Joining single-wides?

What do you want to know about manufactured homes? The worlds greatest collection of expert advice on buying, installing, maintaining and repairing manufactured homes.



Post Reply
BJ

Joining single-wides?

Post by BJ » Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:41 pm

We just recently purchased a single-wide on 2.5 acres. A neighbor is selling their single-wide and we were curious to know if it is possible to join the two. We would like to put them side by side, frame the outside to join them together, and then gut out the second one, creating an open area.
Thank you for any information you can give me.
BJ

rmurray

Re: Joining single-wides?

Post by rmurray » Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:39 pm

Most local governments would not allow this..First most zoning laws only allow 1 dwelling unit prt lot...Second the addition would never meet the building code for a home addition...Talk yo your local building officials and as if you can do this...

Good Luck...

David Oxhandler

Re: Joining single-wides?

Post by David Oxhandler » Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:18 am

There are rural counties that will permit you to join 2 homes together, but they have become few and far between, We were permitted to do things like this in the county where I live up to about 5 years ago. I have seen this done a number of times, but not usually successfully.

You need to have someone that has considerable experience in multi-section installations, the ability to adapt that experience to a non-standard situation and the talent to design and fabricate a marriage system that will not sag or leak.. A successful job will most likely require a new pitched roof that spans both units, which can be quiet expensive, considering the price of lumber and roofing materials today.

I purchased a small 24x40 block home. In the late 80s. We attached a 24x44 Fleetwood doublewide to the block home in a "L" shape. We consulted with an engineer, who designed the marriage system and a home builder with 20 years experience to design and frame a new plywood/shingle roof that seamlessly covers the entire home.

We then brought in a plaster contractor who installed stucco siding from the roof line to the ground. The front door side and back of the doublewide was wrapped with a wood deck that the new roof extends over. We spent the next year renovating and modernizing the interior and have lived in the home ever since. The home has stood up against 4 hurricanes here in Florida, in the past 2 years, without incident.

On the other hand I have seen several similar, amateur attempts, that worked well until the first rainy season, when they experienced more damage from settlement and/or rain then that owners could afford to repair.

What you want to do is possible. Talk to the local building authorities to see if this is a permitted consideration where you live. Seek professional guidance and bring in experienced tradesmen. Be prepared to pay top price for these services as you will need the most experienced and talented people available. If you attempt this on your own, or "on the cheep" the odds are that you will be abandoning your home after a very short time.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 29 guests