Permanent Wood Foundations

Properly designed vertical stacked wood stud walls will support a great deal.

Permanent wood foundations. A permanent wood foundation pwf is an engineered construction system that uses load bearing exterior light frame wood walls in a below grade application. The permanent wood foundation system is an engineering residential construction system based on extensive laboratory and field testing. All lumber and plywood components in the wood foundation are. A wood foundation isn t strong enough to hold up my two story house a foundation is designed to support the vertical load of the house above it and the horizontal load of the soil pushing against it.

When pressure treated wood was developed in the 1960s it became possible for wood to be used in foundation walls without being prohibitively vulnerable to damage from insects and moisture and by the 1970s pwfs gained acceptance. Just what exactly is a permanent wood foundation. The sump basket should also be at least 30 deep. Since 1969 specially treated wood lumber and plywood has been used commercially in the united states for wood foundations.

The permanent wood foundation system. It s a load bearing lumber framed foundation wall sheathed with plywood. Permanent wood foundations should have a wood sump crock that is completely open at the bottom. Generally the soil pushing against it is a much bigger concern.

It is now known under a new name. Hence the name permanent wood foundation. A pwf system consists of load bearing wall systems framed with pressure treated lumber and sheathed with pressure treated plywood. If a traditional plastic sump basket is used with a wood foundation the bottom should be perforated to allow water to come in from the bottom.

A pwf consists of a stud wall and footing substructure constructed of approved preservative treated plywood and lumber which supports an above grade superstructure. While traditional basement walls are made from masonry materials such as concrete or stone inspectors should be prepared to encounter permanent wood foundations pwfs. The permanent wood foundation pwf is an innovative building system that saves builders time and creates com fortable warm living areas that enhance a home s salability.