# [Tex/LaTex] Inserting a small vertical space in a table

positioningspacingtables

Is there a way that I can insert a small space in a table?
When I use a superscript, the number touches the \hline.

\documentclass[9pt,letterpaper]{article}
\usepackage{helvet}
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}

\begin{document}
\begin{picture}(0,0)

\put(20,-136){\mbox{
\footnotesize
\begin{tabular}{ p{8em}  r  r  l }
\hline
& Total     & Average   & Unit   \\
\hline
Area1           & 419773    &   9.15        &  \emph{m$^2$}      \\
Area2           & 0     &   0       &  \emph{m$^3$}      \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
}}

\end{picture}

\end{document}


I tried inserting \vspace but this does not move everything, just one cell.

\vspace{0.001 in} Area1 & \vspace{0.001 in} 419773  &   \vspace{0.001 in} 9.15      & \vspace{0.001 in} \emph{m$^2$} \


My preference would be to adjust this without an external package, as I am using an old version of LaTeX on a server that I cannot replace.

\rule{0pt}{4ex}