Foundation, Leveling & Skirting

A mobile home foundation is not a foundation in the ordinary sense. The home rests on piers standing on footing pads standing on soil, and almost every problem in this section traces back to what that soil is doing.

That makes it an unusual thing to maintain, because the parts that matter are the ones nobody looks at: the ground vapor barrier, the belly wrap holding the insulation up, the anchors resisting wind uplift, and the grade carrying water away from the home. Let water in and the piers settle, the home goes out of level, and doors stop closing properly.

These guides cover what is underneath, what the federal installation standard in 24 CFR 3285 actually requires, and which jobs are homeowner work and which need a certified installer. If you are checking the home over, the anchoring requirements for your wind zone are the place to start.