Crawl Space?

[CowboySpcd]

Had a buddy of mine suggest that I use the crawl space under the house to grow. Right now, I'm in an upstairs room and it's a bit hot and tough to keep cool.

He had the suggestion of filling the big hole with mix and just growing in the ground. Not so sure on this as height is going to be an issue.

The space is fairly clean, all fill sand. The joists I can walk under if I crouch, so it's probably got about 4 foot of clearance.

I'm considering digging down a 6x6 area to about 6' of clearance and enclosing it with panda film on the floor, walls and ceiling. I would use a 1000w hps in a cool tube with a filter on the end as it would be my bud room. I have a 5000btu ac unit that I want to employ as well. Thinking this will need a box built on the backside for exhaust.

Drainage would be easier because I could put down a layer of gravel under the buckets (I grow in soiless mix with organics) and have holes in the floor to allow the water to soak into the ground.

Lots of ideas on what to do, but not sure exactly what would be best. Anyone else ever try out a crawl space? Any issues? (mine is nice and dry btw - newer house)

Just thinking this would be best with the landlord and all wanting to show the house. I won't have to shit bricks every time someone wants to drag a realtor through our place. I'm licensed and in Michigan but I still prefer to keep my skeletons in their proper place

 

[LEDfoot]

I think I'd want a real good dehumidifier.

 

[CowboySpcd]

It's just over 40rh right now. This house is DRY....

 

[Jellyfish]

4 ft. total height? Need about a foot for the lights, six inches for the container. That leaves you about 30 inches. Tight, but do-able. You are going to get awfully sick of being crouched down in that crawl space though, I think.

 

[Gelado`]

Sounds doable, and your legs are going to get real strong from the crouching. You could go bare bulb with two 600s on each side and the plants in the middle to maximize the height.

 

[festerous]

What if a prospective buyer wants to look under the house? Many folks would call the policy enforcers if they found a hidden room beneath their new home.
I would imagine molds and pests would also be a major concern.

 

[CowboySpcd]

I have had mite issues here once before, but yes, those are a big concern in the space. I've used growerstrust.com with good results. Two applications killed the little bastards right off.

I just tell them the access is under the washing machine that's full at the moment. lol... dipweeds...

As for the crouching, no biggie, I'm good at it. he he... Planning on digging down about 2-3 foot over an 8x8 area I'm thinking.

Have a dedicated 20a line that I installed to the garage for a large kiln that I no longer have. So I have a good supply for my 1000w and the fans. The dryer vent I will just tap into which will run right past my space.

I'd like to see what others have done in spots like this. A "bunker" type area would be a blast in the future should we ever buy the house...

 

[Jellyfish]

Sounds like you've been planning this for a long time, so that's a great start. This here shit might come in handy in your set up- no fiberglass, cuts like soft wood, insulates light, heat AND sound. 2-inch thick is the way to go.
2-in x 8-ft x 4-ft Extruded Polystyrene Insulated Sheathing

 

[CowboySpcd]

Went down there to start digging a space out this afternoon. HARD as a rock! Would have been like tunneling through a wall. lol... On to plan B

So I spent the rest of the afternoon building an AC vent box that has allowed my temps in the tent to get down to 76f as of now. Will check it again in a couple hours before I go to bed. Used a 5000btu AC unit which backs up to a box that vents outside. I have an inline fan pulling through my cool tube straight from the tent interior. I put a piece of 6" ducting through a vent in the tent and hooked it on to the front of the AC unit. So it's cooling the room and the tents at the same time. Should get me started towards better results like I used to get years ago when I had a nice cool space to grow. Heat sucks my nads...

Thanks for the replies!