cement foundation for mobile homes

[drandvrfarms]

ok have 1993 double wide that needs a permanent foundation other than vinyl siding
Contractor is saying they would need to heap the soil around the home for frost protection. I have never heard or seen this done. Now I have heard of putting a berm of soil in the back to cut down on the rain water from going under the home.
I have the home located on a slight downgrade but where is located the pad is level. The Mobile home dealer at the time of installantion put the home way too low so now it is needing to be raised for a more permenant foundation. Even thou the latest contractor seemed to know what he was talking about I just question the berm of soil all around the home. If this is needed or is this more unneeded money spent.
Thank You
Vivian

[David Oxhandler]

Meet with three or four state licensed installers. Do not mention that you have talked to another contractor, listen to what they suggest and ask what the local code requires. At one time we used to try to set homes as low as the code would permit to minimize the skirting line and give the homes more of a site built profile. A low home is a pain to work under but in may locations not a serious problem. What is the reason that the home needs to be raised? Are you planning to switch foundations because you are trying to refinance? Is there a moisture problem?

To just raise a home in place the best system I have seen is the SureSafe Foundation for Manufactured Homes. See http://mobilehomefoundations.com/suresafe_files/

[sherrylynn]

We are planning on purchasing a manufactured home and in the research I am doing, I am reading all kinds of bad things. I thought I had our home narrowed down to one form Oak Creek Homes. As I search reviews I am reading things from powder post bettles to nightmares with customer service after the purchase.

Is their an upside to mobile homes? Thanks

[Celtlund]

Sherrylynn, there is an upside to manufactured homes and that is you can get a beautiful and well built home for a lot less than you would pay for a site built home. In fact, you can get a home that is better built than some site built homes.

There is a way to avoid "nightmares" with customer service after the sale and here is how you do that. First, I highly recommend you purchase and read TWICE Mr. Grisson's books before you go looking for a home. They will provide you with a wealth of information to help prevent heartaches during your search for your home, the sale, and service after the sale.

The next step is to go out looking for a home. You are now armed with a bunch of knowledge from the books and have some idea of how to sift through the sales "fluff." You will also know what red flags to look for so you can run away when you see them. Next, thoroughly check out the reputation of the dealership as the dealer can be very helpful in resolving any after the sales issues.

Bottom line is to buy the best quality home you can afford with the options you want from a highly rated MF home manufacturer and use a very reputable dealer.

My wife an I purchased a Southern Energy Home made in Alabama from Greg Tilley's in Bossier City, LA. All of the relatively minor issues we had (front door needed replacing, windows sticking, minor roof leak, balancing fans, etc.) were all taken care of in a very quickly and professionally by either the dealership or Southern Energy.

Do your research, take your time, and you will avoid those nightmares.

Oh, if you are planning on putting your home in a park, make sure you research the park as carefully as you research the manufacturer and the dealer.

Happy house hunting.

[sherrylynn]

Thank you for your very encouraging support. As a matter of fact I have just ordered the revised edition of Grissom's book. I look forward to learning what is needed. Thanks again

[vrfarms59]

Ok I did what you suggested got a few more opinions but than it got confusing the first one said the home was put too low in the first place and the second one said they could put a cinder block foundation under it as it sits. But I have been here for 18 years and I wanted to raise it to fix the underneath before putting a foundation under it. Since 1994 I was younger and had no problems crawling under a mobile home. So I am still thinking on it. Been this way for awhile and I guess will be this waY for a bit more. I had a single wide in here at the first then I a Double wide, as for checking around when I bought we did not have a computer I knew nothing about putting them in and all the trouble that the dealer ship put me thru. I reported them to the mobile home maker and vowed never to buy one from that dealership again. I enjoy this site alot learning alot. Keep up the good work... Chow vrfarms