hello all, I have a split-entry home in minnesota with a wood basement that we built twenty years ago and It’s become a little small for my growing family. The house is on a one acre lot that we hate to leave so my inclination is to add on but my wife fears for the long term integrity of the wood basement. I don’t know if I have the strength to move, any thoughts about the wood basement?
Edited 7/18/2006 2:35 pm ET by fred205
Replies
This is a "bump" to get this back up to the top of the discussion list.
By "wood basement" do you mean the basement walls are made of treated lumber?
By "wood basement" do you mean the basement walls are made of treated lumber?
Capn
They were selling those about 20 - 25 years ago, always wondered how they held up, never knew anybody that used it. I thought that they gave a 40 year guarantee.
If I was 20 years into a 40 year wood basement I'd consider pouring a new foundation for my add on.
Doug
Edited 7/18/2006 8:37 pm ET by DougU
It is 2X6 green treated lumber down to the slab which since it is a split entry is approximately 4 feet below ground level. I would use a more standard foundation for any addition we build but I still wonder about the main part of the house. If we decide to stay put and in the future we do have problems with the basement walls, what might our repair options be?
There is a good article on wood foundations in one of the Taunton "For Pros" books on foundations. It's probably a magazine article from a few years back so you might try a search.
Basically, the pt wood isn't the same stuff that most lumber yards carry--it has a much higher concentration of the good stuff (see magazine article). To stay completely dry the wood needs to sit on a gravel base that is also protected from ground moisture. Finally, a good water drainage system needs to be in place to keep water away from the gravel.
Wood above the bottom plate needs to be protected from direct contact with dirt with a quality waterproof membrane. Even grace ice and watar sheild, if carefully applied, is rated for this type of thing, while many have been installed with lesser materials.
If you need to replace what's there, it's not an easy fix since problems are a sign that the system is letting in enough moisture to do damage. The parts that keep the moisture out are also the hardest to get to.
The up side of a replacment is there won't be as much heavy material to remove to make room for the new foundation.
You could take some spot checks of the moisture content along the existing foundation to see how dry it is staying.
I just re-read your description of the basement walls. Since the pt 2x6s are bridging the gap between the slab and upper floor joists it's much easier to replace them than if there wasn't a concrete slab/footer at all.
Not seeing it in person it's hard to say, but the least expensive long-term option if the wood is currently in good condition might be exposing the foundation walls (digging), replacement of the waterproof membrane with one of known durability and adding well designed foundation drainage.
Personally, I'd live with it and when the time comes I'd replace the wood foundation with ICF walls on the existing slab/footer.
Cheers
always wondered how they held up, never knew anybody that used
I always assumed the toughest part was getting somebody to actually spend for the p/t plywood (after you figured out where the BI's required termite shield went in <g>).
We've seen a couple threads here on "can you jsut bolt a lintel angle on for a brick ledge?" So they exist.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Depends on how it was built. Some wood foundations are poorly designed and built with inferior materials--not likely to outlive a good dog.
Other good designs with suitable materials will last indefinitely.
a lot of mobils use them around here..
don't last all that long....
5 yaears and noticable deteriation... 10 they're toast...
why would you put in a foundation that needs a lot of maint....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!