Is my home in danger of slipping.

[ggoodwin956]

I recently noticed some differences in my flooring (center is higher than both ends) and I have some very noticeable ripples in the roof. I had some mobile home construction companies come out and give me estimates on releveling. Bad news is I was told that one side of the house is slipping and that all 9 piers are no good. The center (marriage line) is seperating at least an inch and the bedroom carpet was visible underneath the home. My home was built in 1987 and I live in Hesperia CA.iin a mobile home park. I was told once one pier collapses the rest would be a domino effect. This has scared me very much, I am on disability and I cannot afford to fix this ($1800.00) I dont know what to do.

Apparently the damage has been an on going thing over the years, I paid cash for it 7 yrs ago and I didnt know releveling was something I had to do. How safe is my home to live in at this point.

Please help me

Geri

[rbonnie]

First, the home can't slip. The soil beneath the home may move a create a problem, however. If you puchased the home used, how do you know the marriage line was ever tight? A one inch gap is permissable by code, if the home is properly attached, one side to the other. If the home was set on soil that was freshly filled, this would allow settlement on only the filled side, and maybe the problem. The piers are most probably stacked block and the weight of the home could have pushed them downward. The domino effect does not happen. The piers can be elevated with the use of cap blocks and shims to the correct height. This will have to be done by a qualified installer. The home needs to be looked at by someone who is familiar with the business of installing homes.

[David Oxhandler]

I would like to tell you that $1800 is a high price to re-level a home but I know that EVERYTHING is more expensive in California. It is also difficult to tell what the project will require in parts. If the contractor needs to replace cracked or broken blocks or needs to install additional piers or if he is required to purchase permits and stand inspections from the local building department, the price could be quiet good.

Get competitive bids from several LICENSED MH Installers. California requires professional home installers to be licensed. You don't want to trust the condition of your home to anyone that is not licensed, insured and bonded.


Don't just take the lowest price. Ask each contractor to give you a written proposal that lists exactly what is included and excluded in the price and the cost of bringing in additional materials... plus the charges to install that new material. Example - a price for each new block and the cost to install a pier if one needs to be replaced or additional support is required.

You may be surprised at the range of prices you get. The price you are looking for is going to be someplace in the middle of the pack. You want a price that is close to the average price from several contractors.

BEWARE of a price that is much lower or higher than the others. That low price is often bait. Once you bite the price continues to rise due to "extras" not included in the price. The overly high price usually comes form a contractor that either has more work than he can handle or has an overrated opinion of himself.

These type of home maintenance expense are not easy for any of us to absorb in this time of runaway food and gas prices and especially if you are on a fixed income. Unfortunately, the cost of inaction will only lead to greater costs at a later date.

The good news - Most manufactured homes only need to be re-leveled one time after the first year in place. Most soil types will compress below the piers. Unless there are unusual conditions the vast majority of settlement will happen in the first year and the amount of change after that is. most times, unnoticeable.

Refinance rates are at 50-year lows. The price to borrow is affordable again for thousands of families. Nobody knows how long this will last. Today's market is a rare opportunity for households with stable incomes and good credit to find affordable home renovation loans.

[ggoodwin956]

Thank you so much for you answer, I actually feel very relieved! The contractor that came out told me all 9 piers need to be replaced because they are "trash" in other words they will start to break and collapse thus causing the domino effect. My home sits on piers that sit on 2x4 wood. It was placed in this very spot in 1987 and has not been moved since. He also told me it had to be releveled every 3 yrs. My nephew leveled the house last yr and I think he put to much pressure on the middle section as this is where I am seeing and feeling the difference in the floor inside the home. Also my roof on the outside is beveled in two areas also in the center of the home. The contractor wants to put new piers and new rubber 16x16 pads under the new piers? Can you recommend and contractors in my area? Hesperia, Ca.

[David Oxhandler]

Contact your state office that licenses MH installers

California Department of Housing and Community Development
1800 Third Street
Sacramento, CA 95811-6942
(916) 445-4782

I agree with Mr Bonnie. The domino effect does not happen. I can not see under your home from here... but strongly suggest you get a few other experienced, licensed contractors to assess the situation.

[ggoodwin956]

Thank you for all your help>