wood versus concrete foundation/basement

Posted by yipyipyoho on January 7, 2007, 7:34 pm

Does anyone have any experience with wood versus concrete foundation or
basements? Specifically permanent wood foundations versus Superior
Walls basements. I would like to hear any and all experiences or
thoughts on the two. Specific concerns relating to mold/mildew,
drainage systems, vermin control for the longrun, etc. Please dual
post responses here and directly to my email yipyipyoho@aol.com.
Thanks in advance.

Posted by SteveF on January 8, 2007, 6:55 am

> Does anyone have any experience with wood versus concrete foundation or
> basements? Specifically permanent wood foundations versus Superior
> Walls basements. I would like to hear any and all experiences or
> thoughts on the two. Specific concerns relating to mold/mildew,
> drainage systems, vermin control for the longrun, etc. Please dual
> post responses here and directly to my email yipyipyoho@aol.com.
> Thanks in advance.

"Permanent wood foundation". Is that like "congressional ethics" or
"military intelligence"?

Personally, having developed a hatred for fixing rotted wood, I don't use
wood for any exterior use if there is any other choice. Plus two years ago
the chemical used in pressure treating was changed from CCA to ACQ which is
already being found to be very corrosive to steel fasteners. It would
kinda' suck to build a house on it and find out it also doesn't hold up well
in the long term.

I saw the Superior Walls at a trade show. IIRC they were something like $75
per foot. Pulte Homes is using them in a subdivision in Raleigh. Looks
like a neat idea.

Steve.

Posted by Matt Whiting on January 8, 2007, 5:01 pm

SteveF wrote:

> I saw the Superior Walls at a trade show. IIRC they were something like $75
> per foot. Pulte Homes is using them in a subdivision in Raleigh. Looks
> like a neat idea.

I used these under my log house when I built it in 2000 and so far, so good.

Matt

Posted by Gary KW4Z on January 8, 2007, 3:04 pm

First of all a disclaimer, I'm no expert nor do I have experience however
like you I have done some research and have some concerns. Below is a link
to a company that makes wood panels for the basement and from there site is
links to a video that talks about it. Funny that they mention the
foundations of buildings Venice, Italy but they never really go back to
telling you how the wooden pillars or post maintain themselves under the
waters in the City of Venice.

http://www.thermapan.com/faq/

My concerns are for the long run but I believe that company that makes the
wood foundations provides a lifetime warranty but then if the foundation
gives way and you lose a house are they just going to replace the foundation
and too bad for your house and belongings and maybe your lives? I also
wonder about termites and other wood infestations that can happen. I don't
know that I trust even the treatments that are going into the wood products
these days. Although there are problems with concrete a lot of those
problems depends greatly on who does the work and how good they are.

If you get something really informative in your email I hope you will
forward it to me as I'm going through the same decision process myself.

On 1/7/07 7:34 PM, in article
1168216444.902896.75520@11g2000cwr.googlegroups.com, "yipyipyoho"

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