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STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
Cracks, Checking or Splitting Beams & Log Homes
CRAWL SPACES
DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
DISASTER BUILDING INSPECTION & REPAIR SAFEY
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE
FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRT PLYWOOD
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HOUSEWRAP - TYVEK INSTALLATION DETAILS
LOG HOME GUIDE
PANELIZED CONSTRUCTION & KIT HOMES
MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION
MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS
DEFINITIONS of Mobile Home, Doublewide, Modular, Panelized
INTRODUCTION to MOBILE HOMES
PRIORITIES OF MOBILE HOME INSPECTION
MOBILE HOME LABELS
MOBILE HOME ROOF DEFECTS
MOBILE HOME EXTERIOR DEFECTS
MOBILE HOME TRUCTURAL DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME WIND RATINGS
  MOBILE HOME ENERGY ZONES
  MOBILE HOME ROOF ZONES
  MOBILE HOME FOUNDATIONS
  MOBILE HOME PIERS
  MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS
  MULTI-WIDE CONNECTIONS
  WALL DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME CRAWL SPACES
  GENERAL STRUCTURAL
MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
  MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SERVICE
  MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL GROUNDING
  COMMON DEFECTS
MOBILE HOME HEATING
MOBILE HOME COOLING
MOBILE HOME INSULATION
MOBILE HOME PLUMBING
  GENERAL PLUMBING
  MOBILE HOME SUPPLY PIPING
  DRAIN WASTE VENT
  MOBILE HOME FUEL SUPPLY
  MOBILE HOME WATER HEATER DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME PLUMBING FIXTURE DEFECTS
MOBILE INTERIOR DEFECTS
SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY
STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
WATER PUMPS & TANKS

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Damaged mobile home wall (C) Daniel FriedmanHow to Inspect the Structure of Mobile Homes, Double wides, Trailers - Part 3, Walls, Crawl Spaces, General Structure
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • Mobile home structural inspection guide, part 3
  • Common mobile home, double-wide & trailer defects in walls, crawl spaces, and other items
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.

How to Inspect Mobile Homes or Manufactured Housing for Structural Defects, part 3: detailed procedures, defect lists, references to standards. Ver.3.4 - 04/25/07 - Steve Vermilye, New Paltz NY and Daniel Friedman, Poughkeepsie NY, Hudson Valley ASHI Chapter Seminar, Newburgh NY, January 4, 2000, NY Metro ASHI Fall 99 Seminar, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 2, 1999.

Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Resources. The Green links show where you are in our document & website. © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, New York State License # 16000005303 All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left.

WALL DEFECTS - Defects in Mobile Homes

Damaged mobile home wall (C) Daniel Friedman Damaged mobile home wall (C) Daniel Friedman
  • watch for furring strips and aluminum siding vs. real 2x4 or 2x6 studs 16"o.c.
  • watch for short walls less than 7'6" (C. r.) - short walls mean special short doors, furring strips means no real insulation;
  • Sheathing: OSB or plywood under vinyl; metal siding may have no sheathing = weaker structure;
  • metal siding: leaks at decorative railing/trim (horizontal); leaks at doors and windows;
  • hardboard siding: leaks at seams and joints; poor material, short life;

CRAWL SPACES - Mobile Home Crawl Space Concerns

Mobile home crawl space (C) Daniel Friedman

  • Flooding, mold contaminated insulation
  • Freeze damaged plumbing
  • Ductwork for HVAC system damaged, contaminated, not functional
  • openings, damaged insulation, leaking pipes, improper plumbing and wiring
  • violations of proper clearance to ground:
  • 12" minimum beneath lowest frame member and ground in area of utility connections;
  • no more than 25% of the main frame can be less than 12" above grade;
  • If over basement or habitable lower level or more than 1/4 of home is more than 3' above grade a professional must design the foundation;
  • belly wrap (plastic or other) to seal out moisture and hold in insulation:
  • often damaged or pulled out for repair; rodents, water, leaks; air leaks;
  • look for termites & carpenter ants - up skirt into floors/walls esp. @ leaks (plumbing, windows, doors)

GENERAL STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN TRAILERS - General Mobile Home Structural Concerns

  • support added for sagging roofs/ceilings, makeshift, improper
  • Rotted floors at leak points such as below windows and at leaky water heaters

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Technical Reviewers & References

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

DEFINITIONS of Mobile Home, Doublewide, Modular, Panelized Construction
MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS
INTRODUCTION to MOBILE HOMES
PRIORITIES OF MOBILE HOME INSPECTION
MOBILE HOME LABELS
ROOFING DEFECTS
MOBILE HOME EXTERIOR DEFECTS
MOBILE HOME TRUCTURAL DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME WIND RATINGS
  MOBILE HOME ENERGY ZONES
  MOBILE HOME ROOF ZONES
  MOBILE HOME FOUNDATIONS
  MOBILE HOME PIERS
  MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS
  MULTI-WIDE CONNECTIONS
  MOBILE HOME WALL DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME CRAWL SPACES
  GENERAL STRUCTURAL
MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
  MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SERVICE
  MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL GROUNDING
  COMMON DEFECTS
MOBILE HOME HEATING
MOBILE HOME COOLING
MOBILE HOME INSULATION
MOBILE HOME PLUMBING
  GENERAL PLUMBING
  MOBILE HOME SUPPLY PIPING
  DRAIN WASTE VENT
  MOBILE HOME FUEL SUPPLY
  MOBILE HOME WATER HEATER DEFECTS
  MOBILE HOME PLUMBING FIXTURE DEFECTS
MOBILE INTERIOR DEFECTS

  • Mobile Home Inspections - Daniel Friedman & Steven T. Vermilye
  • Trailer vs Mobile Home vs Modular vs Panelized Construction an explanation of terms and how to identify these structures.
  • "Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods" Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
  • "Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods" Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
  • MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS
  • Trailer vs Mobile Home vs Modular vs Panelized Construction an explanation of terms and how to identify these structures.
  • Trailer vs Mobile Home vs Modular vs Panelized Construction an explanation of terms and how to identify these structures.
  • "Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods" Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
  • New York State: "Manufactured Homes: an installation guide for the code enforcement official," undated. [Div. of Code Enforcement & Admin. - 518-474-4073, George E. Clark, Jr., Director] - this is a guide tool, not an enforcement code or standard.
  • HUD State Administrative Agency (for 36 states) (NY: 518-474-4073) - for complaints
  • Manufactured Housing Institute, 2101 Wilson Blvd. Ste. 610, Arlington VA 22201 703-558-0400 www.mfghome.org
  • NYMHA, 35 Commerce Ave., Albany NY 12206-2015 518-435-9859 800-721-HOME (they want the Star Program to provide for separate assessment of manufactured homes)
  • Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org - special report 2/98
  • Mobile Home Inspection Checklist, Florida, Town of Lady Lake Building Department

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

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  • ...
MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS

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