Building Homes or Extensions/Cold room under front porch

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Expert: - 1/10/2011


Question
Our cold room under our front porch allows very cold air to come into our basement room (we have just louvered doors closing it off from our living room).  I'm not sure why this room was built, but I wonder if there would be a problem blocking if off, or if there is some other function of this room that would cause an issue with the house if it was blocked off.

Answer
Dear Nancy,

I would need to see the room to be positive of my answer, but I think blocking it off during the cold months would be fine, if you have no plumbing under there. It's possible that the room might need a little heat to keep form frost heaving, if you live in a place where the frost runs very, very deep. Nevetheless, I would make sure the room is ventilated well when it warms up.

Daniel

Building Homes or Extensions

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Daniel Humphrey

Expertise

I can answer questions about designing and building homes and outbuildings, especially for colder climates. I am expert in timber framing, but of course I also know about other kinds of residential construction techniques and materials. Because of my emphasis on using local materials and organic alternatives, I know quite about about Green Building and am willing to do the research to find out more.

Experience

I've been a timber framer for 20 years, working as a general contractor who designs and builds custom timberframe homes, working as much as possible with local organic materials, from foundation to finish. I also have expertise in designing, building, and setting up pre-fab remote camp facilities on terra firma or temperate glaciers for research and expeditions, using helicopters for support.

Education/Credentials
B.A., M.F.A.

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