How is a Crawl Space Different from a Basement?

Why do we treat crawl spaces differently than basements?  If you went down into a friend’s basement in the winter and saw a window open and a floor covered in dirt, you’d think they were crazy!  The only difference is the lower ceiling height in a crawl space, but why should that matter?  It still has just as much of an effect on your home.

The only reason people build crawl spaces with dirt floors is to save money, but they usually end up spending more in the long run because of all the problems that come along with a dirt crawl space.  A dirt crawl space is a lot cheaper than pouring a concrete floor.  But the damage from having a dirt crawl space is so significant and expensive, it’s better to spend the extra money in the beginning.

The air that comes into your crawl space flows up into your home—just as it would in a basement.  Even though you may never go down into your crawl space, it should be treated just like you would treat your basement.