no vapor barrier

[Lisa]

Hello, We purchased our Palm Harbor home a 2 years ago this month, and still dont have a vapor barrier under the house. I have been calling the sales office off and on-giving them time to get someone out here to do it, with no luck. How important is it to be under there? I finally called the factory rep for my area and he is supposedly having the plastic shipped to us so we can intall it ourselves. How would I go about this?(we havent received it yet-either) Is it just a matter of laying it down or does it need to be secured by some means? Also, does anyone know if Palm Harbor buys back their homes if the customer is unsatisfied? Our original sales office has closed, I can only guess, from poor customer satisfaction, and we've been referred to another. I'm not having any better luck getting answers from them. So, all in all the whole experience with the Palm Harbor people has been very disappointing and frustrating.
Any help you guys can offer is appreciated.
Lisa

[Scott]

The most important thing you need to know about this problem is that if you have Smartpanel siding on the exterior of your home you may have huge problem. If there is not a vapor barrier installed beneath a home with Smartpanel siding, the warranty is on siding becomes voided. Good luck.

[Roy Bonney]

The ground vapor barrier is installed, by rolling out the six mil black plastic and covering the ground under the home. This prevents moisture infiltration from the ground. This installation is covered in detail in the installation manual you received with the home.

[Mike]

The original Dealer that went out of business in your area, may have set up shop
some where else in your state. Check with your state Manufacturing Housing
Association - they may be able to help you locate your dealer.

[rmurray]

Did you buy this home from a PH owned sales lot or an independent dealer selling Palm Harbor???..if so what state is it in...

[Lisa]

This was bought from a Palm Harbor owned lot, in Kentucky. We have already been referred to another sales office, but they keep referring us to the factory, who then refers us back to the sales office. At this point I'm pretty discusted with the whole process. I would like to get the barrier under our house, to prevent any damage from happening, if none has happened already. But, we do not have the available money to buy enough of the plastic to cover the ground, and cant seem to get anyone to come put it under our house-like was supposed to be done when we bought it. Any suggestions? Anyone have a phone number for a customer service area of Palm Harbor? On a different subject--does anyone know if Palm Harbor buys back their homes?
Thanks for the response

[rmurray]

No manufacturer "buys back" homes....If the vapor barrier is your only problem...this might be important in the future...but is very minor problem..They can be installoed for less than $300 parts and labor included..

[Lisa]

I wish the vapor barrier was the only problem we've had since we closed on our house. But there problems we're had are far to many to bother to list here. Thank you for your responses, I guess I just keep contacting Palm Harbor to get the problem relieved. As for the costs, at this point, my husband and I are lucky to have enough money to get all the bills paid and get food/gas..There is no way we could come up with $300 to get something done, that should have been done when the home was set up. Either way, I appreciate all the help that was provided and I will continue to read these boards as they are a tremendous help to people like me.

[Mark]

A vapor barrier may or may not be needed. If you have adequate ventilation then a vapor barrier may not be required, which may be why it was never installed.

[rmurray]

Homeownership comes with a responsibility to maintain over time...It is true that in the early years maintenance should be very low...but as time goes on it will increase...Just like with stick built homes...

Homeowners should budget every month for future maintenence...something like a Christmas club works...a few dollars every payday for the future of your investment is wise..When banks look at loans they figure about $60/mo on new homes...higher on older homes...Remember there will be much larger expenses in the future..such as new carpet....shingle replacement...a homeowners list goes on and on...Good Luck