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Rotted moldy floor under a mobile home (C) InspectApedia.com  KellyQ&A on Structure of Mobile Homes, Double wides, Trailers
FAQs on Wind Ratings, Roof Loading Specifications, Energy Zones, Roof Loading Zones, Foundations

Questions & answers on how to Inspect Mobile Homes or Manufactured Housing for Structural Defects:

This article series describes manufactured or mobile home, trailer, or double wide structural damage, defects, wind zone questions, as well as foundation problems with supporting piers or continuous foundations, slabs, tie-downs, hurricane or wind damage, roll-over prevention, and rot or similar structural damage to walls, floors, roofs.

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Mobile Home Structural Defect FAQs

Ceiling gaps in manufaacctured home (C) InspectApedia.com KaylaThese questions and answers about structural problems or defects in mobile homes, trailes, doublewides, manufactured homes were posted originally at MOBILE HOME STRUCTURAL DEFECTS - be sure to review that article.

On 2018-12-20 by (mod) - I need help with many defects on my mobile home - movement, noises

MAK

I suggest that you hire a local home inspector who is familiar with mobile homes and manufactured homes - you may find one at the page top EXPERTS DIRECTORY.

It is not going to be adequate to just look at photos or a video online as all someone can see is where you point the camera.

On 2018-12-20 by MaKayla

I have a video along with many pictures from the house I'm concerned about. I would very much appreciate someone please calming my wanting to pack and run away asap or helping me pack and run! I willingly leaving my contact information on here as wel.

I am truly just very concerned. I don't get all the excuses for the issues then he turns it all around and makes me seem/ feel crazy! I can't take it anymore!

MaKayla A A : phone 919-920-3587

I'm very concerned!!
I live in a mobile home with my new boyfriend. I just recently moved in and now been here a few months.. well things between him and I are rocky way to much to the point

he stays outside in the shop 75 % of the time being I'm a stay at home girlfriend and my social anxiety keeps me locked away in our room

I have became very well aware this house WILL collapse very soon. He ignores my worries makes me seem crazy then changes the subject.. I'm terrified.

4 different major 2 different holes in the ceiling you can see very well one with a crack right beside it. When it rains water finds its way in somewhere around the back door I can't seem to find where.

Another place in our bedroom where the ceiling trim is sagging or pulled apart.
In the kitchen below windows the wall is moody and rotten. I accidentally hit the wall with the pull away nozzle on the vacuum and it sucked up a big chunk of the wall.

The back room has to cracks from top of wall all the way to the bottom

The house CONSTANTLY crackles and pops he says it's from ductwork but I don't see how or why it ALWAYS happens then..

House constantly is moving when I 1st moved here he had roommates the house moves so bad I knew when they were having sexual relations...
or when Washing clothes or even when the wind blows a little to hard the house will move he said it's from where the dog has dug to much under a pillar up under the house.

Also he's constantly watering the house right there by the kitchen window... the roof around the house has about an inch all the way around where it's not connected to the ceiling anymore.
I can't take the crackles and pops anymore I'm terrified for my safety!!!

On 2018-11-30 by (mod) - The adjuster mentioned the integrity of the structure needed to be checked

It sounds to me as if you need a structural engineer or at least a contractor who was Earth's miliar with repairing your type of structure.

If there is no visible damage to the home is hard to imagine why you need to tear off walls and ceilings.

I would think before doing something so drastic someone would have some evidence of structural movement or damage such as cracking, bending, leaning, or something else I haven't thought of.

On 2018-11-29 by Poseyanne

Our doublewide survived hurricane Michael in Panama City. The adjuster mentioned the integrity of the structure needed to be checked. He said the walls and ceiling would have to come off to check. I believe he was trying to total the home so they could pay less. Who do I contact to check integrity?

On 2018-06-20 by (mod) - remove and replace rotted structural members

Rotted moldy floor under a mobile home (C) InspectApedia.com  KellyI prefer to remove and replace rotted structural members and to inspect thoroughly to be sure I'm not leaving any ongoing insect damage and that there are no more leaks.

However to do the repair at the marriage beam between two house sections involves some careful work;

typically we support the floor structure on a temporary beam that's cross-braced, with beam, posts, and cross braces up to the joists. Then we remove and replace the rotted beam.

That's because there's typically no space to sister a marriage beam along rotted ones.

On 2018-06-20 by Kelly

The joist on the marriage line where all the other joists run perpendicular to and connect to is rotted as well. Do I sister that joist as well or can it be replaced?

On 2018-06-11 by (mod) -

Kelly

The minimum rotted subfloor area you'd replace typically would be a section spanning at least two floor joists.

If the joist is rotted such that a probe such as an icepick goes in about 1/2" or less you are probably fine. Deeper: add a sister joist.

On 2018-06-11 17:33:53.908569 by Kelly

I have a double wide that has some wood rot in the subfloor going down to the center mating rim joist, which has rot as well . How do I repair this floor joist? Do I replace the whole board, or just a section? What’s the best way to approach this?

On 2018-02-12 by (mod) - What kind of problems will I run into by putting a peaked steel roof on?

There are some technical and fire-code questions you will want to review with your local building department, particularly if the builder just plops a wood frame roof atop the existing mobile home:

- multiple layers of roof structure can be a code violation and a fire-fighting concern

- possible moisture traps among roofing layers

- the home walls need to be capable of supporting the added weight of the roof that includes both the roof structure and if you're in a snow climate, the possible added weight of snow over a larger area

Still it's a common "solution" to do what you plan.

On 2018-02-09 by Greg

We have a 35 year old 14x70 mobile home that needs a new roof. What kind of problems will I run into by putting a peaked steel roof on? Would it help to have support posts in the ground?

On 2018-01-13 by (mod) - how can I tell what wind zone it is ?

The Data Plate posted in the manufactured home (see §3280.5) shall designate the wind and roof load zones or, if designed for higher loads, the actual design external snow and wind loads for which the home has been designed.

Details about wind zones and wind zone ratings as well as structural requirements and tie-down requirements for manufactured homes are found

at MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile_Home_Tie_Downs.php

On 2018-01-13 by Theresa

I have the tittle to my trailer how can I tell what wind zone it is ?

On 2017-06-09 by (mod) - how to contact Norris Homes

Anon,

I don't know where the outdoor hose hookups might be placed on a 1995 Norris home, but I'll give you contact information for the company so that you can try asking them directly.

Or you could take a look under the home to see if you can follow the water supply piping: that's where I'd start.

Norris homes are a Texas company:
Norris Homes
1160 Lee Hwy
Bean Station, TN 37708
http://norrishomes.com/
Tel: 865-993-7905

On 2017-06-09 by Anonymous

Where would the outside spigots be located on a 1995 Norris mobile home. ? There should be 2 ? 1 in the back , where would the other be ?

On 2016-11-13 by (mod) -

April there's not a single height specification for mobile home support; what's needed depends on what's under the home: a concrete slab, soil, soft soil, etc. But I'd not trust supporting a home simply on flat lumber.

On 2016-11-13 by April Wilbur

I was wondering what most requirements are for height on pillars. Rather a single set of blocks would do or are they to be two (2) block sets high w pressure treated lumber.

On 2015-11-17 by (mod) - financial assistance on Long Island

Rhondo, there MIGHT be financial assistance available through the Community Development Corporation of Long Island ... Housing Assistance Program of Essex County

Long Island

Centereach

Community Development Corporation of Long Island
2100 Middle Country Road, Suite 300
Centereach, NY 11720
Phone: (631) 471-1215
Fax: (631) 471-3087
Email

Far Rockaway

Margert Community Corporation
325 Beach 37th Street
Far Rockaway, NY 11691-4103
Phone: (718) 471-3724
Fax: (718) 471-5342
Email

Hauppauge

Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc.
180 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788-3709
Phone: (631) 435-4710 x1
Fax: (631) 435-4751
Email

Patchogue

Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk Inc.
31 West Main Street, Suite 300
Patchogue, NY 11772
Phone: (800) 300-4362
Toll-Free: (800) 300-4362
Fax: (631) 289-2178

On 2015-11-16 by Rhondo

How do I apply for a free mobile home roof over in LI NY

Question: what are the wall and roof specs & insulation values for a 1980 Ramada Doublewide?

(Feb 2, 2014) Anonymous said:

I am looking at buying a 1980 Ramada Manufactured Doublewide and was wondering about wall and roof specs for construction and insulation values.

Reply: 1980's vintage Ramada manufactured homes

Anon, I did a quick search for 1980 Ramada Manufactured Doublewide specifications and found no active data source on building code compliance for the 1980's vintage Ramada manufactured homes, nor spec sheets.

But I did find that the Skyline Corporation seems to be related, perhaps by keywords chosen by their website designer. You could contact the company at 800-755-6521.

Excuse the arm-waving but I think that on a 1980 Ramada Doublewide or any other manufactured home that is more than thirty years old, more critical would be a careful inspection of the present condition of the structure as well as the discovery of its leak history, repair history, and similar data.

The specs are not going to promise us much about the condition of the home 34 years later.

Question: 1997 Commodore in Pennsylvania: what is my wind zone

(June 13, 2014) Lynn said:

I have a 97 Commodore 76 ft long and 16 ft wide. I live in Finleyville, Pennsylvania and need to know the wind zone.

I tried getting home owners insurance, but the agent said it was not ackored and I need new skirting among several other issues.

How many anckors do I need total on my mobile home? Thank you in advance for your help.
Lynn

Reply:

Lynn you can see HUD wind zone maps and wind zone rating requirements

Tie-down specifications that are driven by wind zones (and other risks ) are

at MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS

There you will see that for some states in the U.S. the HUD specified wind zone and required structural protections depend on the county in which you live, not just the state.

All of Pennsylvania is in HUD Wind Zone Map Region I.

Additional structural requirements are

at MOBILE HOME WIND RATINGS


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