Why Smart Renovators Start With the Crawl Space: A Murfreesboro Project Story
Introduction
Building From the Bottom Up
WHY THE SMARTEST RENOVATION STARTS WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE
Most people planning a gut rehab start thinking about kitchens, bathrooms, and fresh paint.
That's natural - those are the parts you see every day.
But we just wrapped up a project in Murfreesboro that shows why the smartest renovators think differently.
This homeowner is tearing their house down to the studs and rebuilding from scratch.
But before they touched anything else, they called us to handle the crawl space.
Not because it's the exciting part - because it's the foundation everything else depends on.
When you're investing serious money into a complete renovation, starting at the bottom isn't just smart. It's the only way that makes sense.
The Problem: What We Found
When we got under this Murfreesboro house, we found exactly why they were right to start here. Fourteen rotted floor joists. Not one or two that we could sister and reinforce - fourteen completely rotted joists that needed replacing. On top of that, we had broken girder beams holding up the kitchen area.
Think about what that means. The floor you walk on every day was being held up by wood that had rotted through. The beams supporting your kitchen - where your family gathers, where you cook meals - were broken. And here's the thing: you couldn't see any of this from inside the house. Not yet, anyway.
We also found damaged subfloor in the kitchen that needed complete replacement. This wasn't a "maybe we should fix this" situation. This was structural damage that would only get worse. Every day that goes by, rot spreads. Broken beams put more stress on the joists around them. Small problems become big problems, and big problems become dangerous ones.
Why Start at the Bottom?
Here's what happens when you renovate in the wrong order. Let's say you skip the crawl space and go straight to that beautiful new kitchen. You spend thousands on cabinets, countertops, appliances. Six months later, you notice the floor feels soft in one spot. A year later, there's a noticeable slope. Two years in, you're looking at cracks in your tile and cabinets that don't close right.
Now you've got to rip out that new kitchen to fix the foundation problems that were there all along. You're paying twice - once for the kitchen, and again to fix it after addressing the real problem.
When you start at the bottom, you're building on something solid. Everything that comes after - new floors, walls, electrical, plumbing - it's all going on top of a foundation you know is right. That's not just smart financially. It's peace of mind.
The Complete Solution
This project needed everything. We started by reframing the entire room where those 14 joists had rotted out. That means removing the damaged wood and installing new structural supports that meet code and will last for decades.
Next came new subflooring. You can't put a good floor on top of bad bones, so we made sure the base was solid before anything else went in. Then we installed a full drainage system because moisture was what caused this damage in the first place. Without proper drainage, we'd just be setting up the next guy to do this same work in ten years.
Finally, we installed 20 mil encapsulation. That's the heavy-duty vapor barrier that keeps moisture out and protects everything we just built. Each of these steps matters. Skip one, and you're not really solving the problem - you're just covering it up for a while.
The Process: 5-6 Days of Work
This wasn't a quick patch job. We spent five to six days on this crawl space because doing it right takes time. Day one was assessment and demolition - removing all that rotted wood and broken beams. Days two and three focused on the structural rebuild - new joists, new beams, new subflooring.
Day four brought the drainage system installation. This had to be done carefully because if water doesn't flow where it's supposed to, all that structural work doesn't matter. Day five was encapsulation, making sure every seam was sealed and every corner was protected.
The work isn't done yet, either. We've got another room that needs subflooring work. That's how these gut rehab projects go - you find one problem, fix it right, then move to the next. No shortcuts, no "good enough for now." Just solid work, one section at a time.
Before and After: The Transformation
The before photos on this job tell a story. Dark, damp crawl space with rotted wood and broken supports. The kind of space that makes you wonder how the house is still standing. Fast forward to now, and you're looking at clean, bright encapsulation, solid new framing, and proper drainage.
But the real transformation isn't just what you see in photos. It's what the homeowner gets moving forward. A foundation they can trust. No worrying about soft spots in the floor. No concerns about moisture creeping up into their renovated home. They're building their dream house on something solid, and that matters more than any fancy finish work.
This is why we document everything with detailed photos. You should see exactly what was wrong and exactly how we fixed it. When you're investing in a major renovation, you deserve that level of transparency.
Lessons for Homeowners Planning Renovations
If you're planning a gut rehab or major renovation, here's what you need to know. Get your crawl space inspected before you do anything else. Not after you've already started tearing out walls. Not when you notice problems six months in. Before you begin.
Look for obvious red flags - soft spots in your floor, musty smells, visible moisture. But understand that the worst damage is often hidden. That's why a professional inspection with clear documentation matters. You need to know what you're building on before you start building.
And here's the big one: don't trust anyone who tries to skip the crawl space work to save money upfront. That's not saving - that's gambling with your biggest investment.
Working With the Right Team
Projects like this Murfreesboro job work because everyone's on the same page. The homeowner understood the foundation had to come first. We handled the crawl space work while other contractors prepared for the work above. Everyone working in sequence, doing their part right.
That's how gut rehabs should go. Not rushed, not cutting corners, just good contractors doing quality work in the right order. We've been doing this long enough to know that experience matters on complex projects. Knowing how to handle rotted joists, broken beams, drainage systems - that comes from years of hands-on work.
Ready to Start Your Project Right?
If you're planning a renovation in Murfreesboro or anywhere in Middle Tennessee, let's talk about your crawl space before you do anything else. We'll provide a complete inspection with clear photos and video so you know exactly what you're working with.
No pressure, no sales games. Just an honest assessment of what needs to be done and why. Because whether it's a complete gut rehab or just addressing some concerns, starting with a solid foundation is always the smart move.
Give us a call for a free inspection. Let's make sure your renovation is built on something solid.
