The Manufactured Housing Forums

I've read a lot of post talking about "Permanent Foundations". What exactly are you guys calling a permanent foundation? Is it a full poured concrete slab, or is it "pads", or "piers"? I'm confused. Please advise. Thanks.

Bob

The manufactured homes I've seen that have been put on "permanent foundations" are only foundations in a loose sense. The home still sits on pads, like a "trailer" would. However, around the perimeter of the home, a cement-block "foundation" encloses the area under the house, much like skirting. One the ones I've looked at, the foundation does not support the house--the pads still do the support. But this "skirting foundation" satisfies the zoning requirements in some areas that manufactured homes must be "on" a foundation. There may be some actually bolted to a foundation, like a "stick built" home, but if there are, I haven't seen any.

A permanent foundation, in addition to the items already mentioned, has a complete poured concrete footer upon which the blocks or bricks are placed.