Help Desk - Message Board

Permanent Wood Foundation System
While wood foundations are easy to build, this is only true if one is building from an accurate well designed plan. When such a plan is incorrect, or if something is left out of the plan or absent, or if a design is made using a guide manual (these are not design manuals); major mistakes can be made during the construction process. These errors cause problems for the owner, builder, and the building department. We can design the wood foundation for you so it will be easy and fast to install. Call Roscoe to go over what information we need from you to complete the design, and use the easy pay button below for fast and easy service.

Call the Help Desk to place your order at 810 955-4305
Then click the BUY NOW button to complete your order.

A custom design will ensure that your foundation system is constructed and installed in accordance with codes and standards. Similar to your building blueprints, our extensive 50 page PWF design manuals will ensure that your foundation is constructed correctly. After all... it is the supporting base for the entire house.

Design Course

Permanent Wood Foundations (PWF) are very easy to build. As simple as they might be, too many builders make too many errors. This in not necessarily their fault. Using Guide Manuals as Design Manuals is one of the reasons. These manuals are not complete and only apply to a very limited kind of building configuration.

Since construction of PWF's began in the early 1970's, it was purposely made to appear very simple in order to get quick acceptance by the home construction public. In reality, the promoters of PWF's were half right. The PWF is easy and simple to build, but not without a properly designed plan from which to build. This is true no matter what we build. It is the properly designed plan that makes it easy and simple. Otherwise, we are guessing, and the foundation of a building is no place to guess.

Without a properly designed plan, a builder might not use the correct nailing patterns or nail diameters to support the loads that exist at various connections of the wood foundation. This may lead to failure that could be major problem and expensive to repair. Failures do not always immediately appear. Sometimes they show up during backfill or not until a few years later. Nail deficiencies are just one problem. There are many variables that affect the final outcome of the design and ultimately the construction.

Attempts to simplify the design were made by publishing manuals with tables, diagrams, wall sections, and other details. While these attempts were admirable, they could only cover some of the more simple situations, and then not all the time due to the many variable that affect the final outcome. None of these manuals can be used exclusively as a design manual for wood foundations. At best, they are good guides to construction to give the builder an idea of what the wood foundation is all about.

The manuals have led to complacency by builders and building inspectors as well as owners. Many mistakes are being made every day because of the complacency. Making the assumption that wood foundation can be designed using these manuals is the mistake. The lack of knowledge on the part of engineers, architects, and designers of how to properly design wood foundations. When more people understand why PWF's need proper designs, and there are more competent designers; there will be fewer problems with foundations and PWF's will be better recognized as the best answer to dry and comfortable basements at lower costs.
It is the best choice.

Permanent Wood Foundation.com
Foundation Designer
Roscoe J. Clark

Design Course for Permanent Wood Foundation System.

Type 304 or 316 stainless steel nails should be used for PWF's treated with chemicals other than CCA until the new PWF standard is completed.

Permanent Wood Foundation Installation Classes
Learn how to install a pwf in one day.
Design for home owners and builders that wants to install the foundation themself.
One class per month, Last Saturday each month (8 hour class)
Location: Flint, Michigan
Cost per person: $200.00
E mail us for more information at help@pwfs.com or call 810 955-4305

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Help Desk 810 955-4305

For more information:

www.pwfs.com

www.woodfoundation.com

www.woodbasement.com

Note: Panel foundations can be site built or made in a shop. When made so it cover up items that need inspection by the Building Inspector. Third Party Inspection may be required. (inspect for grade stamps, treatment stamps, stud spacing, insulation, nailing, dip of saw cuts, plywood requirments are some of the item that a third party inspection will note.

All Panel Wood Foundations must be designed and installed in accordance with:
All current Building Codes Standards

While wood foundations are easy to build, this is only true if one is building from an accurate well designed plan. When such a plan is incorrect, or if something is left out of the plan or absent, or if a design is made using a guide manual (these are not design manuals); major mistakes can be made during the construction process. These errors cause problems for the owner, builder, and the building department.

PermanentWoodFoundation.com a service of Permanent Wood Foundation System (PWF), supported by Southern Pine lumber users affiliated with the training and installation of wood foundations.
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