Are wood foundations durable?
Click Image to enlarge. SHEATHING FASTENED WITH 8d STAINLESS STEEL NAILS; FRAMING WITH DOUBLE-DIPPED 16d NAILS Q I’m considering installing a wood basement under my new addition instead of the poured concrete type under my house, mostly because I can do it myself. Do wood foundations really stand up over time without rotting, and are they strong enough to hold back the earth? Eli Coats, Holland, MI A When you’re considering an unfamiliar type of construction such as a wood foundation, it’s best to get an opinion from someone who’s built a few dozen and had to guarantee their performance—me! I’m positively gleeful over the 20 trouble-free years we’ve had with ours at home and have yet to hear a single complaint from any of the dozens of customers I’ve built them for. The clients I still hear from love the advantages wood foundations have to offer. You can build them yourself, they’re dry and warm, and they’re easy to finish (inside and out). And because they’re simple wood frame constru
