How can I block/cover my foundation grates?
by
Teri Sweeney
+4
Three of the grates covering openings (for ventilation) in my foundation are missing. (My house is almost 100 years old). One of my dogs likes to crawl through them, under the house, and out into the neighbor's driveway. I think he wants to visit their dogs, but it means that he's loose outside the fence, and I live on a busy street. How can I secure them, and keep him safe?
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Screen the grates.
Big rock,cinder blocks in front of openings so he cannot get thru & critters can't get in;Wire fencing like chicken wire;old wooden louvered shutters. Just don't completely cover(with solid boards) needs air flow. Is your house wood? Is there wood trim around area or is it concrete/rock??you can nail the shutters onto framing,to attach fencing use some wood trim/boards over sides for additional securing & cover any sharp edges. check goodwill for old shutters or bifold doors you can use. If it's concrete,stone,rock,brick with no wood trim to attach to, probably best to use cinder blocks
Perhaps you could measure the space and build a wooden frame to fit in it snugly, then cover it with wire, screen, etc...and pop it in place. I wouldn't seal it up or the house won't breath and then you'll have a stinky problem on your hands. You might want to make sure there's no critters under the house before you close the entrance off.
You can check and see if homecenter has replacement that fit the openings. Take measurements with you.
I doubt you have a flooding problem, but flood vents are good to keep things out of the crawl space. We live on an island have them all around our house and they allow air to flow through but not let any thing to get in. In the winter my husband puts plexiglass cut to fit in the vents to keeps the cold winds out. They may have something similar that isn't a flood vent, but these I know work.
https://floodflaps.com/