| Are you looking to purchase a manufactured | | | | the piers must be either laid in Portland cement |
| "mobile" home and finance it with a FHA loan? Are | | | | mortar or dry-stacked and coated with a fiber |
| you looking to refinance your current loan with an | | | | reinforced surface bonding cement. Steel jack |
| FHA loan? If you are, then the foundation of your | | | | stands are an approved pier substitute provided |
| home will have to be reviewed by a licensed | | | | they are designed and sealed by a licensed |
| structural engineer to ensure that is complies with | | | | engineer. |
| HUD requirements dictated by HUD Handbook | | | | The chassis must be anchored to the |
| 4930.3 entitled, "Permanent Foundations Guide for | | | | footings (screw-in earth anchors are not allowed). |
| Manufactured Housing" and as updated per the | | | | Enclose the foundation with a durable skirting. |
| Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 | | | | As of May 21, 2009, vinyl or metal skirting |
| (enacted July 30, 2008). New homes must meet | | | | materials are allowed. |
| the requirements of HUD Handbook 4145.1, | | | | Provide adequate ventilation in the crawl |
| REV-2, CHG-1 entitled, "Architectural Processing | | | | space area. 1 square foot of net free area per |
| and Inspections for Home Mortgage Insurance" | | | | 150 square feet of crawl space floor area is |
| and reported using form HUD-92051 entitled, | | | | required around the perimeter of the home. |
| "Compliance Inspection Report". | | | | The ground underneath the home must be |
| The foundation requirements posted by HUD are | | | | covered with a 6mil minimum thickness |
| often times more stringent than those required | | | | polyethylene vapor barrier. |
| by the local building code. The intent of these | | | | All equipment used to transport the home |
| requirements is to make your home safe by | | | | (tongues, axles and wheels) must be removed |
| increasing it's ability to withstand strong winds and | | | | from the site. |
| earthquakes, more resistant to moisture problems | | | | All utilities must be permanently installed. |
| and enhanced bearing strength to reduce the | | | | As you can see, the requirements are more |
| possibility for foundation settlement. | | | | stringent than those required by most building |
| Below is a list of the basic HUD foundation | | | | codes. I recommend contacting your local licensed |
| requirements: | | | | structural engineer who can assist you with |
| Poured concrete footings or approved | | | | determining your home's compliance and what |
| engineered foundations must support the piers. | | | | steps, if any, are required to upgrade the |
| If using concrete blocks (CMU) as piers, then | | | | foundation of your home. |