How to Dig out the Outside of a Crawlspace in a Foundation

The need to dig out a home’s crawl space around the interior or exterior of the foundation may arise for many reasons. Possibilities include adding a new drainage system, creating an add-on, allowing for better access to the crawl space and repairing or refinishing the foundation walls. To avoid the backbreaking labor of hand digging, employ a variety of tools to help in breaking up and removing the existing soil.

Wheelbarrow
Shovel
Pickax
Trenching shovel (optional)
Digging hoe

Instructions

- 1
  Contact the local utilities department to ensure no utility lines exist within the planned digging area.
- 2
  Plan where the excavated dirt pile will sit. Get a wheelbarrow ready for transporting dirt from the crawl space to the pile.
- 3
  Dig out the first layer of soft soil with a shovel. Once the soil becomes no longer penetrable, start to break up the compacted soil with a pickax. Take care to not strike the foundation walls. Pull out any large rocks and remove the loosened soil with a shovel. For drainage systems, dig at least 18 inches deep. Employ a trenching shovel when digging a trench, which has a longer and narrower blade.
- 4
  Clean up and level the bed of the excavated area or trench, using a digging hoe. To use a digging hoe, strike the blade of the hoe into the ground, then pull the blade of the hoe backwards, applying firm pressure against the ground. Remove additional loosened soil with the shovel.
- 5
  Scrape away any soil still stuck to the foundation walls with the hoe or shovel.

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