Crawlspace vent in new vinyl siding
 

I'm in the process of residing my house and ran into an issue with the crawlspace. There are a series of four vent openings approximately 6"x12" ea spaced around the crawlspace of the addition. In the old aluminum siding, they simply screwed a return air grille to face of the siding and caulked around it. Not pretty, but it did the trick. I would like to do a little better with my new vinyl. Any suggestions? The big box stores don't seem to have anything that would address this situation.

Stubby,
the big box stores only carry the bare minimum of accessory items to go with things like siding that you should be buying from a siding supply house. The siding warehouses usually stock vinyl vents that have a built in J-channel that are normally used for gable end vents. You should be able to buy small ones but probably not as small as your old ones. Google siding vents and you probably be able to buy them online if you don't have a local supplier.
Mike Hawkins:)

go to a siding distributer ask for a mid-america foundation master,they will probably have to order them for you

or you could use small gable vents

or it may actually be better to seal them up

Check the wire size and thickness if substituting other vents not intended for that purpose. Some keep critters out (1/4" hardware cloth), and some don't (screen door screening). Check with your local Building Department before you close them up.... Required open in my area. Other areas vent Radon gas, and require mechanical air changes, perimeter wall insulation, etc., if going to a closed crawlspace from a vented one.
This is why you have vents there now, the builder had to meet Code: http://www2.iccsafe.org/cs/committee...E_06_64_07.pdf

Be safe, Gary

Thanks for the info. The only reason I'm looking to maintain the ventilation is because of condensation in hot humid summer weather otherwise I would close off the vents. I'll try to hit a siding supply house and order the right vent.

the vents are probably bringing in more humidity than they are exhausting

thanks Gary,forgot about the makeup air issue:wallbash:

No problem.... I can honestly say, it only gets worse as you get older.....

Radon map: http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/rnus.html


The bad: http://dirt-crawl-spaces.com/crawlspace-venting.html

The ugly: http://dirt-crawl-spaces.com/crawlspace-insulation.html

The good: http://www.buildingscience.com/docum...n-crawlspaces/


Be safe, Gary