Why Are My Floors So Cold in Winter? A Project Story in Huntington Woods, MI

Cold floors in winter can be a sign that cold air is entering your home through the crawl space below. For one homeowner in Huntington Woods, MI, uncomfortable floors led him to look beneath his home and find a solution for his crawl space.

Why Were the Floors Getting Cold in This Huntington Woods Home?

After purchasing his Huntington Woods home near the Detroit Zoo in the fall, the homeowner was already noticing the floors becoming colder as temperatures began to drop. With winter approaching, he wanted to understand what was happening beneath his home and whether his crawl space could be contributing to the problem. 

During his free estimate with Ayers Basement Systems, our specialist accessed the crawl space from inside the basement. The home had three exterior crawl space entrances with vented covers, allowing outside air into the space. Inside, condensation was visible on the walls, while portions of the dirt floor remained exposed beneath loose, crumpled plastic sheeting.

For a family settling into their new home addressing these conditions before a chilly Michigan winter was an immediate priority.

Can a Vented Crawl Space Make Your Floors Feel Cold?

Yes. When a crawl space is open to outside air, winter temperatures can affect the space beneath the home's first floor. In this Huntington Woods home, the exterior vents provided a direct path for cold outdoor air to enter the crawl space. The homeowner was already feeling the effects through colder floors upstairs.

But temperature wasn't his only concern. The visible condensation and exposed dirt also raised concerns about moisture, mold growth and the air quality inside his family's home.

How Do You Seal a Dirt Crawl Space?

Our team installed a custom crawl space soution designed to separate the interior from the exposed earth, reduce moisture and close off the exterior vents. All products installed below:

Will Encapsulating a Crawl Space Help With Cold Floors?

Yes, crawl space encapsulation can help with cold floors, but every home is different. The right solution depends on where and how cold air and moisture are entering the crawl space.

For this Huntington Woods home, that meant taking a layered approach: sealing the exterior vents against outside air, installing a vapor barrier over the exposed dirt and using a dehumidifier to control lingering moisture.

That's why at Ayers, we don't take a one-size-fits-all approach. We inspect each home and design a right-sized solution based on the specific problems affecting it.

Do You Need Crawl Space Repair in Michigan or Northern Indiana?

Cold floors, condensation, musty odors, high humidity and exposed dirt can all be signs that it's time to take a closer look at your crawl space.

Ayers Basement Systems provides free estimates in Huntington Woods and throughout Michigan and Northern Indiana. Our specialists inspect your home, identify the source of the problem and design a right-sized solution to meet your budget.

Schedule your free estimate today.