basements

[Movin-on]

We have purchased land, it has numerous hills, one of which I would like to place a basement w/ modular home on top. The basement would sit within the hill, only one side exposed to the elements. Ground would be on three sides of the modular.
Does anyone know if it is possible to place the home on a full basement?

[Mark]

Sure it's possible. Not cheap, but possible.

I'd make sure that whoever is contracted to do it, has done a home on a basement before.

[Movin-on]

We live in the Phoenix area, basements seem to puzzle builders here and manufactures of homes as well. They either say it will double the price of the house or it can't be done. I feel most certain it can be done and for less than we are being told. Some say they would have to use a crane to lft the house onto the foundation, which is nuts as they don't seem to have any problems placing them 3-5 feet off the ground w/o the use of a crane.

[Bill Fry]

When a home is placed 3 to 5 feet of the ground it is towed on to the desired location and jacked into place.How would you place the home on the basement opening without a crane?Its the simpliest and most efficent way to do it.

[Movin-on]

the basement is pretty much level at the top, it could be raised perhaps 2 feet above ground level if required. Since it is to be built in the hillside, there is ground on three sides of the home. I would think you would back the truck/trailer up.. the home would be slid onto the foundation by cable, pulling from the other end. Am I wrong in my assumption of how they place a home on the foundation, or is the foundation built up around the house once it is setting on the property?

[Roy Bonney]

Basement sets, are usually done one of two ways. Either with a crane, which is not the big expense most would assume, or with a roll off system. With the roll off, if the home is as you suggest, the home is in fact backed in next to the foundation walls, and the home slid across "I" beams with a roller system.

[Mark]

FWIW, crane rental runs about $6000 a day, depending on the area. A good setup crew can set the home for one days rental.

The basement itself may cost you $15,0000, depending on size and the cost of concrete in your area. Keep in mind your home will be setting on this for the rest of it's life, and is not the place to go cheap in the construction.

The roller system may be another option, IF you are keeping the frame under the home. If the home is going 'off frame', then the crane is your only option.

[Don]

Your best bet is to find a modular home. They have a stronger frame for basement mountings. Standard multi section manufactured homes do not have the strenght for basement setting. Support posts within the basement will be required, to support the home.
PS when choosing your home, make sure you can order one with a stairwell, so you can get into the basement from inside the home.

[rmurray]

Since you are looking for a modular home (as opposed to a manufactured home)..the builder/dealer should have no problem using a crane..this is common place..prices vary in various areas but usually run from $2000 to $5000 ..they are rented by the hour with an operator with a minimum fee..A quality..well prepared crew can easily be done with the crane in 3 to 4 hours..

Both manufactured and modular homes can and are set this way everyday..The foundations are different for each..some will offer stairwells some do not...Depending on the excavation required..cost should be an additional $15 to $20K...

[Mark]

As for modular pricing, I can tell you appoximately what it will cost, having just bought one myself..

Modular Upgrade = $16,000
Crane Rental (required due to being off frame) = $5500
Solid concrete perimeter foundation with solid concrete marrriage wall piers = $4000, you can probably 250% this to $10k for a basement.

All told, the base price of the home was $75k, I spent a total of $119k at the dealer, plus another $6-8k out of pocket.

The crane was a set fee, whether it took 2 hours or 20 (it took about 4), but the crane operator said the last crew took 14 hrs. The set crew was sent by the factory, the dealer didn't touch it.

Keep in mind that when you remove the frame, no wastelines can be installed until AFTER the home is set. This adds additional setup time. My homes been set for about a month now, but is still not ready to live in (don't even have power yet). And we haven't even done a walk thru and gotten that list corrected.

This is NOT a fast process (I started in december), and takes about the same length of time and involves the same building and inspection processes as building on site.