If you list or sell mobile or manufactured homes, there are a few terms that go with the beasts that are not necessarily familiar to the average Jack or Jill. For example, an inspector often cannot see much underneath them because they have a built in vapor barrier. This is up under the floor and has various names, it goes by, from bottom board to road barrier to rodent barrier. The board obscures much of the plumbing, electrical and structure. However, if it is all cut up around toilets and sinks that gives a good tip that there have been problems with plumbing.

Another word that is used is ribbons. Some manufactured homes rest on the soil held up by concrete blocks that might be sinking. The better installations have slabs or the ribbons. These ribbons are strips of poured concrete that support the various types of piers or blocks. That is a great improvement over blocks resting on earth. The pad, of course, is good too.

The title of this post refers to tie-downs. These are metal straps that hold the home to the foundation/ground. These are primarily for wind, tornado, hurricane protection in some states. In Washington state the concern is flooding and that the units might float away. Today the more recent installations all have tie-downs and they are mandatory by code almost everywhere -- again that is for the new installations. Make no mistake, there are still lots of mobile and manufactured homes out there that are not on sound footings or do not have stable foundations or tie-downs.

For the musically inclined: Tie Me Manufactured Home Down Sport

Tie down

Thanks for stopping by.

Steven L. Smith

www.kingofthehouse.com

Bellingham WA property inspector