Should you allow air flow through a crawl space with a dirt floor?
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Should you allow air flow through a crawl space with a dirt floor?
Amber Murray
Aug. 17, 2020Last updated: Sept. 25, 2020
Hello,
我们在萨斯喀彻温省北部有一个800平方英尺的小屋，没有过冬。地基原本是在混凝土块上，所以我们把它抬起来，放在螺旋桩上。当它被抬起时，新的爬行空间用胶合板和聚苯乙烯铺在泥土地板上。然后承包商把粉色的绝缘材料放在聚乙烯上面。那里有很多湿气，冬天气温会达到零下40度，夏天地面会解冻。我们没有持续的动力，所以除湿机不是一个选择。我们客舱的地板在移动，可能会有几段隆起。更麻烦的是，承包商在提起船舱时把船舱掉了下来。我的问题是，是否可以将覆盖在爬行空间的胶合板移除，以便空气在船舱下面流通?如果最好把床单去掉，你的建议是从下面绝缘地板吗? We are thinking spray foam? Then would you put plywood to cover that for extra protection from critters? Thank you
Amber
Acrawl space with a dirt flooris always a problem as the dirt will be acontinuous source of moistureand riskmold, mildew and rotting floor joistsif left as is. So that was a good move to put down apoly vapour barrieron the ground, but the rest is a little suspect to me as it is to you. First though I would point you to this page in case you haven’t seen it yet, it discusses the issues with crawl spaces and how they are best insulated and kept dry.
Crawl Space Insulation Tips for Insulating Crawlspaces Properly
So a few questions – is it now just flat ground under the cabin?
If not, now deep is it? How much space between the dirt and the bottom of the floor joists?
Is it now just uninsulated walls made of plywood?
我在这里想说的是，它真的不是，或者不再是一个爬行空间。如果墙壁(或“侧面”)只是胶合板，那么它似乎没有什么好处，只会造成伤害。我将试图详细说明:绝缘地面上的聚和没有空气密封和绝缘的墙壁是几乎没有意义的，玻璃纤维很少做保留热量。
I imagine the floor is pretty cold in winter? Based on what I know so far - if it were me I’d remove the plywood so you don’t trap moisture, I would then insulate between the floor joists below. Normally we don’t recommend venting an otherwise closed in crawlspace, but letting air flow freely on all sides makes the most sense I think.
You could spray foam underneath it as you suggest, (see here to find spray foam companies with the most eco-friendly blowing agents) as that will insulate it, act a a vapour barrier and prevent air leaks. You could then cover the spray foam with your existing plywood if its still in good shape, or to keep animals out entirely you could lattice or diamond lathe metal around perimeter. Let me know if I misunderstood anything, happy to help more.
Hello Mike,
Thank you so much for your response. Yes it is now flat ground underneath the cabin and has about 2 feet between the ground and the floor joists. It was insulated plywood walls however over time the critters have gotten into the insulation as well as moisture and most of it has disintegrated or disappeared. We were all thinking exactly as you said "it doesn't need to be a crawl space". We close the cabin in the winter and it stays empty for the cold winter months. Thank you so much for your response and guidance. I believe we will take down the plywood walls, insulate the floor and cover it with plywood. We will then put lattice as you have suggested. Thank you
Amber
Hi Amber, you're very welcome, glad the input it helped!