I just bought a '04 Palm harbor double wide mobile home.?

Question

This mobile home is in very good condition and i will be moving it to a 1 acre track that I own. I would like some advice about setup and whether or not it would be a good idea to make a few changes to the interior.
I'm going to put the home on concrete runners and from what i understand the home will be approximately 18 to 24 inches off the ground after it is put into place. My question is why does it need to be so high off the ground? I would like it to look as much like a site built home as possible(just my preference). Can i set the home lower than 18 inches? I own the home outright. If I do set it up lower than the usual 18 inches will that prevent me from selling later? Comments please.
Another thing is it doesn't have tape and texture on the inside. I am thinking about adding drywalls to the living room and master bedroom. Is this a good idea? Would i need to take the paneling off or just put it over it? How costly would this be if i did it myself? Together its about 370 sqft.

Answer 1

Removing the axles and affixing the manufactured home to a permanent foundation such as concrete runners, will help in the resale value of your home and help future buyers obtain financing easier. Financial Institutions are more willing to do a loan on a mobile home permanently affixed. Also, all manufactured homes are required to have tie downs. They will put metal tie downs in your cement runners, before the cement dries and then use cable to more firmly affix the home to the concrete pad - it's more stable in storms and another reason the banks like this type of set up. To your question about 18" to 24", it is required to have a minimum of 18" clearance. You can't put the mobile home directly on the ground because the moisture will eat up the underbelly and start to corrode your plywood floor. Also, plumbing problems, septic or electrical problems can occur over time. You need 18" for a person to be able to get underneath the home to fix things. It would definitely limit the number of people who would be attracted to your home should you decide to resell. Beauty and practicality will matter to buyers. Also, has one of the answerers already mentioned, there are so many great options out there for skirting, which really adds a look of stability to the home. Be glad you will have 18 to 24" to show this off. If that does not appeal to you, installers offer backfilling. This is where they push direct up the skirting and gradually slope it down, creating an impression the home is flush with the ground. But here is a website for the skirting which looks like stone: www.stonecote.com Even if this provider is not in your area, it is available nationwide. Just ask a local manufactured home dealer what company they use to install the new homes they sell. Pretend you are interested in buying one. Once you get the name, go to that company and get a bid for them to do the skirting or to obtain it. They know where to get it. I heard 1/2 tape and texture is needed to help avoid hairline cracks. Sounds great you own your home outright. Congratulations on that accomplishment.

Answer 2

Been there...done that. You really are on the right track...however, I would suggest that you ask someone in concrete construction to come have a look and tell you what would be the code for a foundation that a bank would lend on. For our area, it requires a 30" deep base with footers, concrete block and tie downs. Just make sure that it will be loanable for a buyer in the future.
Some walls in mobile are actually already 3/8" drywall and then have a wallpaper over them. If it is just panelling, tear it down and put up dry wall. If you drive a nail and you know it is dry wall, leave it up and texture over it. Well worth doing yourself and it looks so good when it is done. Behind some tack strip there may be HUGE gaps between the ceiling and the wall...I have found it is best to use Alex Plus caulking to fill these gaps first. This gives the flexibility that the mobile needs when it moves...joint compound will just crack. You can refill it if it shrinks away and it will stay good from then on. If you have grooves in the panelling or drywall now...fill them lightly with joint compound before you spray texture. I wish I knew if it was straight paneling or dry wall. We have spray textured straight over paneling and it was fine but I always wonder if someone punches the walll if the texture would fall off :)
Have fun with it...It really is a great investment!!
Good luck!!!

Answer 3

I lived in a brand new mobile. I found that the duct for the heating and air was close to 18" in diameter from the heat pump. I also found that I could easily get around under it for any maintenance I wanted to do (I installed 3 extra outside faucets than were included in the installation. Hopefully, you are getting the set-up done professionally. I saw what a pain it would have been for me to do. Check with whoever is setting it to make sure where to put your concrete where it needs to be. There are a lot of piers under a mobile. I had masonary skirting installed. Looked just like brick. I also had two access doors installed so I didn't have to crawl all the way across the dirt if I needed to get somewhere. Most mobiles have wallpapered drywall with the vertical strips at the seams. You could remove it or just cover it but be aware of the window trim.

Answer 4

Mobile homes are typically that high because when they are delivered by a truck, they are that height. Idon't know a way to lower it, and if it ever needed to be moved you'd have to jack it up to towing height. For a foundation look, try cinder block. Put the block in just like you would on any home then cover it with stucco, stone, or whatever you like.
As for the drywall, you'd have to check the going price for drywall and then decide the thickness you would want.
If you leave the paneling up it will be more soundproof but will make the room a bit smaller and may not be flush with windows and doors.

Answer 5

I had to work on one close to the ground tunneling to access the plumbing was no fun. I don't know the code now but a little room is handy if you have a problem. As far as the sheet rock call the manufacturer no body knows the structural specs better than they do.

Answer 6

If you live in city limits, check with your city's housing department. In our city, the restrictions on mobile homes are strict. The best thing to do is to get in touch with someone that sells mobile homes or moves them and ask what the regulations are and the reasons behind them. In my area, due to the tornado problem, the homes have to be tied down with steel rebar type things. (Not sure on what they are called.)