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Old 06-09-2004, 09:20 AM   #1
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Question OSB as Flooring

There has been alort of talk about OSB as flooring etc. For those that would like to know more : go to www.osbguide.com. Everything you ever wanted to know and more.
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Old 06-22-2004, 08:19 PM   #2
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Question Would you use OSB?

The information at the site that you pointed to does seem pretty informative about the merits of OSB up to a point. I don't recall seeing that it was thourougly compared with various other flooring options - in particular with plywood. I have been giving some thought to using OSB for re-flooring my 1973 31' Sovereign. I found that Lowes carries an 11/16" thick tounge and groove sub-floor panel that looks pretty good. I like the tounge and grove if I can get that to be down the center of the trailer. It is about $29 per sheet which also seems like a pretty good price.

The big questions in my mind for anyone reading this post are:

Would you (or did you) use OSB instead of plywood?
Why or why not?
Would you treat it with any thing additional (expoxy, thompsons, etc.)

Thanks for thinking about it,

Malcolm
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Old 06-22-2004, 08:55 PM   #3
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I think I would run the seams across the trailer rather than the length. That way each sheet is attached to both main frame members.
I will be coating my floor with clear penetrating epoxy sealer (CPES), but I do tend to over build. This will get a coat of epoxy and then epoxy paint. I hate mold and mildew. In fact we may put in an expoxy floor just like a water yacht.
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Old 06-22-2004, 09:13 PM   #4
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Has anyone ever checked into where Airstream got their single sheets of OSB for the trailer floors? Seems the optimal way to replace an entire floor would be to purchase a single sheet of OSB that extends front to back, side to side, lay it over the frame and then cut it to fit. Joe
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Old 06-22-2004, 09:32 PM   #5
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Speaking for myself, I think A/S went to OSB as a cost cutting measure, I have used both plywood and OSB in different applications, and I have done a lot of home inspections, and OSB just dosen't stand up like plywood, Joe (Barkingspider) even used plywood to do a very nice patch job. It doesn't stand up to water penetration and the tortioning qualities are not as high as plywood, even the cheaper CDX five ply is better in my opinion, of course that's all it is, an opinion.
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Old 06-22-2004, 09:39 PM   #6
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While I am sure OSB is less expensive than plywood, I am not at all sure that is the whole story. I am also not sure plywood has superior properties re water penetration. Plywood hides its failure better, but it still delaminates. And when it does, it buckles. Resistence to warping and buckling may well be the property that caused them to choose OSB.

But I don't know either.

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Old 06-22-2004, 09:46 PM   #7
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Good point, But if you have a preference delamination is preferable to disintagration, by the way what is a "rare corner double"
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Old 06-22-2004, 10:30 PM   #8
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The web site's own information says, "OSB subfloors... are intended to have an additional layer of flooring material." My experience with OSB is that the material can be penetrated by blunt force. I've seen workers knock holes in 1/2" OSB on purpose with a hammer. That can't easily be done with plywood. I'm sticking with exterior grade plywood for its resistance to water delamination.
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Old 06-23-2004, 04:13 AM   #9
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Why wood, even?

Have you guys ever considered using prefabricated panels of aluminum, fiberglass or carbon/kevlar over a core of nomex honeycomb material? They come in 8, 10, and 12 foot lengths and 4ft wide. They're light, tough as nails, don't rot, don't burn and are able to take a bolt or a rivet just fine. They're used in airplane, boat and train manufacturing and look like they might be a good compromise, especially the fiberglass panels over a Nomex core for your interior walls... The full on carbon panels used in R/C applications are prohibitively expensive but the others are widely available as replacement panels and orders as small as six sheets...you can even get the panels custom edged with metal in a variety of configurations.

Just a thought. By the way, I'm not a composites engineer.
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Old 06-23-2004, 04:22 AM   #10
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Thumbs up For the cost...

Quote:
Originally Posted by IceKing02
Have you guys ever considered using prefabricated panels of aluminum, fiberglass or carbon/kevlar over a core of nomex honeycomb material? They come in 8, 10, and 12 foot lengths and 4ft wide. They're light, tough as nails, don't rot, don't burn and are able to take a bolt or a rivet just fine. They're used in airplane, boat and train manufacturing and look like they might be a good compromise, especially the fiberglass panels over a Nomex core for your interior walls... The full on carbon panels used in R/C applications are prohibitively expensive but the others are widely available as replacement panels and orders as small as six sheets...you can even get the panels custom edged with metal in a variety of configurations.
Just a thought. By the way, I'm not a composites engineer.
I agree whole-heartly~!!
The time has long since past for Airstream to be continuing the use of wood in the floor..There's no viable reason for them to continue down this path..
I have challeged them on this issue, on several of my visit to the factory..
No one that I've talked to can explain why it continues to be used to this date.
Maybe it high time we drag them screaming into the 21st century~!!
Let's start the ball rolling.
ciao
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Old 06-23-2004, 05:41 AM   #11
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I'm more than willing to be the guinea pig on this one. Will everyone on the forum contribute $$ toward the project?
Cheapest composite sheets I've found were $385 per 4 x 8 sheet. Please let me know if there is a cheaper source for small quantities. Free shipping would be nice too!
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Old 06-23-2004, 06:20 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight
Good point, But if you have a preference delamination is preferable to disintagration, by the way what is a "rare corner double"
I've had to deal with a small area of rot on my coach. "Rot Doctor" pentrating epoxy took care of it. Would it work as well on delaminated plywood? Again, I don't know, but suspect not.

The corner double bed floorplan is not "rare" as in "desirable", but more like rare as in "unusual". The floorplan can be seen in my photos section. I've never seen another, but two forum members have mentioned they have one as well. If you can stand the corner bed, it provides incredible storage space.

Mark
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Old 06-23-2004, 08:15 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markdoane
I'm more than willing to be the guinea pig on this one. Will everyone on the forum contribute $$ toward the project?
Cheapest composite sheets I've found were $385 per 4 x 8 sheet. Please let me know if there is a cheaper source for small quantities. Free shipping would be nice too!

Hmmm....perhaps you've found the reason that the factory is still using wood.

ya think???
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Old 06-23-2004, 08:48 AM   #14
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These are design philosophy issues in part.

1) What are you doing.
Getting it ready to go on short camping trips for a couple of years?
Fulltime for 30 years?
Some point in between these two more likely.
(My design choices for the 59 Overlander are based on a grand tour of the perimeter of North America 2006 including International in Oregon with the least trailer trouble possible. I want 10 days off grid ability. Closer to the second than the first. The Caravel is for the first style.)
I think you have to be honest with yourself about this question first. Prehaps a plywood patch with some bondo would work great for you in terms of cost per use.

For my money how are you going to use your AS is the first question to answer, not the last after it's done.

2) Is this a making it mine issue more than a repair issue. Guys are like male canines. Got to go on stuff to make it their own. If guys were into fabric we would have a lot of post about fabric wear and cleaning potential, what colors fade fast (red) and the like. This is the most direct way to make the AS your own at a reasonable cost. Most guys get dizzy with the "interior design" stuff.

3) What skills, time, and money do you have. With lots of all three you can make one of those 100K AS. Most of us don't have that much of any of the three. Right now time is my big challenge with getting the house ready to paint ( replacing trim). Money and skill will be challenges latter in the project.

Be honest with yourself and avoid alot of frustration which will likely bounce around the house and hit you on the head.

PS. I like the sound of those composite floors . Where is the supplier?
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Old 06-23-2004, 01:29 PM   #15
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design philosophy issues - making it mine

Quote:
Originally Posted by psychpw
Is this a making it mine issue more than a repair issue... Guys are like male canines. Got to go on stuff to make it their own..... What skills, time, and money do you have...With lots of all three you can make one of those 100K AS.

Wellll....I guess it's turned into one of THOSE contests.

Let me load up on some cold adult beverage before I start!

NOW I know why Mary put the Lampeberger in there,
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Old 06-23-2004, 01:29 PM   #16
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Composite flooring

I did a little looking around and there are multiple suppliers of composite flooring materials. The best place to start is probably Hexcellcomposites.com. They are the outfit that will sell six panel minimums (remember that these are up to twelve feet long). They have the largest variety. They are willing to do custom edges. They are willing to do custom fabrication of sheets--which begs the question about inner arc of the end caps. Are they all the same? If that is so, it would be a CINCH to prefabricate the endcaps and then have variable body lengths. The only catch is in the crossmember supporting systems of which I have no knowledge (as I have yet to own an AS--sniff, sniff...small tear forming). When AS says that the shell is a monocoque construction they don't mention the floor or frame materials. If you guys can shoot me a picture or two of the frame minus floor, of the shell bottom and of the mating surfaces it would be of much help. I can't help but to think that producing or contracting to produce a line of composite panels would be possible at a reasonable cost. With AS trailers being a long-term investment it would seem to me that this technology would be a reasonable alternative to "sticks". Shoot me your feedback on this subject if you guys have real interest in this area. Especially if there are folks with some composites, engineering or business acumen. Take care!
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Old 06-23-2004, 06:04 PM   #17
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can't get this website: www.hexcellcomposites.com
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Old 06-23-2004, 06:14 PM   #18
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Exclamation Neither ~

Quote:
Originally Posted by uwe
can't get this website: www.hexcellcomposites.com
I couldn't get there either but...
I did a little detective work, and found this:
http://www.composites.com/main.htm
if you read around on this site..It offer some kewl insights.
ciao
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Old 06-23-2004, 06:38 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 53FlyingCloud
I couldn't get there either but...
I did a little detective work, and found this:
http://www.composites.com/main.htm
if you read around on this site..It offer some kewl insights.
ciao
53FC
Really cool site. Here's a new contest: Develop a 'usable' panel that costs less than $700 per 4x8 sheet, using the tools on that site.
(Note: their panels are 4' x 38', so it might work best for Airstreams less than 22' overall)
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Old 06-23-2004, 10:38 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by j54mark
I've had to deal with a small area of rot on my coach. "Rot Doctor" pentrating epoxy took care of it. Would it work as well on delaminated plywood? Again, I don't know, but suspect not.

The corner double bed floorplan is not "rare" as in "desirable", but more like rare as in "unusual". The floorplan can be seen in my photos section. I've never seen another, but two forum members have mentioned they have one as well. If you can stand the corner bed, it provides incredible storage space.

Mark
Thanks Mark, I'll take alook. Never heard of that floor plan.
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