dilapidated and needs to be revamped but wondering if anyone has grown in a somewhat sketchy crawlspace before? Will be in tents of course. It is either this or waiting even longer to grow again.

Wondering the best ways to clean it out to prevent any mold or pest. I will use sprays of course for pests but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :muscle:

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grew for years in one 4 footer cement floor used water from the sump pump i never worried too much about the bugs they are going to show up at some time no matter what you do got thripes in a second story bedroom before. i grew NL as it was a shortish plant chose wisely if you have a low ceiling i figured only bugs i could see were spiders and their webs they dont eat weed they eat the things that do so i just left them for the most part be mindful were you tap into the power so as not to overload a Cricut

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Okay great it’s actually about 10ft tall in some places.

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We live on a mountain

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As @thainer mentioned :arrow_heading_up:, plan out your electrical & ventilation.

Check out @JoeCrowe s setup, yours sounds like it might be similar. He is a big fan of sulfur to control mildew etc.

Cheers
G

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@HorseBadorites’ Mostly SSDD's, and a little Useful, in a lot of Coco is in a crawl space, he’s got a great setup running down there.

Good luck!

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High cotton, lol! Mine is 6’, dirt to floor joists, at the most. Block walls, dirt floor w/6 mil vapor barrier, foundation vents, spiders and snakes, lol!

I used to grow outdoors, but eventually had too many close neighbors. Never even considered the crawl as an option until one of my kids dropped of a bunch of clones, a light, and a fan. Had to grow 'em, right?

I was a building contractor, and used the crawl for a little shop and materials storage… it was a mess.

Cleared out a little space and laid down some 12mil reinforced white crawlspace liner. Blocked the vents with with insulation board, and built a little tent. Ran a 220V line for the light. Ran a bath vent fan for exhaust.

Then just kept adding on… grower’s creep, it’s like a little subdivision now, lol!

I did worry about bugs and mold, but not enough to do anything about either. I have had both red and 2-spotted mites, thrips, pm, and botrytis. I don’t do any IPM, just deal with stuff as it comes up. There’s all the info you need to quickly and effectively deal with anything, here on this site.

While I was at first apprehensive, I’ve come to really like growing in the crawl, except for the banging my head on the turd pipes! Yours sounds like a dream :slight_smile:

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10’ tall that’s a luxurious craw space. My basement ceiling is a little over 6’ lol

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Yeah at its highest point! Some of the neighbors have the area finished.
Towards the back of the crawl is gets shorter as it slopes up on the mountain. At first I didn’t want to because of rats, but I think I have killed them all. There is an outlet down there and two of those little crawlspace vent windows. I will be running the 4x4 down there with my 6" inline fan to start, until I get more tents, probably by the time I need to clone. I will check out the others spaces. My crawlspace floor is not well sealed some of the plastic is coming up and some insulation falling down from ceiling. Lots of rat evidence but all dead for now.

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I would line the walls with insulation board and tape the cracks to close everything in

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Be careful cleaning the rat mess up. Friend of mine almost died from contact with mouse urine. One you are in there regularly I would think critters would go somewhere else. Plug up holes with screen or whatnot. Drywall isn’t too expensive or maybe staple plastic for ceiling? Have to have some understanding of a vapor barrier. Don’t want to cause any moisture issues

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Before tents i set up a 4 light grow in the crawl space under the house. About 6ft. Worked well

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Yeah man I second your comment it’s no joke especially us cannabis users with battered lungs. Also people please consider a mask and gloves when mixing soil and fertilizers bc those fine particulates are nearly impossible to see but float around in the air. A couple years ago accidentally had a big cloud of dry organic amendments basically explode near my face and not good to say the least.

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Im adopting that phrase! Very consice way of describing the addiction.
In 2020 i walked into a hydro shop for the 1st time in a decade or so and saw LEDs and thought “ill never spend that kinda $ on a light to grow weed”.
Few crops later the basement looks like a commercial facility.

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I think that’s all already out the window lmao it’s a rental that has seen its best days long ago. I guess the best option is to show you guys what I’m working with. I could line the area with some plastic wrap if that is recommended.

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this is after a big rain, this side dry. the other side corner has a little wetness though.

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really the whole space needs to be redone. But that wont happen soon

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Looks good to grow. Some lights, panda plastic and maybe even out the floor if possible.

Grow On

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I would at least build or dig out a floor for the tent to sit on. Back in the old days we’d build that into a nice little room!

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Sounds good thanks guys :muscle:

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