"Permanent Foundations"????

[Bob]

I've read a lot of post talking about "Permanent Foundations". What exactly are you guys calling a permanent foundation? Is it a full poured concrete slab, or is it "pads", or "piers"? I'm confused. Please advise. Thanks.

Bob

[Karl]

The manufactured homes I've seen that have been put on "permanent foundations" are only foundations in a loose sense. The home still sits on pads, like a "trailer" would. However, around the perimeter of the home, a cement-block "foundation" encloses the area under the house, much like skirting. One the ones I've looked at, the foundation does not support the house--the pads still do the support. But this "skirting foundation" satisfies the zoning requirements in some areas that manufactured homes must be "on" a foundation. There may be some actually bolted to a foundation, like a "stick built" home, but if there are, I haven't seen any.

[Ron]

A permanent foundation, in addition to the items already mentioned, has a complete poured concrete footer upon which the blocks or bricks are placed.