How to Inspect the Structure of Mobile Homes, Double wides, Trailers - Part 3, Walls, Crawl Spaces, General Structure

Mobile home structural inspection guide, part 3
- Common mobile home, double-wide & trailer defects in walls, crawl spaces, and other items
Questions & answers about inspecting the structual components of mobile homes, doublewides, trailers.
References

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How to Inspect Mobile Homes or Manufactured Housing for Structural Defects: special attention crawl areas below mobile homes: common defects in skirts, air leaks, insulation, water damage, mold, rot, insect or vermin damage. General damage to mobile home structure including floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, from leaks, rot, insects.

WALL DEFECTS - Defects in Mobile Homes

Ver.3.5 - 04/25/07, updated through 2012 - Steve Vermilye, New Paltz NY and Daniel Friedman, Poughkeepsie NY, Hudson Valley ASHI Chapter Seminar, Newburgh NY, January 4, 2000, NY Metro ASHI Fall 99 Seminar, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 2, 1999.

Damaged mobile home wall (C) Daniel Friedman

watch for furring strips and aluminum siding vs. real 2x4 or 2x6 studs 16"o.c.
watch for short walls less than 7'6" (C. r.) - short walls mean special short doors, furring strips means no real insulation;
Sheathing: OSB or plywood under vinyl; metal siding may have no sheathing = weaker structure;
metal siding: leaks at decorative railing/trim (horizontal); leaks at doors and windows;
hardboard siding: leaks at seams and joints; poor material, short life;

CRAWL SPACES - Mobile Home Crawl Space Concerns

Flooding, mold contaminated insulation
Freeze damaged plumbing
Ductwork for HVAC system damaged, contaminated, not functional
openings, damaged insulation, leaking pipes, improper plumbing and wiring
violations of proper clearance to ground:
12" minimum beneath lowest frame member and ground in area of utility connections;
no more than 25% of the main frame can be less than 12" above grade;
If over basement or habitable lower level or more than 1/4 of home is more than 3' above grade a professional must design the foundation;
belly wrap (plastic or other) to seal out moisture and hold in insulation:
often damaged or pulled out for repair; rodents, water, leaks; air leaks;
look for termites & carpenter ants - up skirt into floors/walls esp. @ leaks (plumbing, windows, doors)

GENERAL STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN TRAILERS - General Mobile Home Structural Concerns

support added for sagging roofs/ceilings, makeshift, improper
Rotted floors at leak points such as below windows and at leaky water heaters

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about how to inspect or repair structural problems in mobile homes, trailers, doublewides

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, web search 1/5/2012, original source: portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/homeownership/184 - Quoting:
The Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program is a home mortgage specifically designed for American Indian and Alaska Native families, Alaska Villages, Tribes, or Tribally Designated Housing Entities. Section 184 loans can be used, both on and off native lands, for new construction, rehabilitation, purchase of an existing home, or refinance.
Also see Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae
[2] Native American Housing Loan Guarantee Program HUD Section 184 Loans At A Glance, FannieMae, web search 1/5/12, original source: efanniemae.com/sf/mortgageproducts/pdf/section184aag.pdf
[3] Mobile Home Inspections - Daniel Friedman & Steven T. Vermilye
[4] Trailer vs Mobile Home vs Modular vs Panelized Construction an explanation of terms and how to identify these structures.
[5] "Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods" Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
[6] MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS
[7] Trailer vs Mobile Home vs Modular vs Panelized Construction an explanation of terms and how to identify these structures.
[8] "Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods" Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
[9] New York State: "Manufactured Homes: an installation guide for the code enforcement official," undated. [Div. of Code Enforcement & Admin. - 518-474-4073, George E. Clark, Jr., Director] - this is a guide tool, not an enforcement code or standard.
[10] HUD State Administrative Agency (for 36 states) (NY: 518-474-4073) - for complaints
[11] Manufactured Housing Institute, 2101 Wilson Blvd. Ste. 610, Arlington VA 22201 703-558-0400 www.mfghome.org
[12] NYMHA, 35 Commerce Ave., Albany NY 12206-2015 518-435-9859 800-721-HOME (they want the Star Program to provide for separate assessment of manufactured homes)
[13] Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org - special report 2/98
[14] Mobile Home Inspection Checklist, Florida, Town of Lady Lake Building Department
[15] Thanks to home inspector Peter Bennett for eagle-eye editing assistance regarding spelling at this web article series. Little Silver, NJ 07739 Office 732-758-9887 Fax 732-758-8993 Cell 732-245-9817 afullhouseinspectionco@gmail.com
[16] Wikipedia provided background information about some topics discussed at this website provided this citation is also found in the same article along with a " retrieved on" date. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative. - Entry on Mobile Homes, original source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_home#Regulation, retrieved 8/14/2012

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Crawl Space Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Domestic Building Surveys, Andrew R. Williams, Kindle book, Amazon.com
Defects and Deterioration in Buildings: A Practical Guide to the Science and Technology of Material Failure, Barry Richardson, Spon Press; 2d Ed (2001), ISBN-10: 041925210X, ISBN-13: 978-0419252108. Quoting:
A professional reference designed to assist surveyors, engineers, architects and contractors in diagnosing existing problems and avoiding them in new buildings. Fully revised and updated, this edition, in new clearer format, covers developments in building defects, and problems such as sick building syndrome. Well liked for its mixture of theory and practice the new edition will complement Hinks and Cook's student textbook on defects at the practitioner level.
Moisture Control in Buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
Moisture Control in Walls, U.S. Department of Energy
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