A basement under my 14X70 Skyline

[Grant W]

Hello All,

I purchased a 14X70 Skyline Homette from Hartzler's Quality Housing in Dover Ohio. My wife and I love it. I have it beside my parents on 2 lots. We don't want to sell it nor do we want a double or modular. The property that it is on is mine, but I do not want to finance something and put the land in the hands of bank.

We are planning digging out and constructing a basement to roll the house over. I have searched on the internet for people who have done this, there must not be many. I have talked to local contractors who said this would be no problem. But I have a question.....

Maybe someone can help me....

Okay....When we construct the basement, does the basement have to keep the same level as what the mobile home is now? Is is possible to raise the home during the "roll on" procedure, or does the top of the basement have to be consistently level with what the home is now? Will raising the home 1-2 feet cause a considerable increase in cost?

Thanks for the input!

Grant W
Ohio

[Brooks Burd]

Grant, I'm from Tiffin, OH and I set homes. It takes just a little longer to raise the home, but you can lift (or lower) it any amount. I do want to mention most single-wides have "outriggers" on the frame that would cause a little problem. If you look under your home there are two main I-beams running the length of the home. On the outside of these are smaller pieces of steel that angle up to the floor of the home. These are usually to far out to set down on a block wall. Sometimes you can use 6" block on the top course of the foundation instead of 8" to make these fit. If that doesn't work, the blocks can be notched were these would hit. As a last resort these can be cut (only as much as needed to fit into foundation.) Also at the two ends of the home the main I-beams sometimes are to long to fit into foundation (manufacturers assumed people would only set these on piers.) I hope this info. helps. If you need someone who can set it, feel free to email me. If not, I hope everything works out OK.
One last thing. Single-wides should be supported under the two main I-beams. If a contractor tells you differently, ask someone else. This is easily done by putting in some short I-beams across the fondation. Measure the height of the I-beams of the home and measure from the top of the basement sill plate down. This is where the top of the foundation I-beams should be. You can add 1/4 - 1/2 inch to this measurement for shims. The person who sets the home should then shim it with steel shims so the home can be connected to the foundation by welding the I-beams of the house to the I-beams of the foundation. Even if you never plan on moving the home again, you may want to think about keeping the tongue and axles.

[Grant W]

thanks for the reply.

what is the general (average) cost of this task?

Thanks

Grant