I have a three seasons porch that I’d like to add heat to and move my office into. It’s 8X20, and has 5 very large windows. It was built sometime in the ’70s and had interior paneling walls (exterior is cedar clap).
The porch is on a 2′ cement crawl space, with no access except for one fixed pane window on one side that allows you to look under the crawl space, but it doesn’t open and there is no venting to the crawl space of any kind. There is crushed stone in the floor of the crawl space.
I decided to gut the porch because a) it was very cold and difficult to heat with a space heater and b) there where ants everywhere. I wanted to replace the drafty windows and door, find the ants, kill ’em and repair the damage.
When I pulled the ceiling and walls, the surprising thing I found was there were no ants, no ant damage, and really very little sign of moisture damage. What is more — the walls and ceiling were already insulated!! The place is actually built very well. I’ve checked behind much of the insulation (though not all) to see how the structure is holding up.
I haven’t pulled up the floor boards yet. I looked under the crawl space again, and I can see there are already insulation batts in between the floor joists. I can also see NO evidence of mold under there (something I was looking very intently for).
Here are my questions:
1) Do I need to vent under the crawl space? As far as I know, this would require replacing the existing window at one end, and cutting a new opening at the other end — unless someone has a better solution for venting such a space.
2) Given the details above, would you be inclined to do ANYTHING AT ALL to the floor. I’m thinking no right now — it’s working, it seems dry, etc. Why make more mess and spend more money?
3) Where are the ants?? The place was crawling with little (not big) black ants, there were even winged ones flying around inside the porch last month (when the nests reproduce). But I can’t find them anywhere. Could they be in the floor joists? The floor isn’t bouncy at all. Could they live in-ground, and just by coincidence come into the porch? Do I have my ant identification wrong (are these not carpenter ants — budding entomologists — please comment)
Any feedback is greatly appreciate. I just had a new baby and, in the past, would do everything to the full extent. Now, I just need to get this done quickly and with the least disruption/cost.
Replies
Almost all ants live in the ground, and only come out to feed.
Is the crawlspace open to something like a crawlspace under the main house, perhaps? That would be sufficient ventillation.
Is the foundation poured concrete or concrete block? If block then knocking out a couple of blocks to provide ventillation would be fairly straight-forward. Otherwise, you might be able to put some vents through the floor's rim joint, avoiding the need to cut through the concrete.
Good question -- the crawl space is pourced cement, not blocks. It is closed off -- no openings to anywhere (well, there are some small openings to the basement probably, as the house is old, and the basement wall that abuts the crawl space is field stone, so there are bound to be some small gaps.
You might be able to knock some holes in the foundation between porch and house easier than cutting through the poured concrete. One at each end should do it.
"It's 8X20, and has 5 very large windows." = "very cold and difficult to heat with a space heater"
Can you add storm windows or even build panels out of several layers of bubble wrap insulation that can be hung during heating season? (cheap)
Replace all the windows with hi-R type. (not cheap)
Seal every air leak. ($10.00±)
The ants are probably looking for food, if they don't find any they will leave in a day or so. Till the next time they go scouting for food.
But I'm an uncle, not an ant, so whadda I no?
Samt
Well, I went back to the scene of the crime, and looked more carefully. In 2 insulation batts in the walls, I found the ants' "front door." Lots of tunnels burrowed in the batt, and lots of large soldiers with the flying males and females, ready for a night on the town (a little anty love -- if no one has ever opened up a wall and had a carpenter ant colony spill out, well you haven't lived yet). Two things: 1) there was water getting in under the existing window, so I'm glad I went back and looked and 2) the nest could be in the ground, or it could be in the wood under the porch. I'm going to spray, and correct the water problem. That should handle that.
Still, looking for ideas on venting the crawl space (should it even be vented?).