Top 5 non-conformance's found during a manufactured home installation inspection

NTA has been performing Manufactured Home Installation Inspections across the country in states where the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administer the Manufactured Home Installation Program. This program has been in effect for over a year, and we have examined the results of many inspections to bring you a list of the top five most commonly found non-conformances during an installation inspection.

Proper grading and drainage

·            The most important item when installing a home is making sure that water doesn’t sit under the home. Wet or damp conditions under a home is the fastest way to destroy it. Unfortunately, though, this is the most frequent problem we find in the field. All drainage must be diverted away from the home and must slope a minimum of ½-inch per foot away from the foundation for the first ten feet.

Pier Configuration

·            Hollow concrete blocks are required to have a cap block. The cap block must be a 4-inch solid concrete, ½-inch steel or 2-inch hardwood. Above the cap, you are then allowed to have a 2-inch or 4-inch concrete block or up to 2-inch of hardwood to fill in the remaining space. Many installs we find caps of 1x material, or material that only covers half of the block.

Required DAPIA approvals

·            If the installer is using an alternative system that is not referenced in the home manufacturer’s installation instructions they need to obtain a DAPIA approved design from that manufacturer.  Most lateral bracing systems are not approved and when they are, the manufacturers put additional restrictions on them that don’t match what’s in the systems installation instructions. It is very important that installers make sure they install the foundation system using the instructions that are approved by the home manufacturer for that home.

Dryer and Crossover Ducts

·            It is very common to find heat duct crossovers or dryer vent duct laying on the ground and not supported. Flexible ducts are required to be supported at a maximum of 4-feet. It is also important to make sure the dryer ducts do not have reverse slope. Lint and dust accumulation can ignite and cause a fire.

Bottom Board Repairs

·            Any tears or holes in the bottom board must be repaired following the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Even the holes created by lagging two halves of a double wide together must be repaired. This may seem like a minor issue, but any hole in the bottom board gives bees and wasps a perfect place to enter the home.

For more information on Manufactured Home Installation Inspections, visit our website, or contact us.