There are many examples all around us where wood is used for structural purposes, often lasting hundreds of years. Wood piles have been used for over a century to support skyscrapers and bridges, marine pilings for piers and docks, and bridge timbers. In Venice, Italy wood pilings have been used for hundreds of years to support the historic structures over its famous canals.
 The first question you will ask yourself is, “Will wood rot when submerged under water or buried in the ground?”
The answer is simple: no. Wood decomposes or rots when four factors are present: oxygen, moisture, warm temperature and food source (i.e. wood fibers). When you eliminate one or more of these factors, wood is no longer subject to decay. In Venice, Italy, the wood pilings are not exposed to oxygen when submerged under water.
Similarly, wood piles used to support skyscrapers and bridges, marine pilings for piers and docks, and bridge timbers all do not rot because they are buried in soil, again eliminating the oxygen.
Pages
Part 1 - The Structural Uses of Wood
Part 2 - The Better Way to Build... Basements!
Part 3 - The Many Benefits of PWF SIP Foundations
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