EIS Engineered Inspection Services - Permanent Foundation I

Manufactured homes have a unique foundation consisting of cinder block piers and tie down anchors. The piers, which rest on concrete footings, support the gravity load or weight of the home. The tie downs are steel straps attached to the steel frame of the house and anchors that are fastened in the ground. These tie downs control the effects of wind loads on the house.

In order for a manufactured home to qualify for FHA, VA or VHDA insurance, it must meet certain qualifications including the following:

There must be a properly enclosed crawl space with a continuous permanent foundation-type construction (similar to a conventionally built foundation, i.e., concrete, masonry, or treated wood.
The manufactured home must not have been installed or occupied previously at any other site or location.
The home must be permanently attached to the foundation by anchoring devices (tie downs) to adequately resist all loads caused by wind uplift or seismic activity. Note that the perimeter wall whether brick, stone or other material is not the foundation – the foundation is the piers and anchor tie downs. Anchoring straps affixed to ground anchors (tie downs) must be anchored to the concrete pier footings or perimeter wall concrete footing.

Quite often upon inspection, it is found that the tie-down anchors are simply screwed into the soil which violates the requirements above. EIS can provide repair of this condition by anchoring the frame of the house to the concrete pier footing with steel rods. The cost of this service varies with the size of the house but ranges from $700 to $1200.

EIS Engineered Inspection Services

Correct anchors tied into the perimeter wall

Incorrect anchors screwed into the soil