Karsten subflooring

[jack]

We are considering buying a Karsten Home built in their new Texas plant. While we were generally very impressed with the overall quality of the houese we looked at, we are concerned with the fact they use DuraDeck for the subflooring rather than plywood. Does anyone have any knowledge of this product and how it will hold up?

[mac]

I'd be curious too... I have Cresdek in my Oregon Karsten home. I understand it's wax-impregnated - I figured it would be OK, as we don't have children at home, so moisture isn't likely to be an issue.

[jgn]

I have been looking at a Karstan and the flooring is one of my concerns as well. Novadeck, Cresdek particle board are basically the same product. If it gets wet it will expend and you have to replace the floor. When I mentioned my concern to the dealer he agreed and said Karstan will upgrade to plywood as an option, can't see why a high end home would cut corners like this but everything else about the home is great.

[Barbara Huber]

How do you actually find out if the Cresdeck is waterproof? The information I got from a dealer yesterday on one built in Or. says it is waterproof.

[rmurray]

Cresdeck is a brand name for a press board product...No press board product used in flooring is waterproof in itself...

All manufactured homes...no matter what floor material is used have to have water proofing added in the "wet" areas of the home...utility, baths and kitchen..This is usually achieved by using some sort of water seal product..

This water "proofing" has not helped tens of thousands of home with floor problems..Those of us in the industry for many years have all seen bad press board floors..

Cresdeck is made by this company..You might want to call them about the water proof claim..(the web site did not load for me this morning)

Hambro Forest Products, Inc.
445 Elk Valley Road
Crescent City , CA 95531
USA
Phone: 707-464-6131
www.cresdeck.com

This is the companies main web site..Which did load
http://www.ihfpcorp.com/

They are a private small wood product company in CA..With about 22 Million/yr in business..

No where does the company claim "waterproof"...The warranty is long (of course they have to be there to honor it)...and simple..but the exclusions are these..They would not mention venting..if moisture was not a potential problem..

"This warranty excludes any and all floor, floor component, or floor system failure/s which are the resuit of improper and/or inadequate installation of CRESDEK floor decking, construction of the floor system or assembly, maintenance or venting of the floor or floor cavity, siting or set-up of the home, or any other floor, floor component, or floor system related failure/s that were not caused by nor related to CRESDEK floor decking."


This link will take you to a Fleetwood dealers web site that makes an attempt to justify Cresdeck...BUT..in no way claims the stuff is water proof..

http://www.fleetwoodhomesinmesa.com/Fle ... liers.html

My basic conclusion is that the salesperson has over embellished his product...or maybe just lied...I would be very careful with anything else this person has said..He is obviously telling you things you want to hear..

[mac]

Thanks Mr. Murray! I figured without kids at home, we wouldn't have an issue - and probably won't - I like my Karsten home but if I had kids I would insist on plywood.

[Barbara]

That pretty well answers what I wanted to know about the subflooring. Thanks. I do really like the homes.

[Charlotte]

I had chosen Karsten as my 1st choice UNTIL I was told by the factory, Chad in fact, that they wouled not even consider a plywood option. Maybe they have changed since September of last year??????????

I opted to go witn another manufacturer and am much happier.

[James]

Which brand did you buy?

[James]

Which one did you buy