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. , Article from BUILDING MATERIAL DEALER DECEMBER 1998 By Don Jacnicke PWF: A Foundation for Sales Growth With more than a half-million in place, permanent wood foundations are gaining a following—and expanding sales opportunities—for dealers throughout northern states. basement panels,resting on with wood foundations each When the snow flies and the washed pea gravel for proper year. He says the dry lumber ground freezes,construction support and drainage. Treated and plywood basement walls of projects in a wide band of states footing plates are usually placed a PWF solves condensation simply close down. Concrete directly on the gravel,and problems inside the house,it trucks stay parked because they construction proceeds quickly, saves up to 50 percent in utility can't pour foundations in frigid with an entire PWF often costs,compared to masonry temperatures. But at housing installed in less than a day. construction. And that's led to sites throughout the nation, Basement floors can be done kudos from his customers. "As especially in the Upper with treated wood as part of a soon as prospective buyers come Midwest,a growing number of PWF system,or a concrete into our model homes in the residential projects keep going basement floor can be added winter and go downstairs,they in zero degrees thanks to a later. are amazed at how warm and unique construction technique— Educating builder-customers livable the basement is, the permanent wood foundarion has paid off for two yards in compared to musty concrete (PWF)—that is well proven but Traverse City,Mich. walls. still somewhat"mysterious"to Homebuilder's Warehouse "With a masonry basement, many builders. conducts regular PWF you have a continual flow of Simply described,a PWF is educational events such as moisture when penetrates the an engineered building system builder breakfasts at the local whole house and dampens the with a treated Southern pine Holiday Inn. The company's insulations,causing moisture to load-bearing framed foundation Dave Combos adds that they condense on the windows. This wall,sheathed with treated steer builder customers to a is not a problem with the PWF," plywood. The preservatives are PFW display at their retail yard he notes. usually CCA treated lumber at a and conduct training sessions for Blewer Lumber,which retention level of.601bs/cu/ft.in outside sales personnel to keep operates sawmills and five accordance with AWFA them up to date on the wood treating plants,supplies PWF standard C22. foundation. treated lumber to a number of From the Northeast to the Brown Lumber,a firm dealers and conducts 25 PFW West,as the advantages of this believer in the important of training seminars per year for unique system become better training and education(see story dealers and their pro builder known,contractors are building on p. 12),holds three contractor customers. In addition,the more homes that feature PWF. breakfasts per year to remind company also sponsors exhibits Besides all-weather builders about the advantages of in local building product trade construction,contractors report PWF. "We usually have shows,reaching retailers and that the PWF also has another between 12 to 25 builders in contractors with the PWF important benefits—it provides attendance,"says Brown message. warmer,dryer basements Lumbers' Jce Hurst. "T'his has For more information on without a musty smell,and been a big factor in increasing permanent wood foundations, lower utility bills because there PWF construction. contact the Southern Pine are no damp concrete walls John Bezemer of United Council at 504-443-4164, or on down below. Construction, Sandusky,Mich., the Internet at Typical PWF construction builders 40-50 modular homes www.southernpine.com. calls for 8x8-ft. foundation wall