Permanent Wood Foundations
The Permanent Wood Foundation (PWF) is a strong, engineered foundation system using modern pressure-treated wood products for below ground structures. PWFs are environmentally friendly and safe to use. Compared to poured-in-place concrete, concrete block or other conventional foundations, PWFs offer many benefits and have been used in over 300,000 housing projects to date all over North America.
Advantages of Permanent Wood Foundations
Energy Efficient
Properly insulated, the PWF system insulates up to three times better than a typical eight-inch poured concrete wall.
Easy to Construct
PWF systems are simple to build and install, whether constructed on-site or prefabricated.
Cost Effective
The cost of a completed wood foundation is considerably less than a comparable masonry foundation and requires fewer labor hours.
Warm, Dry & Comfortable
The Permanent Wood Foundation system utilizes a complete drainage system designed to keep basement spaces dry, warm, and odor-free—creating comfortable living space below grade.
More Usable Floor Space
Permanent Wood Foundations provide more usable living space in basements compared to traditional masonry (concrete) foundations.
Environmental Benefits
PWF systems are built from abundant, fast-growing wood species. Pressure-treated wood is long-lasting, requires minimal maintenance, and helps conserve natural resources.
What Exactly is a Permanent Wood Foundation?
Permanent Wood Foundations (PWFs) consist of load-bearing walls framed with pressure-treated lumber.
These walls are engineered to resist and distribute earth, wind, and seismic loads—reducing the risk
of cracking that can occur with other foundation types.
PWF systems are widely accepted by major model building codes, federal agencies, and lending, home warranty,
and fire insurance institutions. Their reliability has been proven through decades of use in more than
300,000 homes and structures across the United States.
Durability is backed by long-term in-ground testing conducted by the Forest Service. In these studies,
pressure-treated wood has successfully withstood severe decay and termite exposure over many years.
The Permanent Wood Foundation system is backed by a 75-year warranty, offering long-term confidence
and performance for residential and commercial construction.
PWF Applications
Crawl Space*
The crawl space can be built on level or sloping terrain with equal ease.
Full Foundation Wall*
Provides comfortable below-grade living space ready to finish. PWF walls can be built on-site or prefabricated.
PWF Floor System*
For the ultimate in below-grade comfort, choose a PWF wood floor system.
Plenum Wood System*
The entire crawl space is utilized as a plenum to circulate warm or cool air to floor vents, eliminating the need for expensive ductwork.
*Projects should be designed and installed in accordance with federal, state, and local building codes and ordinances governing construction in your area, as well as the National Design Specifications (NDS) and the Wood Handbook.