Wonderboy: I would insulate around the outside of your house if you can, skirting is pretty easy, start at the lowest spot, dig down 6" to a foot and slope away from the house, go all the way around the house, lay down 2" foam, tape seams, tape to the foundation walls, lay plastic over it, tape seams and walls again, cover back over with dirt, that will keep your foundation dry and warm.

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About 600 gallon, 2300 Liters tank for water to heat house, solar and some wood.
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Being uninsulated, just warming up and cooling down with the humidity going up and down over the years would cause the flaking. Soaking water or hard freeze would do it faster but expansion and contraction will do it. I can till the difference the bead board insulation is making in my basement. No chill or breeze along the finished part. Get some disposable gloves to wear while using the great stuff to seal.

I plan to go around the out side of my foundation this summer with foam. Also enclosing my front porch. It's crawl space has no real separation from my basement.