Another flooring issue

[Pat]

We are 2nd owners of a relatively new (6 yr) mfd home on land. Have done a lot of upgrades, new carpeting, paint and appliances. The home has the 'dreaded' Cresdek particle board floors which are worrysome in and of themselves. We have no kids so really don't worry about water issues too much. Home Depot tell me today after I get measured for new kitchen and foyer vinyl that their policy for manufactured homes is to do an underlayment prior to gluing down new sheet vinyl flooring. Unless the subfloor is plywood the vinyl manufacturers (ie: Armstrong/Tarket) will not warrantee their product for me. An underlayment for us would be some thin plywood sheeting and jack up my tab to Home Depot by about $800. The install rep is having it re-verified with their Installation manager. I offered today to sign a waiver/release of waranty for the product. This entire home is covered in a single layer of sheet vinyl which is in excellent condition; just ugly and bland.

The longer I live in a mfd home, the less I like the lack of quality substance which these home dealers continue to sell in glowing terms. Are plywood subfloors going to make mfd homes so costly as to not be marketable? I could not get either Sears or Home Depot to even entertain adding a pantry cabinet in this home. Too many structural complaints in the past caused them to stop.

I've read on this forum that the big mfd companies seldom or not at all will even upgrade to plywood flooring at a customer's request. What IS their problem or issue with doing so??

[Nancy D]

Don't know what dealer your MH is, but I am having a new one built by Homes of Merit and the floors are plywood, not particle board. Florida codes do not allow the old particle board to be used. There is a price increase but not that much.

[rmurray]

Maybe you should try number 2 home improvement company, Lowe's....Maybe they will try harder like another famous #2 does...


I have never heard of a floor covering company restricting the use of vinyl floor covering...

Few manufactured home companies are standard with plywood floors...Most builders do offer the first buyer upgrades on the sub-floor...Often from press-board to OSB...Remember almost all manufactured homes are standard with vinyl floor covering.... With proper care it should last decades looking at least as good as new..As yours does now....

Consumers dictate what is offered in all kinds of homes..If educated consumers all demanded plywood floors and refused to buy the others..All there would be is plywood floors....But if the consumer demands the cheapest home on the market...most will offer it to him...He she will get what ever they demand....


All the more reason buyers should be investing a few dollars in publications that will bring them up to speed on this complicated topic of buying a home...

Good Luck with your investment..

[rmurray]

Nancy...you better be very careful of your dealer..if they are the ones who told you the cock and bull story about the special Florida law about the floors...Manufactured homes are built to the HUD code which is a preemptive federal building code...No state can impose any additional requirements...Press-board is still common in Florida manufactured Home Floors....HOM does offer plywood...

[Pat]

Thanks for everyone's response. Though I had requested to sign a waiver with Home Depot, this too was denied, earlier this week. I am going to a local floor covering store in my town to see what their song and dance will be. Lowe's is not convenient to me.

I stopped at the Home Center where this home was bought by the previous owner to tell them of my difficulties in having new vinyl layed. The sales people continue to sing the praises of Cresdek and how it comes in such large sheet which offers homeowners less seams, yada yada.

Water IS an issue and most mfd builders will NOT offer plywood as a substitute and I agree with post concerning that cock n bull. The builders of these homes to do not want to change their process simply because someone has the extra money to upgrade to plywood. Caveat Emptor still applies.

Pat