questions on home construction

[kent]

Looking at a brigadier(cavalier is parent company) doublewide----has 2x4 exterior and weight bearing studding and 2x3 at other walls places. Floor is osb. Want to use it as a vacation home. Is it worth considering, or should I look for something with stronger components? I will be a lake cottage used mainly on summer weekends. Seems this is a mid-grade in quality-----is that correct? Thanks anyone for any info on this subject.

[Randy Eaton]

Hello Kent,

It's poor quality and will have very little resale value. It really depends on what you want 10 to 15 years down the road. A home that needs constent up-keep or a quality home with appreciation. I would encourage you to step up a little and focus on a better quality home. That's just my opinion.

Answering your other queston about sub-floors OSB is a poor choice.

Randy Eaton

[kent]

What brand suggestions do you have? I want this for investment-----not as a future headache. Thanks for your help.

[r murray]

I have followed Mr. Eatons advise here for a while...most of the time I think he is right on the target....BUT...In the case of Cavalier Products...we see things much different...
Cavalier builds Brigadier, Bellcrest, Homestead,Cavalier, Belmont and Buccaneer....All the homes are basically the same with only floor plan differences...I am with a dealer in the SE that handle Cavalier product...along side of Homes of Merit, Jacobson, Clayton, Southern Energy and Horton..

The basic construction is not as strong as some of the above...But...The cabinets, counters, plumbing fixtures, windows, interior doors, light fixtures, exterior doors, carpet and pad are as good or better than any of the others above...

The homes have 2x4 exterior walls on 16 inch centers and 2x3 marrage walls on 16 inch centers...The partition walls, floor and cieling are on 24 inch centers...as many stick built homes in the SE are...Some of those above have more basic construction but...if they had the same finish items as the Brigadier..they would cost tens of thousands more...Brigadier is one of the most value packed homes in the market today..

Floors in the SE are generally available in Georgia Pacifics Novo decking (pressboard with 10 year warranty that excludes all warranty when wet...water is what runs the pressboard)..or..OSB (Weyenhouser Brand from Brigadier.with a 25 year warranty and no water exclusion except flood) or plywood (only carries the warranty offered by the home manufacturer)...Brigadier is standard with Novo decking with OSB as a $ 700 option and plywood as a $ 1000 option...All of the other brands above are standard with the pressboard or osb as standard and offer plywood as an option..Our dealership does not sell any homes with the pressboard..

Resale value depends totally on condition and location..Good Luck