Solitaire on permanent foundation
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Tara
Solitaire on permanent foundation
Hello. From reading the past posts, it seems there are a few people here quite knowledgeable about Solitaire homes. My husband and I are looking into them and if we decide on one, we would want to put it on a permanent foundation. From another messageboard, it was recommended that we put it on a basement foundation. Does anyone have experience with this? I spoke with the salesperson and he said they do not have experience with this. He told me they use anchors in cement (which is much stronger than the usual anchors?) I got the feeling that a permanent foundation or basement is not an option. I would appreciate any input anyone can provide. Thank you. Tara (By the way, we are in Oklahoma)
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Randy Eaton
Re: Solitaire on permanent foundation
Hello Tara,T
Taken from my book, "How To Buy" "A “Pit-set” or “Runner System.” With this type of foundation an excavator will dig down below the frost line. Please, check with your local building codes for the depth in your area. Once the excavator has dug out the pit, forms will be set in place. If you are doing the work yourself use a site level, this is a tripod with a level attached to it. Use this to make sure your forms are level. I rented the sight level and put the forms in myself. It was not that difficult but it did take some time making sure everything was level. The concrete foundation thickness may vary depending on which state or county you live in. In Washington State the concrete thickness must be 6” with #4 re-bar for reinforcement. Your sales center will provide you with the foundation drawings, which will usually show the exact length, width and thickness of the concrete. The pit-set foundation is very popular in the Northwest and in many parts of the country. This is the type of foundation I decided on when preparing my site.
The fourth type of foundation is called the, “Roll-On Foundation.” Like the Pit-Set foundation an excavator will dig down below the frost line to prepare the footings for the perimeter wall. When your home is delivered the foundation has already been poured and the perimeter walls have been erected. The home must be rolled onto the foundation using special tools or sometimes a large crane. Below is a diagram showing an end-view of a roll-on type foundation. In the four-part video series (Site Preparation) this foundation is explained in detail. This foundation is the most costly to do but it’s probably the best-constructed foundation on the market. I like the fact the perimeter walls are already in place and the steel I-Beam spanning the width of the foundations support the home. One problem with the, “Pit-Set” system is there are cinder blocks or piers every four feet holding up the home and it gets crowded under the home sometimes. Another advantage of this type of foundation is…it holds up better when an earthquake hits. It won’t slip off the cinder blocks or piers and fall to the ground. Both foundations are excellent and each state is different when it comes to which one is used.
The last type of foundation is a basement set. If you’re planning on placing your home on a basement you will need to order your manufactured home, basement ready or foundation ready. Basements can be complicated. Talk with the engineers at the manufacturer and work closely with them. A general contractor who has had experience installing basements under manufactured homes is a must. Your sales center should have names of qualified contractors in your area. Every basement is different and will usually require an engineer drawing. Here is a web site that shows how a basement is installed under a manufactured home at, http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/ The diagram on page 39 is showing an end view of a basement installation and how it looks. This set is similar to a roll-on foundation. The home must be rolled onto the foundation using special tools or a large crane. In Washington State concrete must be used for perimeter walls and steel I-Beams are used to span the width of the basement. In other states I have seen 2x6 pressure treated lumber used as perimeter walls for basements. The home is then rolled onto the basement using special tools or sometimes a large crane is used to lift the home onto the basement. The steel undercarriage of the manufactured home rests on the steel I-Beams spanning the width of the basement.
I will have a video series out on site preparation in a couple of days. It takes you through the entire process, for those of you wanting to prepare your site this might be something worth looking into.
Randy Eaton
www.buymfghome.com
Taken from my book, "How To Buy" "A “Pit-set” or “Runner System.” With this type of foundation an excavator will dig down below the frost line. Please, check with your local building codes for the depth in your area. Once the excavator has dug out the pit, forms will be set in place. If you are doing the work yourself use a site level, this is a tripod with a level attached to it. Use this to make sure your forms are level. I rented the sight level and put the forms in myself. It was not that difficult but it did take some time making sure everything was level. The concrete foundation thickness may vary depending on which state or county you live in. In Washington State the concrete thickness must be 6” with #4 re-bar for reinforcement. Your sales center will provide you with the foundation drawings, which will usually show the exact length, width and thickness of the concrete. The pit-set foundation is very popular in the Northwest and in many parts of the country. This is the type of foundation I decided on when preparing my site.
The fourth type of foundation is called the, “Roll-On Foundation.” Like the Pit-Set foundation an excavator will dig down below the frost line to prepare the footings for the perimeter wall. When your home is delivered the foundation has already been poured and the perimeter walls have been erected. The home must be rolled onto the foundation using special tools or sometimes a large crane. Below is a diagram showing an end-view of a roll-on type foundation. In the four-part video series (Site Preparation) this foundation is explained in detail. This foundation is the most costly to do but it’s probably the best-constructed foundation on the market. I like the fact the perimeter walls are already in place and the steel I-Beam spanning the width of the foundations support the home. One problem with the, “Pit-Set” system is there are cinder blocks or piers every four feet holding up the home and it gets crowded under the home sometimes. Another advantage of this type of foundation is…it holds up better when an earthquake hits. It won’t slip off the cinder blocks or piers and fall to the ground. Both foundations are excellent and each state is different when it comes to which one is used.
The last type of foundation is a basement set. If you’re planning on placing your home on a basement you will need to order your manufactured home, basement ready or foundation ready. Basements can be complicated. Talk with the engineers at the manufacturer and work closely with them. A general contractor who has had experience installing basements under manufactured homes is a must. Your sales center should have names of qualified contractors in your area. Every basement is different and will usually require an engineer drawing. Here is a web site that shows how a basement is installed under a manufactured home at, http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/ The diagram on page 39 is showing an end view of a basement installation and how it looks. This set is similar to a roll-on foundation. The home must be rolled onto the foundation using special tools or a large crane. In Washington State concrete must be used for perimeter walls and steel I-Beams are used to span the width of the basement. In other states I have seen 2x6 pressure treated lumber used as perimeter walls for basements. The home is then rolled onto the basement using special tools or sometimes a large crane is used to lift the home onto the basement. The steel undercarriage of the manufactured home rests on the steel I-Beams spanning the width of the basement.
I will have a video series out on site preparation in a couple of days. It takes you through the entire process, for those of you wanting to prepare your site this might be something worth looking into.
Randy Eaton
www.buymfghome.com
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Bill Kitchens
Re: Solitaire on permanent foundation
Randy, I lived in Oklahoma for over 8 years. We looked into buying a Solitaire. We found them to be one of the best built manufactured home we've ever seen. On to the foundation issue. In Oklahoma it is not common for any house (site built or manfactured) to have a basement. The reason is that it is all clay. As you know clay expands and contracts allot as gets wet and then drys out. This often causes basement walls to crack! I think this would happen to the walls of a pit-set type setup I would recommend putting it on a full slab. We just moved to Louisiana and wish Solitaire had a sales center here (they are a very local company). We have looked at over a dozen differant builders since we've moved to Louisiana and none compare to Solitaire.
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mike craig
Re: Solitaire on permanent foundation
the soitiare dealer in wichita ,ks is the only one who can set them on a basement.
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