When purchasing and installing a new manufactured home, two upgrades are recommended. They’re installing a vapor barrier and earthquake bracing. Each is explained here:
vapor barrier for mobile homes
A manufactured or mobile home vapor barrier is a sheet of thick, rubbery plastic that is placed directly on the ground under a manufactured or mobile home. The foundation piers then rest on this barrier.
You really need to make sure that a home you buy or have installed has this protection. Mobile and manufactured homes need dry ventilation underneath. This barrier will prevent moisture from damaging the house, especially floor rot, but it will also help with fungus, mold, and termites.
It is absolutely necessary to make sure you install a vapor barrier before purchasing a manufactured or mobile home. And the additional cost is minimal considering the amount of protection you get.
If you are purchasing a manufactured or mobile home that is already in a space, but without a vapor barrier, then you can hire a contractor to install a vapor barrier under the home. They will only need to cut pieces that will go around the base of the pillar and post and all the pipes in place. This is not ideal, but it is much better than no barrier at all.
Earthquake Mobile Home Bracing
Earthquake bracing is recommended in California, and elsewhere earthquakes are common. Mobile homes and manufactured homes are especially susceptible to earthquake damage due to their foundation system (most often installed on a post and pillar system).
Earthquake bracing is a simple improvement that can increase the value of your home for at least the cost of installing the bracing. This cost ranges from $2,000 to $4,500 in California right now. The actual brace is like a shock absorber on a car, but it is installed at an angle to the steel I-beam at the bottom of the house and anchored to the ground. This brace will prevent the house from shifting from the foundation posts and pillars.
Insurance companies may insist that earthquake bracing be installed if you want to purchase earthquake insurance on your mobile home or manufactured home.
Earthquake bracing can also help keep a mobile home from blowing off its foundation in high winds, although it is not designed to do this and should not be relied upon for this.
Pictures and further explanations of these two upgrades, as well as lots of free information, tips, hints and recommendations can be found at: http://www.free-mobile-home-info.com