Welded rebar tiedowns

[40wapiti]

I am new to this forum. I am wondering if rebar welded to the frame and to rebar imbedded in concrete has ever been an acceptable way to tie down a mobile home?

[David Oxhandler]

Every state in the country has adopted a code for manufactured home installation, and requires a licensed installer to do the job. You would do well to find out what the local code requires and a licensed contractor to follow it

What your suggesting sounds like it would be stabilizing but It would probably cause more problems than it would cure. Manufactured homes are framed structures. ALL wood framed structures tend to rack as the settle over time. Most of the time the settlement and racking (moving out or square) is so slight that it is not noticeable.

Some times the changes are noticeable and the home has to be releveled. In most parts of the country if you relevel your home about a year after installation you will never notice the additional settlement. All structures settle and on most soil types the majority of the settlement happens in the early life of the structure.

By welding the steel frame to the foundation you could cause the home to be too ridged and as the wood frames settled it could warp or even crack around the welded areas.

If you want to enjoy your home for years to come the site prep and installation must be handled properly. Even if you're not doing the work yourself, it is critical that you understand the entire process.

The most effective way to learn about the step by step process involved in properly installing a manufactured home is the great DVD video set from George Porter, the industry's most respected installation specialist. Mr. Porter leads you through a two hour viewing experience that will prepare you for the numerous operations and complexities involved in the installation of the modern manufactured home.

Understanding the process will give you an edge when choosing sub-contractors and help you make sure the site preparation and installation is done right and to your expectation.

[trmimo]

The answer is essentially, no. Tie downs have to have a tested load capacity Which is approximately 4800 pounds. Welded rebar may be strong enough, but it is untested. Also in order to withstand the proper load, there must be 4800 pounds of concrete attached to each anchor point. Ground anchors are designed so that when properly installed, they will dig up at least 4800 pounds of dirt before they are pulled out.