The Manufactured Housing Forums

Hello T. Goodmin,

Thermo-ply is a fiberboard that has no structural integrity. It does have some R-Factors but it's a cheap substitute for plywood or OSB. If you’re going to use lap siding you will need to use plywood or OSB. When a home goes down the road it experiences a lot of stress. The plywood or OSB provides the necessary structural support to handle the stress. All homes have a Tyvek wrap or something similar. I stress in my book to up-grade to plywood or OSB is your budget allows. Hope this helps.

Randy Eaton

T. Goodwin writes, "I'm curious about the use of the thermo-ply sheating that
Palm Harbor is now using. Is it better than OSB with a
Tyvek wrap? I'm pricing a PH with Lap siding but would
like to hear the pro's and con's on the subject."

Randy.

Thanks for the quick response. I agree with everything you say. At
this point Palm Harbors only argument is my R value will increase
to 22, it has a manufactures warranty , and it will be glued to
the studs

It's going to be a deal killer unless OSB is used, there's no plywood
option from the Tempe, AZ plant. The house is totally upgraded, i'm
not about to wrap it in thermo ply, but it appears it's a way for
PH to keep those high margins.

Tyvek is an option from Cavco, this is the Durango plant in
Phoenix, AZ. I'll probaly end up with one of those, i'll get
5/8 OSB floors(instead of 3/4 plywood PH offers) floating
gang boxes, and 3 hinge 6 panel doors (PH doesn't offer
those).


Onward and hopefully upward, it's time for negotation,
2 months and 13 dealers later.

Hello T. Goodman,

Palm Harbor in the Northwest does use OSB sheathing and in other parts of the country. Cavco would be a good choice.

Randy Eaton