I learned something I did not know about the pier requirements and limitations. No more than 25% of the support piers of the main frame should exceed 36". Any thing less than 36" can be single stacked. (48" for perimeter walls.) Anything above these heights need to be double stacked.
the Best course! I owned couple of manufactured home and I learn a lot.
I agreed to all the post here.
The dry stacked concrete piers were on noted poured concrete strip footings. The block perimeter wall was on a concrete footing. The pier spacing was within the 6 foot requirement. No tie-downs straps, anchors or conventional attachment methods were noted. The required black vapor barrier was installed. The piers were installed perpendicular to the I-beams. The piers were properly capped and wedged. None of the piers were over 36 inches in height. 14 vents were installed, totaling 1.75 ft.² per 300 ft.² of underfloor area.
No openings or gaps were found in the perimeter wall. No more stir entry issues were noted.
I chose to read Marijuana Grow Operations.
I was not surprised by the article concerns;
water damage. Water damage caused by grow operations will likely appear uniform throughout the room, unlike the generally localized damage caused by water leaks. Even normal house plants can create enough water vapor to damage shingles, and a large marijuana grow operation may cause a considerable amount of water damage.
large mold accumulations. Mold grows fast in humid environments. It can be a health concern, as well as a source of structural decay.
Interesting question, can you refuse to inspect a past or current grow operation for safety reasons if you are in a state where to grow is legal?
I have looked at many manufactured homes in looking for a recreational property. One of the most frequent issues I see in inadequate stairs, no railings and no landings. In this picture you can see all of these issues. The local code required a full landing on any entrance of 36 inches by 36 inches and railings where there are more than three stairs. To make matters worse, on this installation, the stairs were wobbly and were not level. It makes for uncomfortable access and egress, particularly in the dark. In doing these it was easy to understand the rationale for these requirements.
I read through the article on Defensible Space, I found this particularly interesting as frequently, at least where I live, manufactured home are frequently placed in rural settings both in forested and in areas of prairie, where maintaining an adequate fire break is critical. In grassland areas, a short distance is maintained around a home and I have seen as little as 2 feet, with same areas having tall grass right up to the skirting of the home. In the spring and fall, grass fires are a frequent in Alberta and damage to or destruction of the home in virtually guaranteed. This article will ensure I incorporate this information into not only inspections of manufacture homes, but all homes.
I ve just read about aluminum wiring and have determined that it is possible safty issue.The problem is two fold either rewire your home or use and approved method a (copalum) which is a connector for attaching copper wire to the exsisting aluminum wiring. An infra red check of outlets of aluminum wired homes could warn the client of possble loose connectors.Replacing the wire is the best possble solution buy expensive.It is very prudent to check an outlet that a used frequntly to prevent loose wires which could cause shorts and heat . Ultimetly could cause a fire .
thank you C.Reney
Thanks Ben enjoyed the course
As per completion of requirements for the inspection of manufactured homes course here is a picture of bathroom sink plumbing. It appears that all is correct here. No leaks and shutoff valves are present.
I learned that in 1999 the NEC extended GFCI requirements to carnivals, circuses and fairs today. Have to protect the clowns.
Inspecting Manufactured Homes
In my experience very few people use the term “Manufactured Housing” other than those retailing brand new homes of that type. Almost universally, re-sales of such housing are still termed “Mobile Homes”, term used by realtors, park owners and buyers alike.
In Florida, there seem to be some variations concerning enforcement of national standards. Here are two examples…
- Placement of a vapor barrier on the ground under the home is not required in the local jurisdictions in which I have inspected such homes…
- Probably due to risk of high wind force in Florida, electric meters and the main disconnect are never mounted directly on a mobile home, but rather on a separate pole or post away from the home. Often the main panel is also placed in the same location, but it is Ok for the distribution panel to be installed inside the home. Again this may vary with local predictable wind conditions.
The article I studied provided a good background for buyers of brand new units, but did not concentrate on re-sales.
did not know that a mobile home had so much going on with it … on paper it looks and sound that installation as far as a foundation and anchoring is really complex . i was thinking that you just find a place to sit your mobile home and just drop it where you had space for it and that was it … it really seems that there is more to do for it then a single family home what i never had in mind was the wind load capacity , any guys do not have an image at this point but will get back to this course with an later on hopefully time to take the exam i also see on the thread that a couple of our guys had a problem passing the final exam hope that i can say different … wish me luck…:shock:
Wow, Every Article has good insightful information.
The specs for Kitchen Exhaust fans are pretty straight forward, although solutions allowing clients to keep the fuel burning appliance in two story homes are not always easy.
I have come across this in two story homes that ducting to the exterior is not possible or the provisions are to extensive. Has anyone come across solutions in these type of scenarios that allow the client to keep the Fuel burning appliance? Also, I heard that there are expensive recirculating fans that can remove CO2, has any one else heard of or seen these?
Any input it Welcome.
Thanks.
Thanks, Shader
I conducted a Home Inspection on a manufactured home in Graham Washington. I was curious to see if the Anchoring devices were in compliance with the knowledge that I have gained from inernachi. The Anchoring devices where the band type straps wrapped around the I beam, and anchored in soil. There were two anchors within 2’ from the ends, I then measured the distance between the Anchoring devices in between center to center, per the How to Inspect Manufactured and Mobile Homes Course they supposed to be within 11’. I had measured 12.5’, this would exceed the Limit.
Wow this is pretty cool stuff. If anyone has any thoughts they may want to add, please do.
ShaderFor this essay I’ve decided to write about commercial roofing inspections. In the picture shown below, you will see a core sample taken at a recent inspection. The core sample is used to determine if there are additional coverings present and how much labor will be needed to strip and dispose of those coverings.
For this essay I’ve decided to write about Electronic Signatures for Home Inspection Agreements by: Nick Gromicko, and Mark Cohen, InterNACHI General Counsel. I chose this article because of the ever growing demand to utilize technology within our daily lives. I liked how the article addressed the question as to whether digital signatures were legal and their use across state lines. I know from experience that the digital signatures we use on our contracts saves a ton of time and energy.
Every mobile home I have ever inspected did not have any attic access to see if there is any wood rot, particularly at the sewer vents.
Starting Man and Mobe course, living in FL. I’m sure I’ll use it.
J Robbins
Licensed FL. Home Inspector and Electrical Contractor
dowj6969@aol.com
352-507-1811
here is my essay and attached picture/s for inspecting a recent AC system*AC INSPECTION.pdf (87.8 KB)
