Replies

1. 
   gdavis62 | Jun 12, 2005 03:36pm | #1

   Why are you asking?

   Gene Davis, Davis Housewrights, Inc., Lake Placid, NY

    

    

2. 
   dIrishInMe | Jun 12, 2005 04:00pm | #2

   I can only answer in the context of the state where I build but if it's an existing house, who cares what the building inspector thinks, but yes, there are ceiling height requirements that apply to all rooms - not just basements.   As far as I know, rooms don't have to have windows unless they are bedrooms in which case there are egress requirements for a window with a certain sized opening.

   In the flavor of the IRC used in my state a room's use is determined by what it is labeled on the plans.  So, you could have a bathroom with a fridge and a dish washer in it... ;-)

   Functionally, if you want to close off your crawl space vents, you need to circulate conditioned air down there. 

    

   Matt
1. 
   BillHartmann | Jun 12, 2005 04:06pm | #3

   FWIW I have heard that some areas are required 2nd eqgress from all basements.But this brings up the reverse. When people say that crawlspaces are alwasy vented. My resposne is I have never seen a basement with outside vents and it is nothing more than a tall crawlspace.

1. 
   1maddog | Jun 12, 2005 04:48pm | #4

   According to the Means Illustrated Construction Dictionary, a crawlspace is any space between the ground and first floor with less than normal headroom. In other words, if you were two feet tall, it would be a basement.

   A basement is "vented" to the rest of the house and moisture won't build up. If the crawl space is sealed from the house, it needs to open up to the outside or you will have rotten wood. If it's just a stone floor with no concrete or vapor barrier, you need a lot of venting.

1. 
   Piffin | Jun 12, 2005 07:59pm | #5

   There are different lines of thought on that, Dog. Around here, it is better to seal it up and run a dehumidifier. Second best choice is to opoen vents ion spring and fall, but claose them to the high humidity in summer and close them to deep cold in winter. i've seen vented crawls drippiong with water in August, cause it is cool enough to be a condensing surfae, while the outside air off th eocean is very wet and warm. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   GCNC | Jun 13, 2005 02:28pm | #6

   I am glad i asked. This trheat has opened more questions than it has answered for me so it is something I need to learn more about. I am in Western NC, I am building a spec. Our foundation needed to be raised above original plans,(long story) so we decided to add double doors, a slab, and a window to raise the appraised value above the increased cost of the house. It worked but now I am trying to decide if I need to close the vents. C.O is probably in about 2 weeks. The basement is inconditioned, uninsulated, just a slab, 7 ft of headroom for 50% ofthe space, block wall. I am calling the building dept this morning to get their opinion.
   HC

2. 
   BillHartmann | Jun 13, 2005 03:02pm | #7

   Look at "crawlspace" in the search at http://www.buildingscience.com and then convert that space into a conditioned crawlspace.

3. 
   jimblodgett | Jun 13, 2005 05:11pm | #8

   "This trheat has opened more questions than it has answered for me so it is something I need to learn more about."

   Yeah, I could say the same thing about this forum overall. 

   I always try to remember that even though we share one government, the way "Americans" build is every bit as varied as the way "Europeans" build.  We wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that in Spain they build differently than in England, or Norway, right?  Well that very same logic applies to the fact that Mainers build differently than Floridians, or Arizonans, or Oregonians (or even irrascible Hoosiers).

     

4. 
   RichBeckman | Jun 13, 2005 06:24pm | #9

   "Mainers build differently than Floridians, or Arizonans, or Oregonians (or even irrascible Hoosiers)."God help them if they build like some irrascible Hoosiers!!Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.