If you own or plan on buying a manufactured home, ensuring every piece of it is in great shape before moving in is essential! Inspecting the manufactured home foundations is one of the most important things to ensure they are ready to be lived in. Part of the inspection process is understanding what type of foundation you want and the space on which the home will be built.
There are a few different types of foundations your home could have and special considerations to be thought about when doing the inspection! During the inspection, ask the inspectors which foundation the house has and if any materials need replacement or repair.
Types Of Foundations
There are three core types of manufactured home foundations. They are all constructed differently but must meet HUD code requirements and have proper stability and anchoring.
Regardless of where you live, following these requirements is a legal obligation all inspectors and builders must follow. These inspections will determine if the house can continue to be built or if major construction changes need to be made.
Pier And Beam
Pier and Beam manufactured home foundations use concrete or steel placed at determined intervals beneath the home. These piers are placed at key points for maximum stability and are connected by beams to support the structure above.
Concrete Slab
A concrete slab is a fairly common manufactured home foundation similar to a brick-and-mortar home. Manufacturers pour concrete onto the predetermined location and then secure the home with anchors.
Basement Foundation
In some circumstances, manufactured homes can be built on a fully established basement, which acts as a foundation. This is also a great way to provide additional living spaces!
Important Considerations For Manufactured Home Foundations
Foundations are one of the most essential parts of a safe manufactured home installation, so it’s important to understand what conditions can make it difficult or better during the process. Some of these conditions can, in turn, determine what type of manufactured home foundation you use and the installation.
The last thing you want is your manufactured home moving due to wind or soil shifts because that will cause various damages to your home, in the best case scenario, and serious irreparable damages at worst. The methods for establishing these foundations can vary, even if you’ve lived in a manufactured home before, as different locations could require different needs.
Soil Conditions
Possibly one of the most critical parts of manufactured home foundations, inspecting the type of soil at the home’s location makes a big difference in the installation process. This testing will help determine the design and depth of the foundation used beneath the home!
Frost Line
Especially in areas that get extra cold in the winter, it’s crucial to find precisely where the frost line is in the ground. Peers for the foundation must be placed below the frost line to prevent heaving during low/freezing temperatures.
Anchors
A proper foundation and support beams are insufficient to keep your manufactured home in place. You need steel straps or tie-downs to fasten your manufactured home to its foundation securely.
The Right Team For The Job
As a homeowner, you typically don’t have the skill set or knowledge to do a thorough manufactured home foundation inspection yourself. With something as important as your home’s foundation, it’s essential to keep it in good shape to avoid a major hit to your wallet later!
You need someone like Detail View Home Inspections in your corner who understands the nuances of home inspections and will have your back throughout the whole process!
Keywords: manufactured home foundations, manufactured home, foundation, manufactured home installation, inspections
