The Strangest Things We Find in Crawl Spaces

From Rocking Chairs to Random Junk

So someone asked me what's the strangest thing I've found in a crawl space. Had to think about that one for a second because we see a lot of unusual stuff under houses around Mahomet.

But the best one? That was in our own crawl space. Found a kid's rocking chair down there. No idea how long it'd been there or why someone put it there in the first place.

Of course, I couldn't let that opportunity pass. Got my daughters to come down and look around, casually mentioned the chair might've moved. They didn't see it. Next time we go down there, I'm rigging a string to it so I can make it rock when they're not looking. My wife's probably gonna kill me, but it'll be worth it.

Thing is, finding random stuff in crawl spaces isn't unusual at all. It's actually one of the biggest parts of our job that most people don't think about.

The Cleanup Reality Nobody Talks About

Here's something most contractors won't tell you up front: before we can encapsulate your crawl space, we usually have to spend about four hours just cleaning it out.

That's not an exaggeration. Four hours on average, sometimes more depending on what we find.

We're hauling out old vapor barrier that's been down there for decades. Deteriorating insulation that's fallen and is just sitting in piles. Leftover materials from previous repairs—pieces of wood, chunks of concrete, random plumbing parts. Personal belongings from past owners. Construction debris. Sometimes even appliances that someone thought would be easier to shove under the house than haul away properly.

All of that has to come out. Can't work around it, can't just cover it up with new materials. It needs to be completely cleared.

Most homeowners don't budget time or money for this part because they don't know it's necessary. They're thinking about the encapsulation, the vapor barrier, maybe a dehumidifier. They're not thinking about the archaeology project that has to happen first.

But here's the reality: you can't do quality crawl space work when you're navigating around obstacles. We need clear access to every corner, every joist, every potential problem area. That means everything comes out first.

It's not glamorous work. It's dirty, it's time-consuming, and it's not what people think of when they imagine "crawl space encapsulation." But it's absolutely necessary.

Why Clear Access Matters for Quality Work

When your crawl space is full of stuff, we can't see what we're doing. And when we can't see what we're doing, we can't do our job right.

We need to inspect your floor joists for damage or rot. Can't do that if they're blocked by boxes or old insulation. We need to check your HVAC ducts for leaks or disconnections. Can't do that when they're hidden behind furniture or debris.

Moisture problems hide in corners and along foundation walls. If we can't reach those areas because there's junk in the way, we miss critical issues. Structural damage, plumbing leaks, electrical problems—all of these can go unnoticed when a crawl space is cluttered.

And it's not just about the inspection. When we install vapor barrier, it needs to be sealed properly along every wall, around every pier, in every corner. Can't do that correctly when we're working around obstacles. The whole point of encapsulation is creating a complete moisture barrier. If we're cutting corners because we can't access certain areas, you're not getting the protection you paid for.

Then there's future maintenance. Your HVAC tech will need to get down there eventually. So will your plumber. Maybe a home inspector if you sell. When the space is clear and properly lit, those service calls are faster and cheaper. When it's a maze of leftover junk, you're paying extra just because nobody wants to spend time down there.

Clear space equals quality work. It's that simple.

What We Do With What We Find

We treat everything we find with respect, even if it looks like junk to us.

Sometimes we pull out items that turn out to be family heirlooms or valuable antiques. Other times it's clearly garbage that should've been tossed years ago. We can't always tell the difference, so we document everything and let the homeowner decide.

If we find something that looks important—old photos, documents, anything that might have sentimental value—we set it aside and bring it to your attention. You'd be surprised how many people have no idea certain things were under their house.

For debris and obvious trash, we bag it up and haul it away. Old insulation, deteriorating materials, construction waste—all of it gets properly disposed of. We're not just shoving it to one corner or leaving it for someone else to deal with.

If you want to keep certain items, we'll organize them and move them to an appropriate storage area. But we'll also be honest with you about what shouldn't go back into a sealed crawl space. Some things just don't belong under your house, even if the space is encapsulated.

Red Flags: When "Stuff" Reveals Bigger Problems

Sometimes what we find in a crawl space tells us there are bigger issues going on.

Old materials covered in mold or mildew mean there's been a moisture problem for a while. Deteriorating cardboard boxes or fabric items show high humidity levels. Water stains on stored belongings confirm what we suspected—this crawl space has been wet for years.

We also find evidence of previous repairs that were done poorly. Plastic sheeting just thrown down without being sealed. Support jacks installed in the wrong spots. Makeshift "fixes" that didn't actually fix anything.

And here's a big one: certain things just shouldn't be stored in crawl spaces at all. Chemicals, paint cans, propane tanks—we've found all of them. These create safety hazards, especially in an enclosed space. If they're leaking or off-gassing, that's affecting your indoor air quality.

When we find items covered in rodent droppings or evidence of pest activity, that's another red flag. The "stuff" isn't just clutter—it's providing shelter and nesting material for animals you don't want under your house.

Sometimes cleanup reveals problems that need immediate attention before we can even talk about encapsulation.

Our Approach in Mahomet and Central Illinois 

Jeff and I take cleanup seriously because it's part of doing the job right.

A lot of companies will quote you for encapsulation and then add cleanup as an "extra" or a surprise charge once they get there. We include it in our process from the beginning because we know it's necessary. It's not an upsell—it's just part of the work.

When we say we're going to encapsulate your crawl space, that means we're starting with a clean slate. Everything out, everything inspected, everything documented. Then we do the actual encapsulation work.

We're not rushing through it to get to the next job. We're small on purpose. Chris or I will be on site doing the work ourselves. We're not sending a crew we barely know to handle your belongings and make decisions about what stays and what goes.

Living here in Mahomet our whole lives means we care about our reputation. We're going to see you around town. We want you telling your neighbors we did a thorough job, not that we cut corners or treated your home like it didn't matter.

That's the difference between owner-operated and corporate crews.

Not Sure What's Under Your House?

We'll come out and do a full crawl space inspection—no charge, no pressure. We'll let you know exactly what we find, what needs to be cleared out, and what kind of work your crawl space actually needs.

Sometimes it's a quick cleanup and encapsulation. Sometimes we find bigger issues that need addressing first. Either way, you'll get an honest evaluation.

Give us a call. Jeff or I will personally inspect your crawl space and walk you through everything.

My Guys Home Services

Serving Mahomet and Central Illinois