Any Contractors or Construction Experts Here? Wood Foundation Question

[Angie]

Sorry to bug you all, but I figure that people on a sports board in the state of Iowa might know something about this in the state of Iowa.

We are looking at purchasing a home built in 1990 that has a wood foundation. It has never had any water issues, other than once when the sump pump failed. It is on a raised hill, so it seems like it accounts for water management. This site seemed to indicate that they can be a great option in the state of Iowa... however, it's obviously by a dude who would potentially sell these foundations:

A Wood Foundation… How Long Can it Last? @ DPO Construction LC

Does anyone have any experience with wood foundations? It seems like this is a solid enough decision, but we just wanted more information. Thanks, all!

 

[Mr Janny]

Sorry to bug you all, but I figure that people on a sports board in the state of Iowa might know something about this in the state of Iowa.

We are looking at purchasing a home built in 1990 that has a wood foundation. It has never had any water issues, other than once when the sump pump failed. It is on a raised hill, so it seems like it accounts for water management. This site seemed to indicate that they can be a great option in the state of Iowa... however, it's obviously by a dude who would potentially sell these foundations:

A Wood Foundation… How Long Can it Last? @ DPO Construction LC

Does anyone have any experience with wood foundations? It seems like this is a solid enough decision, but we just wanted more information. Thanks, all!

bump. Very curious to hear what folks have to say about this. Our realtor went out of the way to point out that it had a wood foundation and encouraged us to do some research on the subject. Everything I can find says that with proper water management, it shouldn't pose any problem at all, and is actually easier to repair than poured concrete, should anything happen. Other places have suggested that it will negatively affect the resale value on the home. Resale isn't particularly a concern for me, as I plan on retiring in this home.

 

[VeloClone]

I think you are good. It appears this wood foundation lasted almost 2000 years.

The History Blog » 2013 » April » 10

 

[SwirlingFloater]

I had a friend who built a very nice house up in Brainerd, MN with a wood foundation around 10 years ago. I remember asking tons of questions at the time because I wasn't familiar with them. I recall him telling me is that they were very common in that area of MN and he had other friends who had them in their homes with no issues.

I don't know what the advantages or cost savings (if any) are. It just seemed like it was a preferred method in their area at the time.

 

[Angie]

I think you are good. It appears this wood foundation lasted almost 2000 years.

The History Blog » 2013 » April » 10

Well, you can't argue with history! BOOM!

I had a friend who built a very nice house up in Brainerd, MN with a wood foundation around 10 years ago. I remember asking tons of questions at the time because I wasn't familiar with them. I recall him telling me is that they were very common in that area of MN and he had other friends who had them in their homes with no issues.

I don't know what the advantages or cost savings (if any) are. It just seemed like it was a preferred method in their area at the time.

Thank you! That's really good to hear, as MN obviously gets way more snow than we do. It looks like it can make it warmer in the basement, and since that's a pretty central living area in this house, I would hope that would mean cheaper heating costs. It sounds like there's not much issue with termites due to how they treat the wood, but I'm pretty sure we'd still get a full pest inspection as part of closing...

 

[Mr Janny]

I had a friend who built a very nice house up in Brainerd, MN with a wood foundation around 10 years ago. I remember asking tons of questions at the time because I wasn't familiar with them. I recall him telling me is that they were very common in that area of MN and he had other friends who had them in their homes with no issues.

I don't know what the advantages or cost savings (if any) are. It just seemed like it was a preferred method in their area at the time.

one concern some seemed to have was termites. The wood is treated with chemicals that discourage termites, but in central Iowa, I wouldn't think we'd need to worry about that, either.

 

[kingcy]

Well, you can't argue with history! BOOM!



Thank you! That's really good to hear, as MN obviously gets way more snow than we do. It looks like it can make it warmer in the basement, and since that's a pretty central living area in this house, I would hope that would mean cheaper heating costs. It sounds like there's not much issue with termites due to how they treat the wood, but I'm pretty sure we'd still get a full pest inspection as part of closing...

Its the wet springs and summers I would worry about. If you have a washed rock along your house, yes it will help drain the water around the house, but since water moves through it easy it will pull water out of the soil toward your house. It sounds like they do all the correct things to make the wood water resistance. There are a lot of houses in Iowa with water issues in the basement, a lot of them are drained correct. Tile and evespout can get plugged so that is something you will always have to keep an eye on.

 

[cmjh10]

My dad was in construction for 20+ years, and he recently talked to someone who was looking at a house with a wooden foundation, and he said avoid it. I may be good, it may not. If it happens to rot, it is gonna be a pain to fix. Yet, it looks like they have a good history, just my two cents.

 

[Angie]

Its the wet springs and summers I would worry about. If you have a washed rock along your house, yes it will help drain the water around the house, but since water moves through it easy it will pull water out of the soil toward your house. It sounds like they do all the correct things to make the wood water resistance. There are a lot of houses in Iowa with water issues in the basement, a lot of them are drained correct. Tile and evespout can get plugged so that is something you will always have to keep an eye on.

That makes sense. I'm guessing just wetness around the walls is the first place we'd see anything? We looked really closely yesterday and didn't see anything, and they said there has never been any wetness down there before (enough that they replaced the carpet that got ruined by the sump pump with really nice, fairly expensive carpet) a couple of years ago, so I hope that means that they were telling the whole truth.

 

[Angie]

My dad was in construction for 20+ years, and he recently talked to someone who was looking at a house with a wooden foundation, and he said avoid it. I may be good, it may not. If it happens to rot, it is gonna be a pain to fix. Yet, it looks like they have a good history, just my two cents.

That's the hard thing. With it being almost 25 years old, you'd HOPE that any problems would have presented themselves by now (especially with the floods of 94, and the several from the 2000s), but who knows??

 

[cmjh10]

That's the hard thing. With it being almost 25 years old, you'd HOPE that any problems would have presented themselves by now (especially with the floods of 94, and the several from the 2000s), but who knows??

Yeah, you would think, but you never know.

My dad is also known to be very careful when it comes to construction stuff. He doesnt want to have to work on it again.

 

[Angie]

Yeah, you would think, but you never know.

My dad is also known to be very careful when it comes to construction stuff. He doesnt want to have to work on it again.

I like that policy. Measure twice, cut once!!

 

[justincl]

Its not fool proof but taking a hammer to the wood and listen / feel the response of the hammer can give you a good idea of the density, moisture, and soundness of the wood. This is used on similar bridge components as well. If it is not treated the species of wood will really affect the lifespan.

 

[Angie]

Its not fool proof but taking a hammer to the wood and listen / feel the response of the hammer can give you a good idea of the density, moisture, and soundness of the wood. This is used on similar bridge components as well. If it is not treated the species of wood will really affect the lifespan.

Thank you!! We'll do that. I would assume, also, that most people who do inspectors would be familiar with wood foundations?

 

[justincl]

Not necessarily so it may be worth asking during the inspector selection. As others have noted, the drainage, termites, and settlement would be may biggest concerns. With regards to settlement the wood has very limited ability to transfer stress to other components like a solid concrete foundation would. But if it has been there 25 year with little distress one would think you should be OK.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Is this house in Nevada ?

 

[07Clone]

I am not a contractor or construction worker, but I owned a wood framed split foyer house in Roland for a few years and never had any problems with it. It was built in 1994, so I think if there were going to be problems, they would have shown themselves.

I would look the home over very closely and if it looks good I would not be too worried about it.

 

[Angie]

Not necessarily so it may be worth asking during the inspector selection. As others have noted, the drainage, termites, and settlement would be may biggest concerns. With regards to settlement the wood has very limited ability to transfer stress to other components like a solid concrete foundation would. But if it has been there 25 year with little distress one would think you should be OK.

Thank you again! I don't remember much about the inspector we used during our last purchase - are they usually contractors from the area? I wonder how to see who knows the most about wood foundations (if there's a way to track that).

 

[Angie]

Is this house in Nevada ?

Ames. I did put in a call to Whitaker Construction in Nevada, though, to see if he could offer any advice. I haven't received a call back yet, I'm guessing because they're building houses. (I'm just always impatient. :tongue

I am not a contractor or construction worker, but I owned a wood framed split foyer house in Roland for a few years and never had any problems with it. It was built in 1994, so I think if there were going to be problems, they would have shown themselves.

I would look the home over very closely and if it looks good I would not be too worried about it.

Oh, good, comparable build date. That is good to hear. I think what we might do is, like justincl mentioned, get an inspector especially versed in wood. The house is in fantastic condition, and I didn't see any marks along the floor or baseboards in the basement, either, where water might have stood, which also leads me to believe they're telling the truth about not having had issues.

 

[justincl]

Thank you again! I don't remember much about the inspector we used during our last purchase - are they usually contractors from the area? I wonder how to see who knows the most about wood foundations (if there's a way to track that).

I don't know if there is any tracking system but typically they are contractors or similar folks making inspection a side job. Some do it for a living and have seen plenty of them. I think I would simply ask the inspector before hiring them about their experience. Good luck!