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| Permanent
Wood Foundation (PWF) |
| Frequently
Asked Questions |
| Click
on the FAQ's Below for answers |
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1. |
What is
a Permanent Wood Foundation? |
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2. |
How is a Permanent Wood Foundation
constructed? |
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3. |
Are Permanent
Wood Foundations "Energy
Wise"? |
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4. |
Are Permanent
Wood Foundations
"Environmentally Friendly"? |
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5. |
The
plans for my new home indicate a masonry
foundation, can I change to a PWF? |
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6. |
Are the
chemicals used in the treatment process safe? |
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7. |
What
about mold and mildew in PWF
basements? |
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8. |
What are
the chances of the basement leaking? |
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9. |
Can I
have a walk-out basement with a PWF? |
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10. |
What
about finishing the basement? |
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11. |
How much
does a PWF cost compared
to poured concrete? |
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12. |
How long
does it take to install a PWF? |
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13. |
Can I
have a woodstove in a PWF
basement? |
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14. |
How long
will a wood foundation last? |
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15. |
Can I
install a Permanent Wood Foundation
myself? |
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16. |
Where
can I get more information? |
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| What
is a Permanent Wood Foundation? |
| The Permanent Wood
Foundation, or PWF, is an innovative building
system that saves builders time and makes
basements warm, comfortable living areas. PWF
basements have all the livability of above ground
rooms. They incorporate superior drainage
features that prevent the moisture problems
typical of ordinary masonry foundations. |
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to Top
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| How
is a Permanent Wood Foundation built?
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| A PWF is a series of
load-bearing lumber framed walls sheathed with
plywood. All lumber and plywood used in
the PWF are specially pressure treated with
preservatives to withstand decay from moisture
and insect attack. Southern Pine lumber (a
very strong species of lumber)
used in a PWF is pressure treated to a retention
level of 0.60 lbs./cu.ft., in accordance with
AWPA standards. (This is approximately 50% more
preservative than exterior deck materials.) |
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to Top |
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| Are
Permanent Wood Foundations "Energy
Efficient"? |
Very much so! Basement heat
loss from an insulated PWF is about 1/3 of that
from a poured concrete basement. A 30'x50'
basement, in central Michigan, saves
approximately 38,000,000 (thirty eight million)
BTU's per heating season. (That's
about $200.00
in natural gas) |
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to Top
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| Are
Permanent Wood Foundations "Environmentally
Friendly"? |
| Wood is our most renewable
resource, more trees are planted each year than
harvested. Additionally, the fossil fuel use,
greenhouse gas, water and air pollution resulting
from lumber production is 1/3 that of steel
manufacturing and ? of concrete. |
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to Top
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| The
plans for my new home indicate a masonry
foundation, can I change to a PWF? |
| Not a problem! Each PWF is
specially designed to suit the building above
it. Prior to the construction of the
basement, drawings are provided to suppliment
your plans, a copy for the local building
department and one for the homeowners records.
PWF's are accepted by all building codes. |
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to Top |
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| Are
the chemicals used in the treatment process safe? |
| PWF materials are treated
with naturally occurring metals found in the
earth's crust, plants and living organisms,
including people. No vapors are released and no
leaching
occurs. Extensive testing has been done
and pressure treated materials have been proven
safe for indoor use. |
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to Top |
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| What
about mold and mildew in PWF basements? |
| The nature of the PWF system
allows for fresh air to circulate through the
concealed areas of the basement floor lessening
the opportunity of bacterial growth.
Additionally, the construction details of the PWF
and its granular footing keep ground moisture
further from the basements interior where it
cannot "wick-through" the walls and
floor as in a concrete basement. |
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to Top
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| What
are the chances of the basement leaking?
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| During construction the
plywood joints are sealed full length with butyl
caulking, the walls are covered with a vapor
barrier prior to being back-filled, partially
with P-rock to facilitate drainage and eliminate
leaks do to hydraulic pressure caused by soil
expansion around the basement. These measures and
the in-ability of the PWF walls to crack, as is
common in masonry construction, virtually
eliminate the possibility of leakage. |
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to Top
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| Can
I have a walk-out basement with a PWF? |
| The PWF system is a
designers dream. The great strength of the
plywood diaphragms comprising the PWF coupled
with its light weight, allow walk-outs, garages
in or above basements, earth berm and underground
projects to be accomplished. Even in areas with
less than optimum soil bearing capacities. |
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to Top |
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| What
about finishing the basement? |
| It's ready! No furring
strips or additional framing is necessary, just
insulate (if desired), and nail drywall or
paneling directly to the studs. |
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to Top
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| How much does a PWF cost
compared to concrete? |
| Professionally installed the
PWF costs about the same as a poured concrete
basement. A prefabricated PWF foundation
installed by the homeowner can save about 30%. |
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to Top |
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| How
long does it take to install a PWF? |
| Prefabricated foundations
are usually installed in one day. |
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to Top
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| Can
I have a woodstove in a PWF basement? |
| Of course. There are no
restrictions of any kind regarding the use of a
PWF. Fire insurance companies, lending
institutions and home warranty companies approve
and accept Permanent Wood Foundations the same as
other types of basements. |
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to Top |
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| How
long will a wood foundation last? |
| The manufacturer of
the "Wolman" brand preservative used in
the treatment process, warranties materials used
in PWF construction against decay or insect
damage for 75 years. |
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to Top |
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| Can
I install a Permanent Wood Foundation myself? |
| Substantial savings
can be realized by "do-it-yourselfers"
doing their own PWF installation. Quality
control, correct fastening techniques and
attention to detail are necessary to insure a
quality product. The most practical way for a
homebuilder to install a PWF is to purchase a
prefabricated foundation and do their own
installation. |
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to Top |
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| Where
can I get more information? |
| Click Here
for links to Friends and other PWF Professionals |
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