You do not want to touch the joists below. As you can see in the above photos, there are floor joists beneath the floor. We have laminate flooring in the dining room on one side of the kitchen and in alcove on the other side that leads to the back door is our laundry room with nice vinyl tiles. Do you know if a mobile home construction plans be obtained for homeowners? You do want to make sure all the damaged/suspect PB is replaced. Amazing how much knowledge you have with mobilehomes! Thanks. I would really appreciate your help in this matter. Oh my goodness! A place where magic is studied and practiced? Then, you need to add a vapor barrier on top of the ground, install insulation between your joists, and then install an underbelly wrap. Doctor verified this had the same problem! Based on what youve described, I can assure you that you are looking at a LOT of work and a lot of expensive materials. Mold is a common health hazard and causes all types of respiratory issues. (Just spent several weeks being treated for sinus infection from off-gassing of new memory foam bed. Do you know of a government agency to report it to? Short story taking place on a toroidal planet or moon involving flying. You should get the warped MDF subfloor replaced as soon as possible but before you do that you need to find out what warped it and make sure that is repaired first. With the floor covering removed you will be able to trace the leak better. Even the least amount of dampness causes bowing, warping, rot, and soft spots. Most folks think that water damage inside of a home comes either from leaking plumbing or a leaky roof. Even the least amount of dampness causes bowing, warping, rot, and soft spots. that share the same interest. My husband has ideas how to fix it but doesnt know if we have to replace the whole floor and how far the joiset are. You will need to cut the strips or slats. If you actually have MDF (or some other high-performance pressed-particle product), which has more structural integrity, I'd consider a 1/2" or 5/8" BC, with the joints staggered from those of the MDF. Was there a delay for any reason? The sheets are installed over the joists with construction adhesive and screws or nails. we have one spot, in mbile home, that is slightly , uneven, , but solid, , like bowed a little, , osb board, , has warped , a little there, is this a concern?, , while fixing floor sqeaks, by screwing the floor to joists, will it also help to level the subfloor a little, , , is there a way to level the subfloor there a little better, than god, pulling it up, thats a major job, in , main bedroom, , , , , as stated, the floor is solid, but has , slight , hump, concern, ?, , , , pull carpet up , there, and , , compound, to relevel?, , its not the joists, , , even pulling carpet , up from a mobile home room , would be daughnting?unevenness, , not bowed, but slightly uneven, , can we use slightlylonger screws there to joists, will that help a little?, , or no?, slight unevenness, but , solid, , it did cause a few sqeaks, whih we will fix, , sqeaks, , any hope to , relevel, , ?, concern?, , solid, no bounce there at all, just , slightly uneven? This is a perfect time to replace the trim around the top of the room to something a bit more substantial that will help you with an easier ceiling install and make the room look a little more grounded. It is one of the greatest and least expensive ways to extend the life of your roof; keeping your home dry and cooler. Additionally, the particle board is flat in shape, whereas plywood can be moulded into different shapes. Crystal Adkins By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Our years of experience, buying, selling, renovating, managing rentals, and brokering transactions has given us a wealth of knowledge we want to share with you. To put in new flooring in my kitchen. Youll need to remove the floor covering, then the subflooring (without damaging or cutting anything else). My terminology is likely incorrect but I think it's 1/4" particle board underlayment on top of those shims. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? Sealing out moisture, whether from the roof, windows, doors, floor, skirting or ground is necessary to prevent buildup of dampness and mold. The only solution is to find and fix the water leak and then replace the damaged floor. A pneumatic stapler and galvanized staples. Soft spots frequently occur in bathrooms, under flower pots, below windows, and behind washing machines. If you want to install a second layer of the subfloor, you should install it like an underlayment. Resting on top of the joists comes the subfloor, the flat surface on which you install all other layers. and Ill be educated when looking for a repair man for help. My email is crystaladkins@mobilehomeliving.org. It is stuff like this that is so frustrating when it comes to home buying (and it happens in site-built homes too). I need something that can withstand my moving furniture around to clean without scratching the flooring. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. As it turns out, we discovered water damage and so the entire floor needed replacing. I want to take the whole particleboard off and replace it with plywood as it's rotting. Thanks again for your help This was very helpful. The subfloor is responsible for holding up all of the things in your home, from people to furniture to the different layers of the floor. Roofing Its a great idea as long as it doesnt interfere with tubs, toilets, and doors (there are ways around that, of course, but it can be a hassle). Your subfloor provides an excellent, level foundation for the flooring of your home. You can add it under the home and just run it through the floor at each faucet/water source. Again, thank you for a wonderful blogsite. Im in Kentucky. However, you need to make sure the plywood seams are over the subfloor so that it provides adequate stability. Hi, Crystal. Tile is a more permanent choice and can be a real burden if you have to remove it for any reason. When water gets trappedin spaces such as attics, walls, crawl spaces, carpets, wood subfloors, etc. I know you feel cheated and alone and the sad thing about it all is that you probably have little power to get anything done. Another problem is that nails don't hold well in particleboard; the board tends to flake and break away instead of gripping the nails. Stigma The first step to replacing rotted flooring in a mobile home is to remove the trim and floor covering. I have a manufactured home purchased through a HUD sale three yrs ago. The rest of the home had several soft spots throughout. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? The joists arent the flat floor layers youre accustomed to seeing inside your home. Simply installing plywood over the top of a subfloor is a simple process. I cannot do the work. Before we continue, you may want to check out our step-by-step guide to replace flooring in a mobile home here. Since this final layer is all about aesthetic appeal, it doesnt usually add structural support. Areas with minor pet damage can be sealed with Kilz primer to eliminate odors. Conclusion Particle board is an inexpensive, smooth product that can be used for underlayment under carpeting and vinyl flooring. Lighting Also, we will provide you with the necessary steps to add the plywood to your subfloor. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Once any needed supports for the floor joists are in place, it is time to replace the actual subfloor. Before embarking on your DIY flooring journey, its essential to understand the different components of flooring. You can learn more about mobile home plumbing repair here. Plywood is stronger and more durable than particle board, as it is made with cross-grain texture and stronger adhesives. The subfloor underneath it is particle board rather than plywood/OSB. Thats a lot! Step 1 - Screw existing subfloor material to new supports. Youll want cracks and holes sealed with duct tape and that insulation be used under and around the ducts. In that case, it's a good idea to lay plywood over the particleboard before laying carpet. Then, you will lay new subflooring down and replace the floor covering. Adding an extra layer of plywood over the subfloor is simply a good idea. Living and Dining Rooms The underlayment under the floors are a great help with squeaks and such but I dont think it has a very good R-value? There are some programs but they are hard to get into. Its been up for 5.5 years. This is the ideal method in the subflooring is rotted or weakened in any way. Im looking into purchasing a 1984 Schult built double wide. are all great floor covering for a kitchen. You only have to replace the subfloor if it is damaged. You won't save a ton over the OSB (it may actually cost more), but it'll result in less of a height difference and has a nicer finished surface. DIY Projects Lets discuss the best ways to fix these before you install any new flooring above the subfloor. However, if you are gutting the entire kitchen (cabinets and appliances) you could do it but it would be an untertaking. Of course, every situation is different but make sure you calculate the project both ways to see which would be more affordable. The reason being that it'll be better to have the board resting on the skiny(er) risers than a continuous flat surface. I was so tempted to leave it too but basically committed now. Should anyone want to install new insulation, any local home improvement store will have the type and size you need. However, the outline of the joists were visible within a week and after about a month the flooring cracked over a small soft spot. Thanks for the help. During the process, the fiberboard sub-flooring revealed a serious warning that makes me hesitate about any further work. We absolutely encourage DIY. Im so sorry that happened. Additionally, you will save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on paying a carpenter high labor fees by doing this project yourself. Installation and Setup Just looking up all day is a pain and then dealing with the seams (building out a frame is sometimes needed) is another big pain. The only cost you will have is the cost of the materials as well as any tools you need that you dont have. If your joists are spaced between 16 and 19.2 inches apart, you should utilize inch plywood and OSB. 3/4 in. Thanks, sounds like a good idea to me. I love the layout and really want to try and save it. Now I know that I was reacting to the off-gassing of the new floor coverings, paint, formaldehyde, paneling and the entire building that was still fairly new. I also was going to have laminate hardwood installed today in my mobile home living room and was told the subfloor is too weak. Hope that helps! We have the cheapest laminate flooring Lowes sold in our kitchen and Ive been impressed with it for over 3 years. However, a few years ago I had water-damaged areas replaced in bathroom and under two windows in living room and bedroom. Now where the hot water tank sat and to the front of the closet it sat in next to my dryer is all wet. If your in a bathroom or kitchen area hardybacker or cement board is the better choice. Plywood sheets are an engineered wood product made by binding thin layers of wood veneer together with resin under high pressure and heat and then rotating each layer 90 degrees in a technique known as cross-graining. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! Weve replaced sections with new plywood due to cost controls. All rights reserved. Step 1 Screw existing subfloor material to new supports. Sometimes a lot, sometimes very little, but when it does rain, you want your mobile home roof to be watertight. This is, of course, assuming there is a joist under the warp to screw into. You will likely have the best luck finding someone by calling your local mobile home supply store. I just want to add, without any scientific information, I believe the glue used on top of the floor joists formed a chemical reaction with the glue in the particle board just making this one difficult bond to break, chisel and sand. No its not. Therefore, there are many styles available to cater to a variety of design preferences. In the image below, the homeowners just cut the perimeter and left the original subflooring under the wall. Or does heat get under the flooring from the heat duct? We need new cupboards, appliances etc so would be a complete renovation. This would be a good time to replace the shower alltogether! Is hiring a general contractor good or is there some that specialize in MH repair? If you space the joists farther apart than that, you will want. Also, summers tend to be hot, humid and can generally heat up the roof to be hot enough to cook pancakes. What questions do I ask to make sure they are they best for the job? Please give me the Best Advice. It would help if you avoided plywood underlayment on tile and stone. Mobile Home Friend, LLC was started in 2015 by Chuck O'Dell and Scott O'Dell, a father/son real estate team. Remember, wiring and piping should be above the insulation so that the heat from the home can get to it. (PS If you do it could you please take photos so I could write an article about it? EVERY piece was glued and stapled to EVERY stud and joice. When installing tile flooring, you need mortar and grout, which will likely soak into the plywood. I was sick again after the water damage was repaired and a new carpet installed in the living room. If you plan any open wall work such as replacement of a wall with sheetrock you can loose to much of the plate to nail to. I havent had any water stains, leak issues, scratches, or discoloration and we only paid .79 square foot! Remember the old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? Particle board is made of dust and small chips of wood that are glued and pressed together. In this article, you will learn the step-by-step process of replacing the subfloor in a mobile home. Secure all of the original existing subfloor to the new supports with glue and screws. It doesnt have any water damage but I dont feel comfortable with these dips. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparents former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way. If youre looking to install new floors, installing a plywood underlayment can be an easy and fun DIY project! The toilet was leaking for some time and I didnt notice until I saw that the floor looked kind of warped. Plywood? However, using the proper underlayment provides a smoother surface for top layer installation. The first three provide structural support for your house, and the floor covering is purely for aesthetic appeal. Treat it with sealer stain and polyurethane coats to increase it's water resistance specifications further as they . How can it be fixed without getting into the under belly? Therefore, I'd use 3/4" (23/32) tongue-and-groove OSB, which is standard as a basic single-layer subfloor in new homes. The image above shows the complex plumbing you may encounter in a mobile home bathroom. Thanks for the info Crystal, very helpful. You will want to go to the local mobile home supply store and buy a new one. The H will be built before installing into the floor. Jhinust stumbled upon you today and had to write in another section asking about screening a patio. Yet, I do not want to get sick from the things that need to be done (like new kitchen cabinets and flooring, and new bedroom flooring). We just purchased a 1999 2448 double wide home and we plan to remodel the whole thing one room at a time. There are four parts to your floor: J. The home inspector advised her of the following: Sub-floor membrane a.k.a. This is aquick and dirty list of the basic steps needed to replace flooring in a mobile home. I bought this place from an elderly couple when it was only about a year old, but they were not honest about anything pertaining to the structure, and violated the contract by removing window treatments and substituting appliances with Goodwill purchases. Then replace the particle board with plywood of the same thickness and make sure you glue it to the risers in addition to using a fastener. Prior to installing any finished flooring, it is important to remember: Re-secure any loose wood subfloor planks, OSB, or plywood subfloors to the floor joists using 2-1/2" deck screws. We did a complete redo of the master bath. It sounds like the shower pan needs replaced and thats typically a plumbers area of expertise. Ive been renovating it ever since. Now that youve cutthe sub-flooring around the edges, you will need to cut them down so you can remove them easier. Im tired of being cold!! To take care of this problem, we have found that Henry 555 Level Pro works perfectly for our purposes: The Henry Level Pro 40 lb. Black mold could be a problem and the electrical system may need to be updated to a modern breaker box and modern wires and the plumbing will likely need to be upgraded if the original pipes used were recalled (some of the grey water pipes). Mobile Home Parks Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Anything you can recommend will be appreciated! The process is pretty similar. Always install the smooth side facing upward. What is a word for the arcane equivalent of a monastery? I own a 2003 double wide embedded inground on concrete , We removed all carpets , since carpets collect dirt and dust, no matter how much you clean and vacuum them , Put down wood laminated flooring from Costco . there are different grades and thicknesses. If I were you I'd keep those risers there. This is because the materials will expand and contract depending on factors like temperature and humidity. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Water and humidity in any home, site-built, modular, or manufactured can cause problems for any homeowner. I do recommend you homeowners put in marine grade plywood in bathrooms, kitchens and at doors. After you set your saw you will carefully cut only the subfloor. DIY Projects The different subfloors depend on the age of the house and the location. Your video and written articles have really helped me what to look for. Ive lived in my 79 mobile home (double wide) for 27 years. Cant you just overlay new plywood over Subfloor if not water damaged? Yes, Maam. Heres a link I found that states this information: http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/faq-mdf.htm, Heres some information about creating a toxic-free home.