Is the part of the house you are talking about the original house, and possibly the rest has been added on to? Let me first say that I know basically nothing about the construction of old homes. I *love* old homes, but I don't pretend to know how they are built. However I remember reading, possibly on this forum about something called "balloon framing". The main thing about their construction was that they were designed to allow air to flow through their walls. I believe it kept the structure sound, even in high winds. Maybe if you google "balloon frame home" and read the descriptions you can decide if this is what you are dealing with... Just a thought ~ hopefully someone with more information or ideas will come along. I could be (and often am) totally off!

Thanks for your reply. I don't think it's balloon frame as the house isn't that ancient. It was built in 1977 but I suspect this might be a problem due to its age. I can't imagine there would have been a reason to design the house so outside air gushes in under baseboards but who am I to say. There was no adding on to this area. It is however the part of the house with no basement. The rest of the house has basement under it.

Basically, no - you shouldn't see dirt anywhere poking through in a modern home. 1977 is modern. All the levels of your home should be supported by the foundation, so any gaps should be taken seriously. If you don't have the knowledge to diagnose the problem, you should bring in a professional.

Oh, that does not sound right at all. I didn't realize you were talking about a "newer" home (relatively speaking). Good luck - I hope you live in a friendly climate!

Nope, I don't live in a friendly climate. Thanks for the info.