| When purchasing and installing a new Manufactured | | | | way better than no barrier at all. |
| Home, there are two upgrades that are | | | | Mobile Home Earthquake Bracing |
| recommended. They are installing a Vapor Barrier and | | | | Earthquake bracing is recommended in California, and |
| Earthquake Bracing. Each is explained here: | | | | elsewhere earthquakes are common. Mobile Homes |
| Mobile Home Vapor Barrier | | | | and Manufactured Homes are especially susceptible to |
| A Vapor Barrier for a Mobile or Manufactured home is | | | | damage in a earthquake due to their foundation |
| a sheet of thick, rubbery plastic that goes directly | | | | system (most of the time they are installed on a |
| over the dirt under a Mobile or Manufactured home. | | | | pier-and-post system). |
| The foundation piers then rest on top of this barrier. | | | | Earthquake bracing is a simple upgrade that can |
| You really need to make sure a home you buy or | | | | increase the value of your home by at least the cost |
| have installed has this protection. Mobile and | | | | of installation of the bracing. This cost is running from |
| Manufactured homes need dry ventilation underneath. | | | | $2000 to $4500 in California right now. The actual |
| This barrier will prevent any moisture from damaging | | | | brace is like a shock absorber in a car, but installed at |
| the home - especially rotting of the floors, but also | | | | an angle from the steel I-beam on the bottom of the |
| helping with fungus, mold, and termites. | | | | home, and anchored to the ground. This brace will |
| Making sure that a vapor barrier is installed before | | | | keep the home from shifting off the pier-and-post |
| you buy a Mobile or Manufactured home is absolutely | | | | foundation. |
| necessary. And the additional cost is very minimal | | | | Insurance companies may insist on having earthquake |
| considering the amount of protection you gain. | | | | bracing installed if you want to purchase earthquake |
| If you are buying a mobile or manufactured home | | | | insurance on your Mobile Home or Manufactured |
| that is already on a space, but with no vapor barrier, | | | | Home. |
| then you can hire a contractor to install a vapor | | | | Earthquake bracing can also help a Mobile Home not |
| barrier under the home. They will just have to cut | | | | come off the foundation in high winds, although it is |
| pieces that will go around the pier-and-post | | | | not designed to do this and should not be relied on |
| foundation and all piping in place. This is not ideal, but | | | | for this. |