Dear Tim,
I'm having a modular home built in mid-Michigan and my builder has given basically two options for a full basement foundation. One is the traditional poured basement, the other a permanent wood foundation. The permanent wood foundation is their standard foundation and poured being an upgrade of $2000 additional cost to me. I've done some looking into PWF, though its not nearly widely as used, what I've read has all been positive, though I still have my doubts. My question being should I go with the permanent wood foundation or am I better off sticking with a traditional poured basement in the long run?
Thomas Lutze - Fenton MI.
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Thomas,
With all due respect to the Wood Preservative Industry - and they have taken considerable flack recently - I think back to a childhood fable when I get this question. Surely you remember the fable of The Three Little Pigs? One built his house from straw, the other wood and the third one brick or masonry. The only pig who lived to tell about it was the last one.
I also prefer to look back in history. There is a commonality to buildings that are still among us today such as the Great Pyramids, the Mayan temples, the ruins of Rome and Athens, the Great Wall of China, etc. They are all made from masonry.
There is no substitute for an expertly installed concrete foundation. If you want the benefits of concrete, treated wood and insulation, then you must read my past column about Pre-Cast Foundation Walls.
Tim Carter
W3ATB