Community Forums

saltfever1 · 03-10-2011, 05:31 PM

As a newbie, I hope this is posted in correct forum. And that this subject hasn't been covered ad nauseum before. If so please direct me. Or mebbe this is like Ford vs Chevy?

Just wonderin' from you RV veterans, what should I look for?
Heres a wood industry link giving pro's & cons:
OSB vs. Plywood - Int'l Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
Thanks in advance

Shadowcatche · 03-10-2011, 05:57 PM

Marine grade plywood and coat it with CPES. Expensive but MUCH more water resistant.

saltfever1 · 03-10-2011, 08:15 PM

Shadow:

Thanks for the reply.
But wonderin' what to look for at a TT dealership regarding New factory built rigs, and which wood floor construction is best?

Half Dimes · 03-10-2011, 08:25 PM

I don't think you'll find a definitive answer. RV manufacturers are using both. Here's a place to do more reading if you haven't already.

Shadowcatche · 03-11-2011, 04:41 AM

This is a subject that I researched before we bought ours, and we did not get the best choice. Best is to get a TT using composite flooring and Forest River is the only one that I know of using a material originally made for aircraft by Kaiser, Compositec.
Second choice is marine plywood.
Third choice is that the plywood or OSB is wrapped in a membrane which will need to be monitored for penetrations.
Fourth choice is OSB which because of its manufacturing (more resins used to hold it together) is somewhat more water resistant.
Fifth choice exterior grade plywood.
Both OSB and Plywood need to be coated with some form of water proofing/undercoating and need to be monitored.
Good luck in your search, all too few think about the underside of their trailer. I will be helping a friend who has a Chalet with spongy floor. The year after theirs was made Chalet switched to a composite so they knew they had problems.

rough road · 03-11-2011, 04:57 AM

osb- flat, stable but outgasses voc's alot more than any other product.
plywood-unless you are getting the thick stuff it isn't very flat unless you get the Baltic/Russian product which has to be seen to be believed just another heads up that I got from betsy-tom (betsy-tom)'s Photos | SmugMug
After reading about his I got some and can tell you that it is perfectly flat regardless of thickness, the number of plys are astounding when compared to the domestic plywood, but it is a very soft wood; which is why they are covering the replacement table with plexi and it is VERY dusty when being cut; you will find that the edges take to being routered as nicely as solid material IF you know how to use the machine.