types of installation

[rockynrifi]

What does pit set mean in reference to the installation of my MH.

[David Oxhandler]

A Pit set gives your manufactured home a very site built appearance.  One thing that traditionally gives a manufactured home its distinctive appearance is that it is generally set a foot or more above ground.  This leaves an area around the home where we traditionally apply skirting.   The transition from the lap siding to a band of something else around the base separate the appearance of the manufactured home from the traditional site built look.Instead of setting the foundation on the ground a pit is dug the size of the footprint of the home.  The foundation is set inside the pit so that the bottom of the manufactured home will end up just a few inches above the natural grade of the ground.   Often a ridged mini skirting is installed and earth backfilled to the bottom line of the home.The look of a pit set is beautiful giving the home site built proportions.  The trade off is:1- Usually a minimal crawl space under the home making repairs and service very difficult.2- Difficulty in getting enough ventilation under the home.  The space below any manufactured home REQUIRES veneration to prevent mold from flourishing.   The amount of venting depends on the climate and soil conditions where you live. For example in our area skirting vent openings must have a net area of not less than one square foot for each 100 square feet of under floor area. Vent openings must be located as close to corners and as high as practical, and must provide cross ventilation on at least two opposite sides.   Even so an experienced installer should understand these challenges and make adequate provisions.I am in Florida where mold can grow easily and in abundance due to the high humidity and a very wet rainy season.   In the early 90's we installed a big double wide for our sales lot office.  This was the first pit set I had seen.  Almost 20 years later That home is still on the same spot and is now the main residence on a small farm.  The owners have had no unusual service or mold problems.    The pit was close to 2 feet deep and the concrete skirting was vented twice as much as the local code required.Check with your local building permitting department or your state's manufactured housing association for the necessary ventilation required in your location Read  Air Out Your Problems by George Porter that asks the question Do you know what the formula is for ventilation under a home?