The Manufactured Housing Forums

This website is such a blessing! We are getting close to making a final decision on the purchase of our home, now we are down to picking out the final details.

We are leaning toward a Keystone by Palm Harbor, which is their lower grade line. We're upgrading much of the construction. We had heard the Hardiplank/hardboard siding was the way to go, but you can't get that w/the Keystone's, only the vinyl siding.

The sales rep said the siding is nailed to a layer of OSB that covers the entire home. With proper care are we OK w/vinyl?

We'll also start w/the cheap skirting that comes w/the home and upgrade after we are settled.

If, it makes any difference, we are also putting the home on concrete runners w/ 2x6 exterior walls.

Siding is fine if the home has a full OSB wrap (lower end PH in the SE do not have a full OSB wrap)...but I will mention issues with the skirting..

The "cheap" skirting you mention has a top rail that is nailed onto the bottom row of siding...Once done..taking it off is not going to work unless you replace the siding all around the bottom of the home...If you are doing a mortgage..with low interest rates..it might be more prudent to get block w/stucco with the home..this should add about $2000...

We are in the TX region. So, does that mean the sales rep misinformed us about the OSB wrap??

I am in Oklahoma and PH comes out of Texas. They wrap the homes in OSB if you go with vinyl siding so your salesperson was correct. Just to make sure you should take a plant tour and see exactly how the home is built. If you plan to upgrade the skirting at a later date you might want to consider a perimiter pour so you have a base to place the skirting. Keep in mind that with vinyl the color you choose is the color you will live with. Hardipanel can be painted and is an excellent product. With all the upgrades you are planning have you compared the Keystone set up the way you want with another PH brand like Masterpiece?
Regardless which one you go with and since you are inTexas it would be well worth the time to do a plant tour either in Ft. Worth or Austin.

no, you can get osb wrap with any ph. but when you go with 2x6 exterior walls it is standard.