[A/S] Re: Rotten floors and the OSB years

I have a '85 That has OSB or possibly wafer board.  I am having to repair a few places this summer.  I consider the problem my fault.  The trailer went through a direct hit from Ike and I was in the process of getting married so moved the trailer to storage and didn't check on it.  It has missing caulk above some windows and doors. I also live in a relative wet climate in Houston Texas area.
Through out the years I have had numerous leaks in the bathroom from a lot water heater leak and flush valve leaks.  The floor in this area is still sound. 

The point I want to make is that OSB and Plywood meet the same specs. Marine plywood is the only one that is different in that it has no possibility of void areas and neither does OSB. They have been tested for both swell and resistance to water for up to one week submersion in water. This is not a product problem its a maintenance problem. Most new houses have the OSB for roof decking, and also sub floor in upstairs and main floors where it is not a slab foundation. It is also used in exterior wall sheathing.
In a few years we will be hearing the same complaints from Airstream owners dealing with plywood because as I said before it is a maintenance issue as Dennis has already had some issues with plywood rot on a '99. My OSB floor or Wafer board floor lasted a good eleven years longer than his plywood before having an issue.  Again the issue is keeping the trailer watertight. My rot was only a few inches wide but I took out 16" so I could cross the main frame with my new material.

Airstream suggests to repair only the rotten floor and putting a splice board under the joint between the original and new floor board.  On a 2005 trailer I would think that there would still be minimal  damage that can be repaired without taking the complete interior out.  If the insulation got so wet that it fell into the belly pan then you will probably have frame outriggers that will need to be replaced in the area of the leaks.

Wes

Wes

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