Soft spots in flooring

[Feebs17]

I'm looking at a 1988 Claybrook doublewide and I mean WIDE. On a gorgeous lot that backs up to a lake.

While I was looking at it, I noticed there were spongy spots in the flooring that were soft and dipped slightly when I walked on them.

Is this a big problem? Is there any way to inspect the flooring? If those spots need attention, is it difficult to do?

HELP! The present owner wants an answer. Everything else in the home is in good condition. The sales person said it might need "shims?"

[rmurray]

One thing has been consistent here on these forums...It is always suggested that when buying a 20 year old manufactured home you treat it like you would any other kind of used 20 year old home..Since none of us have seen the home, I would suggest investing in a professional home inspection..The inspectors report will detail any issues that might need to be taken care of..Once you have the report you will not still be in the dark, then you can decide if you want to move forward and buy the home...I am not sure I would rest my decision on the statement of a commissioned sales person..In vest in a home inspection and let your mind rest easy..

[Feebs17]

I did have someone look at it and they said that when the house was built, some of the floor joists were installed "crown down" instead of "crown up." He said it would be costly to repair it but fairly easy to do . . . just put additional wood in the places where the wood has dipped.

He said it was structurally sound.

[rmurray]

Was this a professional home inspector??.In all my years, I have never heard of that...Maybe somerone else has and will post here...My experience places soft floors on NOVAdeck (pressboard)floor material...It is always fixable or replaceable..

[trmimo]

Crown down is possible on a new house. With an outrigger frame floor joists are installed crown down, the opposite of how they are installed on a perimeter frame or a conventional home. However, unless the house is supported at the perimeter almost all manufactured home floors crown up almost immediately from the load of the roof and walls. Even if you did have a crown issue that shouldn't create soft spots. It would most likely create a noticeable rise in a tiled area. Rmurray is right that soft spots probably mean particleboard that has gotten wet. This is a big problem. The particleboard is just the canary in the coal mine. Excessive moisture will destroy this or any other house.