DIY Day: Crawlspace Rejuvenation, Part I of II

Since no one ever committed to manufacturing my idea for a smart mouse trap, checking the crawlspace for dead mice was a regular activity in 2019. I resolved to seal up the crawlspace in 2020 and finally got started this past weekend.

Thursday: Evict all of the Christmas decorations and myriad boxes of Rebecca's high school memories to de-mouse-poopify. Shred several ruined rolls of excess carpet and throw in the trash.

Friday: Tear out the atrophying remains of the external insulation.

Friday: Locate the mousehole-to-hell and seal it with enough foam sealant to deter a small mammal.

Saturday: Install new insulation, while styling the finest in AmazonBasics safety equipment.

Saturday: Seal up the external insulation with a moisture shield. Use up the leftover insulation on interior walls for no good reason. Briefly consider installing an old-timey spyhole into the next room, disguised by a portrait of a Civil War general.

Sunday: Cut and install the first 64 square feet of drywall in a space completely devoid of true right angles. Initially neglect to remember that the entrance to the crawlspace is much narrower than most of the drywall segments. Hand-wave away any irregularities by saying, "I'll spackle that gap later."

Remaining Steps

• Cutting and installing 80 more square feet of drywall.
• 3 rounds of spackling.
• Sanding, priming, and painting.
• Move 80 tons of stuff we rarely use back into the space.

Tune in on Friday for the thrilling conclusion!