Thermapan PWF Structural Insulated Panels

PWF Foundation SIPs are specifically engineered for below grade uses. The PWF (Permanent Wood Foundation) exterior sheathing resists wood decay.
SIP foundations have numerous advantages over traditional concrete foundations:
Dry basements with no mustiness
No framing required to insulate and finish basement
No cracking
Fast construction - no concrete to cure

[@marlaplunk2833]

In this video at 7:05, you mention a 6mil polyurethane moisture barrier being applied to the exterior wall. In looking at your installation manual from the thermapan website, it states, "NOTES: THE ADHERENCE OF ANY WATER-PROOFING MEMBRANE TO ANY THERMAPAN SIP PWF PLYWOOD SURFACE WILL VOID THE THERMAPAN WARRANTY". Can you please explain the difference between adding a moisture barrier to the exterior vs adding a "water-proofing membrane" to any plywood surface? Also, the manual shows to add the vapor barrier to the interior of the PWF SIP wall, not the exterior. Thank you.

[@TheAtkey]

I just put a bid on a house with PWF foundations. I'm going to walk away cause the in the inspection we found a pipe had been leaking in the crawlspace and pooled up near one of the foundation walls and has discolored the wood possibly mold. I would have never bid on the house if Id seen it in the walk though but I couldn't find the crawlspace entrance it was under some carpet in a closet. It's a shame it's a nice house in a nice location but I'm not taking the risk with a possible corrupted foundation.

[@BananazPuddin]

i would still think that SIPs would be more of a gamble for sub-terrain basements only because there are other elements than decay. There are termites. I would prefer to use ICF basement and SIPs fasten to make the rest of the house. Making the house nearly passive with the proper hvac erv system of course.

[@thermapan]

Thank you for your comment and for taking the time to watch our video. The wood is treated in compliance with building code to resist termites and decay. Foundation panels offer superior insulation performance (R48 to R62) and basements do not require dehumidifiers like ICF/concrete foundations because the of the positive drainage system design. Thermapan SIP foundations have been in the marketplace since 1984, without any warranty claims.

[@pwashcroft]

@@thermapan I've never been in a basement that "required" a dehumidifier. It may happen but don't exaggerate.

[@thermapan]

@@pwashcroft No exaggeration - most home inspectors recommend dehumidifiers, especially during the summer: lfpress.com/2016/08/04/a-closer-look-dehumidifier-protects-home-from-summer-humidity/wcm/aec155ad-b5c7-64f0-d9f1-f771eed2f078 www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/six-reasons-you-may-need-a-dehumidifier/2018/06/19/1f7da272-6b67-11e8-bea7-c8eb28bc52b1_story.html

[@5stardave]

There is a difference between wood in water and wood in damp soil. Microbes thrive on wood in damp soil.

[@MonroeAlva-f7r]

Taylor Carol Moore Jessica White Gary

[@pwashcroft]

The wood in Venice Italy doesn't degrade because salt water petrifies wood and essentially turns it into stone. Also, all the water proofing you claim is necessary for wood could just as easily be done with concrete. ICF construction would also resolve most of the issues you're describing. You also seem to claim wood foundations don't settle and develop cracks. The video is not well thought out and possibly disingenuous. The idea of a insulated, wood foundation is fine. But your video is full of misinformation.

[@thermapan]

Thank you for watching our video, but we disagree with your analysis. Venice’s timber pilings are petrifying because of minerals in the sediment and silt in the surrounding soil, not because of saltwater as you claim: sites.google.com/site/engineeringvenice/. During this slow process, the lack of oxygen underwater protects the wood from rot, as our video explains. There is plenty of proof of wood being well preserved in freshwater too, just check out “Underwater Logging” at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_logging. Logs that sank in rivers during the colonial days are protected from rot and decay because they haven’t been exposed to air. We stand by our claim that our PWF SIPs do not crack like concrete foundations. We’ve sold tens of thousands of panels in the past 40 years and haven’t heard a single complaint of cracking. Homeowners who have experience with both concrete basements and our product notice a huge difference in living comfort thanks to PWF SIPs.