Tommy Mac Discussions › Forums › Fix-it Forum: Home Improvement & Do It Yourself Repair Forum › Wooden Foundations
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September 13, 2000 at 10:08 am #20052Sheila GravemanGuest
We are interested in purchasing a home and recently learned that the foundation is wood. Could you tell me the pro’s or con’s. Thanks
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September 13, 2000 at 12:05 pm #97090DennisGuest
It depends on what type of wood foundation you
are talking about. There are houses here in South
Texas that were built on cedar foundations that
will outlast the house. I grew up in a cedar
foundation house that was built in the late 1800’s.
The cedar posts rest on limestone rocks and are
protected from the elements by the house. This type
of foundation is especially well suited to our
expansive soils dirt. It contracts when it dries and
expands when wet which can crack a slab foundation.
I guess the bottom line is. No, having a wood
foundation should not automatically make it a
bad investment. As always, you should have it
inspected by a trained professional to make sure
its up to snuff. -
September 13, 2000 at 5:06 pm #97095bcGuest
I’m not acquainted with wood foundations as such but anytime wood is near the ground, I would be in constant and periodic watch for termites. Jab the wood with a screwdriver to see if they have ate out the inside of the wood and look for their dirt colored trails/tunnels that they build to crawl in going up the foundation. The south is a well known termite zone and I’d check for them all the time.
Besides the termite inspection, look for dry rot or wet rot. Look for places where water settles when it rains. The place better have drainage that goes directly away from the house cause if any water has settled in the past in a low area around the foundation, then you may have rot. Have an inspection done before buying.
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September 13, 2000 at 7:56 pm #97103andiGuest
Got to know year, design (e.g. type of wood foundation) and area (e.g. soils); and then can give a little more info on wood foundations. I’m pretty familiar with them, new and old.
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September 14, 2000 at 12:18 pm #97122jbGuest
What did your home inspector say? People here can educate advise and debate but that doesn’t replace the on-site evaluation. It is too easy to get emotional about a purchase or to overlook serious problems. That is why I used a home inspector when I was house shopping even though I am an experienced and licenced contractor. You need a knowlegeable and dispassionate assesment to guide your decision.
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October 30, 2002 at 9:55 am #123760Steven MarshallGuest
I would like to build a 14’X 20′ single story workshop at the rear of my home in Indiana. It would be very difficult to pour a traditional concrete foundation due to site access, tree roots, and wooden privacy fence.
Option 1:
Sink several 6×6 treated posts in holes filled with quick set concrete around the perimeter of the struture. Build a platform supported from these posts with conventional constructions from that point up.Option 2:
Lay 20′ long 6×6 treated posts on the ground evenly spaced on concrete pavers. Build a floor structure on top of the beams, then conventional construction from that point up. (possibly lay a thick piece of plastic sheeting on the ground between the wood and ground?)The approx. distance from the top of the floor to the ground would be around 12-15″
Any advise or suggestions would be greatly appricated.
Thanks
Steve M.
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December 18, 2002 at 9:48 am #130902umarGuest
i am buying a house and found out that it has a wooden foundation. it has cedar being used, kindly let me know the pro’s and con’s of having a wooden foundation.
love the show
umar
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February 23, 2003 at 3:16 pm #144585Wojciech Nitka – Wood Frame Technology Center – PolandGuest
Where I can found some technical information about wooden foundation?
I would build the first in Poland house on wooden foundatin. Could you help me?Thanks.
Regards
Wojciech Nitka -
June 24, 2004 at 8:56 pm #243504MyishaGuest
We are purchasing a foreclosed home, never lived in. We found out it has a wood foundation, other than the obvious…ie rot, termites, etc..what should we look for. The house inspector comes in Saturday but any information you can give me would be great. Thanks btw…I live in Cedar Rapids Iowa so we can expect heat, cold and lots of water…
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