removing belly to seal Novodeck

[msmodular]

I have a 2005 Patriot modular. I need to replace the 5/8" Novodeck decking in one room becuase it warped---this is a DRY room. I want to prevent further warping. My home passed inspection with the Texas manufactured housing inspector so it is set up correctly. I am thinking about removing all the belly board/insulation and spraying some kind of sealant--Kilz maybe---underneath my home to prevent further warping. I will not replace the belly board but spray an open or closed cell foam insulaton in its place. I have removed all the carpet and vinyl in anticipation of replacing it with anything else. I considered removing the decking throughout my house and replacing it with 3/4 ply but don't think I have the funds to hire someone to remove and replace my tubs, toilets and cabinets. I have found nothing good written about Novodeck and would rather it be gone. Will the spray sealant prevent delaminating/warping and be as effective replacing it with plywood?

Yes, I bought the repair book by Mark Bower and viewed the section about replacing subflooring. I am able to do replca it, but envision problems in the closet of the bedroom because the closet is small.

[David Oxhandler]

In my opinion there is nothing good to say about Novodeck. Real wood warps Novodeck It is not a product that warps.... what your seeing is the result of the decking getting wet,the decking absorbing the moisture and swelling up You most probably find a leak in a plumbing line under the room in question.

Painting is not a bad idea but to be effective you would have to paint the entire decking system top and bottom... as long as the Novodeck is nailed to the floor joist there is no way to paint those areas directly above the joist, or the floor decking that the walls sit on.

The absolute best fix is replacement with plywood but a full home replacement is almost never economically practical. I would locate the cause of the problem and repair the offending plumbing first before it gets worse... then cut out and replace the damaged floor areas only with plywood.

I have used Kilz, or marine paint or cheep or scrap vinyl floor cover to protect the top side of the floor and they just put the carpet system on top of that .... where its not broker dont spend the money to fix it..For most of us it is more practical to go out of your way to keep it dry... make this a continuing project and take care of the home an area at a time when and if needed...

[msmodular]

Thanks for the input. There isn't a leak under the floor. I found the floor to be damaged before I had my home inspected by the state. A builder's rep was present at the inspection. I showed both the damage. The floor didn't flex outside whatever the tolerance is. As I mentioned on a 2nd posting I suspect the floor was damaged sometime before the carpet was installed---maybe even before I purchased this house new, but when the state inspected it the belly board was intact. I had a private inspector check it out before I purchased and there was a leak under a tub on the opposite side of my double-wide modular and it was repaired. That bathroom does not have any visible damage from the top-side.

Does the decking warp from underneath more than from the top? So, could my walls eventually give way if the Novodeck under them is ever damaged due to water? Interior and exterior? My parents live in a 1955 site-built post and beam house and have never had flooring issues with their house. Why bother putting in hardwoods, laminate or tile if the subfloor will give way in months to years to be repaired piece by piece? I am having bad visions of the used, old, ramshackled trailer I lived in on a farm in another part of Texas.

How does one go about replacing the subflooring at the marriage line? I purchased the book on repairs and that isn't covered.

[David Oxhandler]

Novadeck can NOT warp because it is not wood.... it is a wood product... sawdust that is pressed under pressure with some type of space age glue. I have worked on hundreds of floor problems and have often seen what looks like warping but what your seeing swelling and there must moisture getting to the floor board(s). Leaks can start at any time. Because it was not leaking when inspected has no relevance. Get someone under there, open the belly board and take a look

Read past postings about this problem HERE

[msmodular]

Sorry for repeating the word "warp," but that is how it appears. The floor is higher at the joists than it is between them.

I will have someone take a look underneath. The only water source under that room is the AC vent and it is draining just fine, though it may be putting off loads of condensation.

[trmimo]

The A/C is likely you problem. The drain MUST terminate outside of your crawlspace. If it drains under the home, you are simply moving the moisture for inside the home to the crawlspace. This moisture will not only ruin the Novadeck, it will warp your floor joists and cause countless other problems. Also, make sure you dryer vent terminates outside, not in the crawlspace. It will cause similar problems. Condensation is worse for your home than liquid water because it is absorbed much faster.

[Portlandia]

BINGO! That AC is most likely the issue. You don't want ANY moisture under the home.

[toms_lady_40]

I don't know if this will help, but I do "Weatherization" here in GA and have found that if you put @ least a 6 mil plastic (vapior barrier) under home it will keep moisture from coming up through your floors! We do all homes here in GA due to the (humidity), and I'm sure you have the humidity we have there and it has solved a lot of the problems!! Be careful taking out the entire belly (you could end up with a lot more mess than expected)!!

I hope this helps!

[msmodular]

I do have poly on the soil beneath my house. My house is skirted in stucco with adequate venting (passed the state inspection).