Or anyone else that may know...

I need the names of some wood basement guys. I have called probably a dozen people this morning and none of them can do, or would do a wood basement. I need to start getting some quotes in, and some more knowledge, from more people, about the wood one VS the ICF one.

 

I used to work with a Journeyman carpenter at PetroCare Colby M, Im still in touch with him and he likes doing side jobs

 

Warren, i did get your PM, thank you, Ryan do you know if your guy does full wood basements? I will take a number and give him a call.

 

any framer should be able to do it, its not rocket science. there needs to be some joist/truss hangers put around window framing , double cripples, top blocks, and sills, solid headers. the exterior isn't bad either. the entire thing must be constructed from below grade PWF(Pressure treated material with the prefforations), 2x6 @16" O.C. minimum, 5/8" PWF plywood sheathing. solid blocking 1/2 way up the wall. it then gets primed with a tar like substance and a product called Blueskin (or equivalent) is applied. its a peel and stick product that is applied to the outside of the sheathing, running 3ft above grade, right to the footings, out and over the footings. (note: a 2x4 or 2x6 must be ripped @ a 45 degree angle and placed against the footing and wall to create a slope and not a seat where water could pool. this is put on before the Blueskin!!!!) then there's steel hurricane ties to put on to tie the rim joist of the house to the basement.

your guy doing the footings must know what sort of basement you're going with as well as there's a different drainage system used for wood foundations.

Prep, i don't know anyone in s'toon who does them in particular, but i can give you my BIL's # and you could talk to him. he does mainly reno's and flooring, but he may know some guys to call. here labour rates are 3.50-5.00/sqft to frame a wood exterior basement. this includes the blueskinning. with my little write-up there you could do it yourself with some help. if thing were going to be slow for me, i'd come do it for you.

 

Wow sherm, most of what you said is above my head and below my knees lol. I would attempt to do it myself, but I am a little hesitant to tackle a project that major. I finally have Sandi looking hard into it as an option, just because of the saving cost, and the fact it isnt inferior to a ICF (nor is it superior). It just seems like it would work well for us, and save us some coin.

Now i have called framers all morning, and not one damn guy was interested in doing a basment. I heard alot of "I havent done one before, and dont think I could tackle it" type stuff from them.

If you were interested in bidding on it, I wouldnt object! I have a friend that moved to Melville that is interested in bidding on it too. I just wanted to get more people to give us an estimate, just so we know what we are looking at for cost.

What kind of drainage system do they use? I thought they used the weeping tile, just dug a little deeper, and with more gravel on top...

 

i'd like bid on it, but i won't. i know the view from here say i won't have time. but if you have any questions, or if i happen to be passing through and you want me to check something out, i'd be happy to help you out!!!

the drainage is pretty simple, abs (i think 3") is inserted into the footings as they're poured. you can still use weeping tile if you want, but i don't think its necessary. better do a bit more research on that one, i'm not a dirt/drainage guy... it is dug deeper, i believe, and the pipes are inserted at an angle so the water runs away from the footings. you mentioned going with a walk out basement...make sure you have the walkout above grade and not a slight slope towards the house when you landscape. it creates nothing but trouble in heavy rains or heavy spring runoffs!!

i'm amazed that the framers don't want to tackle it...they must not be hungary yet...

 

Yeah I was amazed too, like im not kidding at all, no one I called wanted to do it. Lots of guys said they dont know how, but they would love to come and do interior walls, etc. One guy even said no dont go with wood, go with icf cause blah blah blah. (that really surprised me almost like he was screwing himself out of work lol)

I will definately keep you, and everyone else posted, with the progress though, and when(if?) you ever get up to stoon, I would love for ya to check it out and give your opinion.

In the end I do want a good job done, and I will pay more for quality work.

Do you know what is required on the walkout side, when it comes to frost and whatnot? A few guys told us pilings are required (for icf) so and so far down, and the one guy told us they had to do some crap with the footings for the wood basement (i cant recall everything he said offhand though)

 

yeah you'll likely need pilings, probably in excess of 14" diameter, probably 12-16 feet deep on the walkout. not sure what "crap" they'd have to do other than some guys set threaded studs into the footing to secure the walls to when they're stood. i don't think any extra rebar is needed, but again, i'm not an all out concrete guy. i know a bit to get by, but not as a liable source

 

Cool well you definately do have lots of info, and i do appreciate it! Knowledge is power (right behind muscles) and i love reading about this kinda stuff

 

lol...glad i could help. my beef is i like to see homeowners get the most for their money. i like to leave a job feeling that i've done the best possible job that that customer could have gotten for their money. i hate seeing the shoddy workmanship that some people get stuck with after paying dearly for what should have been a class act.

 

Yes i hate cheap workmanship too. I mean I know its possible that the best guy can have a bad day too, but thats when customer service comes in!