The Manufactured Housing Forums

We live in Vermont, lots of snow etc. We moved our 1990 MH onto a lot in 1992. (The home was a two year old leftover, from Latham Homes, setup only on the sales lot).

In 2003 we added a new roof (over the existing roof) of our double wide MH.

Steeper pitch, more insulation, removed shingles and OSB plywood from existing roof to aid in insulating between the existing rafters, total of 18" so far of insulation.

In 2005 we noticed the walls were moving away from the center of the home halves.

In 2007 the walls have moved a total of one inch. (based on the metal brace's nails that have pulled out from one side of the home's center wall -- measured from nail heads to the hole where the nails "should be".)

1. What could have caused this?

2. How can correct the problem?

3. Is there something that has to be done to the outside walls?

4. Anything else I haven't thought of, that needs to be entered into this POST.

IF you need pics I can send them via email...

topbarhive

You are in an area that has lots of frost heave...Sounds like the ground under the foundation has moved...You did not mention what kind of foundation your home is on....I am sure the foundation can be straightened and reinforced...You would need advice from a local foundation specialist and to get quotes...I am sure it is not unusual for 15 year old homes to move in your area..Good Luck with the project...

I am not sure what support system for the new roof you installed but I do know if the marriage line supports are not in the proper place the home will seperate when the roof load is increased.

Bobby,

Thanks for the info...

The roof rafters are 2X10's and they are supported at the outside walls.

The old/orginal roof's 2X2 trusses have not be removed, the plywood over the top of the 2X2 trusses has been removed; more unfaced insulation has been added; a total of 24" blanket. Then along the peak of the roof, plywood has been added back to allow a walking area between the roofs (just because, I'm sure, if I didn't have it, I would have need of it several years from now...Murphy's Law)

The underside supports of the home (cinder bocks and shims) were added too; along the outside walls of the home (more cinder bocks).

Topbarhive

All homes, manufactured, or site built are engineered to sit on a foundation system that will adequately support their weight. Without engineering calculations there is no telling what the potential effect your roof replacement might be on the structure. You may very well have shifted the weight loads from the roof down to the foundation and that might be the cause of your problem. Corrective measures could include lagging the sections of home together, additional foundation support, some redesign of your roof system, or some combination of these or other remedies. The only way to be sure is to bring in someone that can make the engineering calculations needed to understand the dynamics of the weight loads and how they are being transmitted to the foundation system.

That said.... I started in the MH business in New England and homes in that part of the country often need to be re-leveled to counter the effects of the temperature extremes on the ground under your home. Your problem could very well be caused by frost heaves or uneven settlement. I would start by finding a licensed, experienced manufactured housing installer to see if a relevel would alleviate your problem.

David,

Thanks for the info...

I've had one other carpenter tell me the same thing, "lag the two halves together" That is in process.

The house hasn't moved anymore since, I will be tightening the lag bolts/screws every so often, to try to bring it back to where it was. I'll just take my time.

For now I'm happy; this thread is closed.

Topbarhive

The thought I have is that the 2x10's do NOT span the entire width of the home without other supports.If this is the case, you are adding load to the marriage line as well as the outside wall. If your home is on I beams recessed from the outside and marriage line walls, it was not designed for that. You have added alot of weight in addition to any snow load you may have which will cause problems with the floors and other areas. I strongly agree with Mr.Dave Oxhandler in that you need somebody to engineer your changes. Another problem you my have down the road is that the new roof needs to breath. Make sure you have good ventlation!

I am a real estate appraiser in Eastern Oregon. I have a double wide in which the owner has added a 480 square foot deck. Upon inspection of the interior I noted that the marriage line has separated and that the front section of the home is tilting which is causing inside corners to be separating. I checked outside and found that the owner had bolted this deck to the house which is the cause of the problem. I know the first thing that needs to be done is remove the deck. I need to know if an engineer needs to come out and put the two halves back together? What all needs to be done to make this right?

It is difficult to tell from here... but it sounds like the home has settled and needs to be re-leveled. Almost all buildings, site or factory built will experience some settlement.... some more than others. I'm sure in your experience you have seen framed homes that looked like the were out of square. Happily with a manufactured home this is generally an easy thing to correct. An engineer will probably not do you much good. Your best bet is to bring in a licensed manufactured home installer (all states require this license now) and get him to re-level the sections and lag or bolt them together.

Thank you for the information.