Inspecting a crawl space under a double wide. It was a poured slab with metal piers supporting the structure and CMU for skirting. Looks like someone moved the corner metal pier to install the water pressure tank and never put the metal pier back. Now that corner is only supported by the outer beam that is cantilevered over the next metal pier back which is about 15 back from the end of the building. This unit had two propriety type longitudinal and lateral anchoring system, one each at opposite corners of the building.
William,
Do you want advice on how to fix this or did you have some other question? If there is a question, please clarify the situation.
Is the Skirting “CMU”? Is the adjustable jack stand pictured what you ware calling a “metal pier”? Are they really spaced 15 ft apart? Were there any tie-down anchors visible?
1 Like
I was doing the inspection for an Engineering Company that specializes in modular foundations. No question, just wondering how someone could leave it like this.
1 Like
Just to clarify your terminology, I assume you meant a manufactured home foundation.
Due to the names given to these “factory-built” homes, it can be easy to confuse the two. It’s fairly important to keep them separate though.
3 Likes
I agree with @bhull1
That is a jack stand, hardly a permanent pier. I would have greater concerns if jacks are the only pier system.
How was the rest of the structure supported? What did they use at the ends of the remaining beams?
1 Like
Those jacks are allowed but one should be closer to the end of the beam, I think within 12" or so and then around 6ft apart but that depends on the weight of the house. 15ft would mean that 2 of them were missing.
Beam should be anchored/tied down to the ground in more than two locations. Not enough pictures to say much about it.
1 Like
Correction. It’s a manufactured home (double wide) not a modular home. The house had 44 of these metal piers supporting its 27 x 60 ft structure.
From HUD Regulations…
6.2.2 Acceptable Piers — Materials Specification.
6.2.2.1 Piers shall be permitted to be concrete blocks, pressure-treated wood having 0.60 pcf (94 N/m3) retention in accordance with AWPA C9–00, Plywood — Preservative Treatment by Pressure Processes, or adjustable metal or concrete piers as shown in 6.2.3.2.1.
Good stuff, can you provide the HUD image?
William, typically, an engineer has to sign of on the manufactured house foundation.
3 Likes
The most
common pier
types are steel
jack stands or
Taken directly from the article which the op provided, and a picture is also there.
I was surprised to see the word “Footer” used.
1 Like
I found a different HUD document. Steel jacks are permitted with proper footings followed by minimum load ratings and spacing. It did note no more that 2" of screw threads can be exposed. So that is good. Looks like that jack needs to be put back in place or alternate support added. The OP made a good observation.
1 Like
Are there any tie downs? I don’t see any.
I believe he is doing field service work for the engineering firm. Going out and taking pictures and gathering info which then gets sent to the engineer for sign-off.
4 Likes
Gotcha… …thanks.
3 Likes
the engineer firm will address if those metal piers are acceptable or not., not the field inspector. His only job is to view, photo and document( at least that how it was form me when did performed these types of inspections )
4 Likes
No metal or cable straps for tie downs. What it did have was a proprietary anchor/tie down system that provided longitudinal and lateral anchoring at opposite corners of the house. This is acceptable according to the engineers I work for.
3 Likes
Because Plumbers and Electricians Don’t put anything back! They just don’t give a D%$#.
I also do these for an engineering company and I’ll bet The Engineer is going to require this be reinstalled to get the Foundation Cert. It will probably cost (I’m guessing) The Seller to have someone reinstall the pier and then likely pay for a reinspection to verify it was completed to get the certificate. Probably several hundreds of dollars because of a lazy/unprofessional contractor…
If I was the person paying for the Foundation Cert, I would be demanding the Lazy (Plumbing) Contractor foot the bill for the fix and reinspection.
(Can’t tell you how many times as an insulation contractor we would get called back out to install a few insulation batts in new construction because touching/putting back insulation was just too hard for a plumber or electrician…sumbitchessss)
3 Likes
That’s the nicest manufactured home crawlspace I’ve ever seen. In the rural areas of Colorado where I typically inspect them, they are usually filled with a variety of animal feces and carcasses on soil.
1 Like