| When it comes to mobile homes, the inspection | | | | to be thinner than your traditional home. |
| process is a bit different. They are built | | | | With a non-mobile home, insulation in walls |
| much differently than you typical home and | | | | must meet a different level of inspection. 5) |
| specific details must be inspected and | | | | WINDS: A big issue with mobile homes that a |
| addressed that aren't reviewed in a normal | | | | more traditional house does face is wind. |
| home. Here is a quick list of how mobile | | | | Wind can cause damage to a mobile home easier |
| homes differ from standard homes, and why | | | | than a non-mobile home. That's because the |
| they require a different home inspection. | | | | foundation isn't as secure (if it was, it |
| Mobile Home vs. Normal Home Mobile Homes | | | | wouldn't be considered "mobile"). The |
| (Manufactured homes as they are now called) | | | | Department of Housing and Urban Development |
| are not built the same as a site built home. | | | | (HUD) has set in place special windzones in |
| They have a number of items that make them | | | | various parts of the county. These zones |
| significantly different. 1) METAL LEGS: | | | | establish the severity of high winds in the |
| Mobile homes rest on metal legs that over | | | | area that could affect the stability and |
| time can rust, shift or become loose from the | | | | integrity of a manufacture, mobile home. For |
| homes main support beams resulting in many | | | | example, Florida has various windzones with |
| problems. Your traditional home is on a solid | | | | levels such as windzone 2 and windzone 3 |
| foundation that doesn't rust. However, based | | | | (South Florida is windzone 3, the strongest |
| on seismic activity, the foundation of a | | | | windzone). These are 5 specific issues that a |
| normal home can shift. 2) ALUMINUM WIRING: | | | | mobile has that traditional homes don't. But |
| Many mobile homes have aluminum wiring. If it | | | | regardless of whether you own a mobile or |
| does then it needs to be inspected and | | | | traditional home, an inspection is necessary |
| maintained. Your traditional house has wiring | | | | if you want to ensure the integrity of your |
| that's typically copper based. However this | | | | house or a home you're about to purchase. |
| can vary and in some cases does require an | | | | Over time we accumulate items and may |
| inspection. 3) WATER LINES: The water lines | | | | improperly store them in places that can |
| and connections many times are not welded and | | | | create unseen issues with your home. Everyday |
| can become loose and start small leaks that | | | | new items come onto the market to help make |
| result in expensive repairs. Cracks in pipes | | | | our homes safer to live in. However if you |
| in your traditional house can also cause such | | | | don't know that your home has issues and |
| damage, however because pipes are fitted | | | | problems, then you don't know your home needs |
| together differently with other homes, such | | | | these items until it's too late. For these |
| issues tend not to occur as frequently as in | | | | reasons you can see why it is important to |
| a manufactured home. 4) WALLS AND CEILINGS: | | | | have your home inspected on a regular basis. |
| As might be expected, walls and ceilings may | | | | |
| not be insulated properly resulting in | | | | Waterman Inspection Services is a mobile home |
| excessive use of your heater and or air | | | | inspector in Orange County who specializes in |
| conditioning system and this means spending | | | | mobile home inspections and traditional home |
| extra money. The walls of mobile homes tend | | | | inspections. |