Question rmurray?

richard · Post by **richard** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:29 am

I took your advice and ordered the book on manufactured homes but now I have another question. I was told by a representative of Fairmont Homes that there was no difference in the structural makeup of the 30# roof load and the 40# roof load, he said the difference was in the foundation piers. Does this sound correct and if so please explain.

Thanks in advance

rmurray · Post by **rmurray** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:28 am

No you are right to be suspicious...Unfortunately you are now MUCH more informed than most sales persons you will see....

The BEST place to get the EXACT answer to this question is from the engineer at the Fairmont plant the home would be built in... Call them and ask....

richard · Post by **richard** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:44 am

I e-mailed Fairmont's home page and that is where this info came from.

rmurray · Post by **rmurray** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:11 am

Again...A call to the plant and a conversation with the engineer who designs the home is in order..Your e-mail would have been answered by the sales department..Few sales persons would have specific knowledge of the differences..I assume the answer is correct..but we all know what they say about "assume"...

I have heard that same explanation when comparing wind zone 1,2 and 3.."The homes are the same but blocking and anchoring are different." Not quite true..

I am NOT an engineer, there are some who lurk here and post from time to time..Maybe someone else will be able to answer better than me...Here in Augusta, GA on this 100 degree day we do NOT think much about snow load...

You can get all the legal specifics here (now you will know why only an engineer can answer your question)

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/mhs/mhshome.cfm

Good Luck..

mannymanbo · Post by **mannymanbo** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:41 pm

The information you received is wrong.
it is true that the size of the pier footings would increase, but the roof trusses as well as all headers (window, doors, marriage wall openings) and many times how the support columns (jamb and jack studs) bear on the floor system, all are different with a 40 PSF roof load home.

Typically, the same roof truss is used for both 20 psf and 30 psf, with 20 psf trusses spaced 24" oc and 30 psf spaced 16" oc (2 x 2 top chord) A 40 psf roof truss uses 2 x 3 top chord (again..typically). but trust me, a 40 psf house is much stronger.

trmimo · Post by **trmimo** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:09 am

With Fairmont 40# roof load is included with the 5 star option and with some of the other 5/12 roof packages. However, if you are in an area that a 30# roof is all that is required by code your retailer probably puts in piers for a 30# roof load regardless of what house you buy. This would mean that regardless of what you pay Fairmont to build you will be getting a 30# roof load. A 40# roof load house set on 30# roof load piers is a 30# roof load house.

richard · Post by **richard** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:33 pm

The home would be set in eastern KY so I would assume a 30# roof load would be sufficient but I thought if the 40# roof was structurally stronger that it might benefit me with any sagging roof line problem in the future. I work in the county assessor's office and I see a lot of homes. It seems they all look pretty good when they are new but as time goes on you can spot the better homes.

trmimo · Post by **trmimo** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:27 am

In Kentucky 20# is all that is required.

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