Leveling a Mobile Home

[Pam Carroll]

My husband and I recently purchased a used 2001 mobile home (80x16ft). It was installed on our property last week. When my husband and his friend put a water level on the I-beam he found it to be 8 inches off from one end to the other. My father and I found the same to be true with a water level and a laser. When I met with the mobile home installer today, he became pretty angry and argued that water levels are not accurate on mobile homes and that he never uses one. He proceeded to show me that it was level by using a 4-foot level in each room. To me that is just plain nonsense. After several arguments, he decided to use a water level, although I don't believe accurately, and came up with 6 inches off. He told me that he would level the I-beam, but that would probably make the floors unlevel. Help!?

[rmurray]

This fool does not belong in the business....4 ft levels went out 20 years ago...If he continues working badly...find out his licence number and file a complaint with the agency that regulates set up crews in your state...At least you will be helping others..It is possible small adjustments might have to be made when frames are not perfect...but small is the word..no where near 8 inches....Good Luck with your 'new" home..

[David Oxhandler]

Click on the link to get details about the Releveling Kit from Aberdeen Repair includes complete step-by-step instructions and a waterline level. Use these instructions and the enclosed waterline level to determine whether or not your home is out of level. You will also use this information to become a better-informed consumer and give yourself the upper hand when it comes to dealing with the retailer or contractor or if needed to hire a better educated contractor to do the job right.

The detailed instructions will show you the causes of why your home becomes unlevel learn how to set-up, calibrate and read a waterline level determine exactly where your home is unlevel and by how much learn what to watch-out for before, during and after releveling your home learn proper jack placement learn how your contractor should safely jack-up your home

Get more details Here

[Pam Carroll]

Thank you for replying! I'm supposed to meet with the installers again today. I understand that the I-beam is not perfectly straight, but certainly not 8 inches off. The installer is trying to tell me that if he levels the beam it would make the floors uneven. It is now my call. What would you do?

[troy]

The home must absolutely be leveled with the water level. There will be some slight differences between the frame beams and the finished floor. But that is nothing compared to the inaccuracy of a 4' level on an 80' house. A 4' level is worthless for leveling a house. I would be very reluctant to let this character continue to work on the house. He does not know what he is doing. Did you hire the installer or a dealer? If a dealer did, I would ask them to have the house leveled by a competent installer. If you hired him, he will expect you to give him the opportunity to correct the situation. In the long run though, it may be worth a few hundred bucks to have a qualified, competent installer correctly level the house.

[steve]

email [email protected] lets compare notes on installer-thx

[rmurray]

I would level the i-beam..then fix the floors if needed....Doors, windows and cabinets would not work right if the home was 8 inches out of level..

Good Luck..

[Pam Carroll]

As things became increasingly worse yesterday between the Installers and myself, I told them that I was going to call the State Inspector and Building Inspector for a second opinion - which I did. Today they were singing a different tune and were very happy to "please" me. However, it seemed that the water level puzzled them. Thankfully, my husband will be back in town tomorrow and can deal with them himself. Thanks for all the help.

[Brian Guidry]

Ha...reminds me of the set-up guy who told me, when asked why he was leveling the floor (using a 4 foot level of course) and not the frame, "you don't walk on the frame...".

Go figure...

[Greg Collins]

EVERY manufacturing plant I have ever been to ( about 40 ) levels the frame rails first then builds the home from there. That of course means if you get the frame level on site, in theory the floors and walls are going to be level. But... If the person puting camber* in the frame ( this is done by welding the rails with a 2X4 or 4X4 under the rail then fliping it over to start building the floor. ) put too much camber in they would just make up for the mistake by shimming the floor. I have seen this done, it doesnt effect the structural integrity of the home but sure will effect the" leveling the rail and not the floor theory ".

* Camber means the frame rails are higher in the "belly" and at the rear of the home so when they start putting weight on it it will level itsself. The amount of camber needed is predetermined by engineers but the amount of shims needed to achieve the proper camber is usually up to the welder. It works 99.9% of the time.