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If you're
building or buying a home, consider the
contemporary basement alternative - a
Permanent Wood Foundation, or PWF.
Just what
exactly is a Permanent Wood Foundation? It's a
load-bearing lumber framed foundation wall
sheathed with plywood. All lumber and plywood
components are pressure-treated to withstand
decay from moisture and termites.
Southern Pine
dimension lumber is the strongest structural
species, the ideal material for PWF
construction. Southern Pine is also the
preferred species when pressure treatment with
preservatives is required, because of its
treatability. The unique cellular structure of
Southern Pine permits deep, uniform
penetration of the preservative, rendering the
wood useless as a food source for termites.
A Proven,
Practical System
Durability of
the PWF system, is demonstrated by long-term
in-ground tests conducted by the USDA's Forest
Service. In these tests, pressure-treated wood
has withstood severe decay and termite
conditions over decades of exposure. PWF walls
are designed to resist and distribute earth,
wind, seismic loads and stresses that may
crack other types of foundations.
The Permanent
Wood Foundation is accepted by the major model
building codes, by federal agencies, and by
lending, home warranty, and fire insurance
institutions. And it has been proven by years
of success in more the 300,000 homes and other
structures throughout the U.S.
Like
conventional wood-frame walls, the wood
foundation is adaptable to virtually any
design. The PWF fits a variety of floor plans
and can be used in both level and sloping
sites.
All
lumber and plywood is pressure treated with
a waterborne preservative to withstand
severe decay conditions. Specific treating
industry standards and quality-control
procedures for PWF materials are
established. Southern Pine is the preferred
wood species for this pressure treatment
process.
PWF wall
panels can be prefabricated, or built at the
site. Installation is fast and simple, using
the same framing crew that builds the rest
of the house.
A
completed PWF basement, ready for
first-floor framing. Basement wall framing
easily accepts insulation to meet the new
energy codes now enforced in many states.
A treated
wood floor is the ideal partner for the PWF,
enhancing the comfort of below-ground living
areas.
Virtually
any home design can benefit from the many
advantages of a PWF. Room additions are
simplified, too.
PWF
Advantages
Builders and
home buyers across the country are choosing
the Permanent Wood Foundation, and for many
good reasons. Just a few of the features that
are making PWF's increasingly popular include:
1.
Design Flexibility
PWF's can be
used in a variety of building types and sizes,
including both single and multi-story houses,
condominiums and apartments, and for both
site-built and manufactured houses. PWF's are
suitable for crawl space, split-entry or
full-basement designs. Remodeling contractors
have also found the PWF ideal for room
additions, especially where site access is
limited.
2.
Faster Construction
The PWF is
easily installed by a carpentry crew, often in
one day, or even in just a few hours. As soon
as the foundation is framed and sheathed,
construction of floors and interior walls can
proceed. Shorter construction time can mean
savings in labor and interim construction
financing.
3.
Simplified Scheduling
The builder's or
subcontractor's carpentry crew install the
PWF, reducing the need for scheduling other
trades. The PWF can be installed in nearly any
kind of weather, even below freezing.
4.
Comfortable Living Areas
Let's consider
comfort. PWF basements have all the livability
of above-ground rooms. Wood construction lends
feeling of warmth - not the musty, damp
feeling usually associated with masonry
basements. And, PWF's incorporate superior
drainage features that prevent the moisture
problems typical of ordinary foundations. The
result: warm, dry below-grade living spaces.
5.
Energy Efficiency
The National
Energy Policy Act mandates that the basement
of a new home must be properly insulated. The
economical answer to meeting state energy code
requirements begins with a Permanent Wood
Foundation.
6.
Ease of Finishing
Since nailable
studs are already in place, plumbing, wiring
and interior wall installation are simplified.
Because it's so easy, many PWF homebuyers
elect to do the finishing themselves according
to their own tastes, and often at less cost.
7.
More Living Space
A PWF can also
mean added living space - wood foundation
walls need not be as thick as comparable
concrete or masonry walls. Less space needed
for insulation, too, because it fits into the
cavities of the wood-framed wall - extra
furring strips or wall studs are not
necessary.
Acceptances
The
Permanent Wood Foundation is accepted by the
following major regulatory bodies and
underwriting agencies, as well as by a growing
number of states and local building codes and
lending agencies.
Model
Building Codes
-
National
Building Code. 1996 edition. Building
Officials and Code Administrators
International, Inc. (BOCA)
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Uniform
Building Code. 1997 edition. International
Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)
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Standard
Building Code. 1994 and 1997 editions.
Southern Building Code Congress
International Inc. (SBCCI)
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One
and Two-Family Dwelling Code. 1995
edition. Council of American Building
Officials (CABO)
Federal
Agencies
-
Farmers
Home Administration (FmHA)
-
Veterans
Administration (VA)
-
Department
of Housing and Urban Development - Federal
Housing Administration (HUD/FHA)
Lending
& Mortgage Insurance Institutions
-
Mortgage
Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC)
-
Government
National Mortgage Association (GNMA)
-
Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)
-
Federal
National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
-
United
States League of Savings Associations
-
Verex
Assurance, Inc.
Warranty
& Fire Insurance Institutions
Southern
Forest Products Association
P.O. Box 641700
Kenner, La 70064-1700
504/443-4464 -
504/443-6612
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers
Association
P.O. Box 1788
Forest Park, Ga 30298
404/361-1445 - Fax
404/361-5963
www.southernpine.com
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