PWF "Permanent" or "Powdered" Wood Foundation?

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by cbuell

Brian, I have to agree with you having built 18 of them myself. If they are done properly they should never "see" any water. I think one of the common misconceptions is that the wood is the kind you go down to the orange tool box to buy.

I agree with Charles, having built many of them myself.

Properly constructed, they are fine in our area.

Nice links and pics Marcel and Brian.

[Richard A. Hetzel]

If not built with pressure-treated plywood that is treated to a much greater preservative content that normal pressure-treated plywood, I guess one could stick a screwdriver through them after 30 years...or even less. One cannot take any old pressure-treated plywood and bury it...it needs a much greater preservative content, and usually must be specially ordered, except perhaps in the south, where such foundations are more prevalent.

[Barry Adair]

This was found through TIJ


PWF Design & Construction Guide
Design specifications and structural requirements for using PWF systems. Typical applications are illustrated. 52 pages.
PDF Download Only Ref #400.

$0.00 each.
Download FREE

More info on Southern pine http://southernpine.com/sitemap.shtml

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by badair

This was found through TIJ


PWF Design & Construction Guide
Design specifications and structural requirements for using PWF systems. Typical applications are illustrated. 52 pages.
PDF Download Only Ref #400.

$0.00 each.
Download FREE

More info on Southern pine http://southernpine.com/sitemap.shtml

Good one , Barry. And the price is right.......oops, my Scottish genes are showing. After working on PWF's many years ago, almost became nostalgic looking through the details!

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

One of the two I looked at appeared to have failed during backfill. Main floor framing was typical western platform and the floor joists rested on the PWF walls and was toenailed to top plates. The top plate had buckled at one of the breaks. The wall was bowed in at this point about 3 inches over 30'.

Finished basement with lots of interior walls and suspended accoustic tile ceiling. Easy to miss. Repair involved backhoe excavation and was expensive.

Given that many contractors seem to be unable to build capably using long-established, well known methods, I'm skeptical of this system as being unforgiving of mistakes and possibly requiring replacement of the entire foundation structure (or a major part of it) if poorly built. It's builders who don't do their homework that worry me.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by kshepard

One of the two I looked at appeared to have failed during backfill. Main floor framing was typical western platform and the floor joists rested on the PWF walls and was toenailed to top plates. The top plate had buckled at one of the breaks. The wall was bowed in at this point about 3 inches over 30'.

Finished basement with lots of interior walls and suspended accoustic tile ceiling. Easy to miss. Repair involved backhoe excavation and was expensive.

.

I agree Kenton, and I feel skeptical about it too.
I would like to see some of these foundations and study them before I would attempt to build one or inspect one.

For a wall to let go like this with the platform framing on it, there sure is something wrong, and bet it is not the design.

I haven't seen one in this area yet, and all I can do is read about it.

Marcel