OT fiberglass work

[Ken Cross]

OK you FG gurus. I can't seem to find an acceptable way to cover my crawl space.
I would think any home improvement place would have this well in hand, but nooo.

I'm thinking of building a cover out of fiberglass. As I see it, nothing different from some custom work many of us have done on boats.

I"m also thinking of digging out some of the dirt out of the bottom and and putting in a bit of pea gravel.

Please tell me what you think?
Ken

 

[justsomeguy]

Maybe make it strong enough to stand on, for liability's sake?

 

[Ken Cross]

Good thought. I actually was thinking ribbed surface with the ribs running away from the house for drainage. That would also stiffen it.
Thanks
Ken

 

[MrUnix]

Fiberglass seems kind of overkill to me.. a sheet of plywood and some 1x2 for the edges would be much easier I would think. You could easily build it with a slight pitch to shed water, and prime/paint it to match the house.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Ken Cross]

The original was plywood. It only lasted a couple of years. The second one was plywood with siding over it. It's shot now (15 more years with many coats of paint.)

Now I'm thinking just use plywood and encapsulate it in fiberglass. I can then paint it as required. It seems like it should be easy. Lots of houses have them.

Here in the Northwest we do get lots of wet conditions. I'm assuming that's the problem.
Ken

 

[Nom De Guerre]

How about plastic window well covers?

 

[pacerpilot]

Make a new plywood hatch and cover it with fiberglass. You won't need a mould and it'll hold more weight if stepped on. If you wrap the glass around the edges (or glass the whole thing) it'll stay dry and outlast you. Problem solved.

 

[Andy1237]

Why not use starboard?

 

[Picflight]

If you have material left over, then just as pilot says.

You just gave me reason to make a hatch too. I have cloth and resin left over and a cover requirement just as yours.