triple wide separation in floor and cieling
Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 10:19 am
Hi David and thank you for your site!
I'm hoping you can help answer some questions for me? I purchased a Triple Wide Manufactured home (used) and it's my first one, still learning about them but b-4 we begin
here's some stats that may help you:
Triple Wide X-T-U Model #NN427009LTWI
Madison Park Model from Liberty Homes (aka Badger Built Homes) in Wisconsin.
42 foot wide x 70 long (with the hitch installed.)
The LT means "limited," and that the home owner and the dealer have changed something's from the standard floor plan and specs.
This home came off line on 04/15/05.
Upon reading the standard features it states: Floors Consturction= 2 x 8 floor joists, 23/32nd T & G floor decking, Transverse Floor.
Problem: I've got some separation occuring between what I call section's 1 and 2 (haven't noticed anything yet between 2 & 3) but I can see thru the carpeting where one side is
just a tad higher and it's futher evident in a cieling in the back area of the house that runs along that seam. I can see it open and shut during winter/summer. I've also had a creak
develop under some new vinyl flooring I had installed and the creak came from the luan board they initially installed for the vinyl separating (they fixed it by cutting/lifting the vinyl
and putting in some screws, but I'm sure there will be more to come.
I've learned that Hud code changed in Jan 2007 just after this was built and have also learned about something called "MARRAIGE LOCK BRACKETS," and want to know if that
will fix my problem. I haven't found many people that know anything about them? and hope you can shed some light on it.
I've learned that the house is supposed to have "lag bolts," installed every 8 feet or so joining the wood between the sections at an angle and I have yet to crawl under there to see
if they were used? but weather/age is not cooperating with me to get that done just yet. I know that there are steel beams that run the whole length of the house so I couldn't see
how lag bolts could be used but I guess there is wood under there also...it's hard to see with all that black "belly wrap," they hold the insulation in with.
Lastly, it's super hard to find someone to come fix this in the area I live (Northern Minnesota) but one guy I talked to made a comment that really blew my mind. He mentioned to
me that the decorative cement block "skirting," if you will that sits under the house and has sliding vents in it...he said that they need to be open in the "winter?" and closed in the
summer? That's totally opposite of what logic would dictate, I'd like to think we miscommunicated but he assurred me that things and thoughts have changed and what he told
me was correct? I don't know about that, it just doesn't sit right with me but if you could claify that I'd appreciate it as well.
I'll await your response and again, I really appreciate your time.
I'm hoping you can help answer some questions for me? I purchased a Triple Wide Manufactured home (used) and it's my first one, still learning about them but b-4 we begin
here's some stats that may help you:
Triple Wide X-T-U Model #NN427009LTWI
Madison Park Model from Liberty Homes (aka Badger Built Homes) in Wisconsin.
42 foot wide x 70 long (with the hitch installed.)
The LT means "limited," and that the home owner and the dealer have changed something's from the standard floor plan and specs.
This home came off line on 04/15/05.
Upon reading the standard features it states: Floors Consturction= 2 x 8 floor joists, 23/32nd T & G floor decking, Transverse Floor.
Problem: I've got some separation occuring between what I call section's 1 and 2 (haven't noticed anything yet between 2 & 3) but I can see thru the carpeting where one side is
just a tad higher and it's futher evident in a cieling in the back area of the house that runs along that seam. I can see it open and shut during winter/summer. I've also had a creak
develop under some new vinyl flooring I had installed and the creak came from the luan board they initially installed for the vinyl separating (they fixed it by cutting/lifting the vinyl
and putting in some screws, but I'm sure there will be more to come.
I've learned that Hud code changed in Jan 2007 just after this was built and have also learned about something called "MARRAIGE LOCK BRACKETS," and want to know if that
will fix my problem. I haven't found many people that know anything about them? and hope you can shed some light on it.
I've learned that the house is supposed to have "lag bolts," installed every 8 feet or so joining the wood between the sections at an angle and I have yet to crawl under there to see
if they were used? but weather/age is not cooperating with me to get that done just yet. I know that there are steel beams that run the whole length of the house so I couldn't see
how lag bolts could be used but I guess there is wood under there also...it's hard to see with all that black "belly wrap," they hold the insulation in with.
Lastly, it's super hard to find someone to come fix this in the area I live (Northern Minnesota) but one guy I talked to made a comment that really blew my mind. He mentioned to
me that the decorative cement block "skirting," if you will that sits under the house and has sliding vents in it...he said that they need to be open in the "winter?" and closed in the
summer? That's totally opposite of what logic would dictate, I'd like to think we miscommunicated but he assurred me that things and thoughts have changed and what he told
me was correct? I don't know about that, it just doesn't sit right with me but if you could claify that I'd appreciate it as well.
I'll await your response and again, I really appreciate your time.