I am getting ready to build a new home and my builder suggested a wood basement. He said it is dryer than a conventional basement and it comes with a 75 year warranty.
I'm interested in hearing from people who have a wood basement and how they like it.
doesnt seem like it would be stronger than concrete?????
i would like to know what lumber he is using. i thought treated lumber only had a warenty of 30 years. check out the garagejournel.com, i thought they had a thread on it. i would ask him for some refuals for other ones he has done. the dryer part i think is bs. alot of the dryness has to do with soil,site prep and what moister barrier you use. what type of cost differnce is there over concreet.
they float on peastone just like concrete does but i would recomend the concrete basement. conctrete has a lot longer life in them and when done right dont leak, you need help with this let me know i can send you some basement guys numbers. i build houses for a living so I would go concrete. just my 2 cents though
Quote from: Squirell on August 20, 2008, 10:24:33 AM
they float on peastone just like concrete does but i would recomend the concrete basement. conctrete has a lot longer life in them and when done right dont leak, you need help with this let me know i can send you some basement guys numbers. i build houses for a living so I would go concrete. just my 2 cents though
Are you saying a poured wall verses block?
ask your builder if the warranty includes labor to replace any that goes wrong with it. the answer is no. not really much of a warranty is it. i worked for a large homebuilding company and only did 3 wood basements out of about 150 homes., personaly i would have a wood basement done just as long as it was completely above ground. in other words go with concrete,either block or poured wall .jmo.
ALL WOOD WILL DECOMPOSE SOONER OR LATER AND FROM MY 30 PLUS YEAR'S IN THE BUILDING BUISNESS GET CONCRETE AND ON THE OUT SIDE PUT ALAYER OF TAR THEN PLASTIC LAYER OF TAR LAYER OF PLASTIC THEN ANOTHER LAYER OF TAR THAT IS HOME MADE BITCHEM IT IS USED ON COM CONST FOR WATER PROOFING CONCRETE THAT IS BELOW GROUND AND IT WILL OUT LIVE YOU IF IT IS DONE WRIGHT WAY A LIC BUILDER'S SAY
go with the porured walls and definately dont skimp on the water proofing as it is mcuh cheaper now than having to dig around and do it in 10-20 years
I bought a house with a wood basement. Its was built in the 70's. It seams to be holding up.But it does have a few problems. There are two walls that aer bowed in about 5" I don't know if thats from when they back filled or over time. I have to run a dehumidifier in the summer or I get a musty smell in the basement. I have to empty it every day. So much for it being drier than a concrete basement. Allso mice can eat a hole in it, I've found two holes from them.I do get water in the basement if we get heavy rain (5+ inches in a short time) It comes under the wall. I would like to replace it, but I'm looking at $30,000 to $40,000 to do it.
From my experance I would go with concrete.
Just my ==2cents
Concrete only way to go, Block wall or Poured walls only way to go IMO...
ive built homes from the basement up and i would say to go with crete and water proofining is definitely a must the wood is not a all around bad idea depends on the surrounding ground IE how wet is it what way is the fall of the land things like that but crete basements are better for most apps the reason your builder wants you to go with a wood basement is because he doesnt have to get a concrete crew to come in and set forms for the walls and a crane to put them in and out he can just have his ppl do it and he saves alot of cash JMO
2nd post with photo'o