permanent foundation

[Tara]

My husband and I are considering the purchase of a Solitaire. If we went this route, we would place the home on a few acres and on a permanent slab foundation. (We thought about a basement, but figured the cost would be too high). Does anyone have any experience with placing a manufactured house on private land (a Solitaire in particular)? I only have ballpark figures with the cost, but I would like to hear from anyone who has personal experience. Thank you. Tara

[Spud]

While I don't have personal experience setting manufactured homes on slabs, foundations, basements, etc., I used to do the close-ups, trim-outs and custom work on the homes after they were on site and set. However, I have worked on homes, mostly triple-wides that were set this way. Slabs under the home with skirting, sometimes custom, is common in the Northwest. I have worked on several on foundations with concrete piers/pads where the support blocks and/or earthquake jacks will sit. I understand that one of the areas to watch in this configuration is that the piers supporting the frame are adequate to support the home. If they sink, your outriggers, the joists that extend from the frame to the outer perimeter of your home will bow causing the outer walls to buckle. I have worked on several homes with this problem and it is expensive to correct. I have worked on several homes that were set over full basements, they were triple wides, and to the best of my knowledge the owners have had no problems that are not just as common in stick builts.

American Home Star (Burlington), out of Texas, would be familiar with this, as would Sivercrest (Lamplighter Homes) and Palm Harbor Homes in the Northwest. I don't know what area you're locating your home in, so I can't address that.

The main thing is doing this is not to skimp on the foundation, piers, etc. A little extra money invested here can save you big buck and a lot of disappointment later on.

[Tara]

Thank you for your reply. In answer to your question, we are located in Oklahoma. Thanks! Tara

[Jon]

Tara:
If you are considering a permanent foundation, you really should place the home on a full basement foundation. While its true that such an installation will cost a bit more now, you'll increase the home's value and utility. Should you ever decide to sell you'll more than recoup the cost ... and finding a buyer should be much easier.
If you scroll down to earlier postings in this forum you'll find other similar questions regarding foundations. They may prove helpful to you.
Best regards.

[Spud]

Tara,

I haven't been in Oklahoma in quite a few years so I don't know if Show-Mart is still in business or not. When I was there I contracted for them. It was owned and operated by Cliff Hester and his family and was an independent lot located off the freeway out toward Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. If you can contact Cliff, he was always honest and straight forward with me, he would either know about foundations or would definitely know someone who could answer your questions. The number was 405-677-0385. They work and deliver all over the state.

Hope this info will help you some.

[milt]

What ever you do it is very important that you follow the specs set forth by the manufacture, for each individual home as the weight loads to your piers or foundation vary in different places in each home. Your manufacture has invested lots of money on engineering prints to assure the home is set properly, if every one would follow them. there would be very few problems

[Tara]

Thanks to everyone for the valuable information.