When you own a mobile home or a manufactured home, you will be concerned about your environment, particularly if it a high wind or prone to seismic events. You will have peace of mind when you find a way of securing the house firmly in place. Your best bet is to use earthquake bracing.
There is a lot of importance pegged on the stability of a house’s foundation where harsh winds and destructive seismic activities are concerned. Once you guarantee such provision, you will happily access all the other benefits of having a mobile home, such as portability and light weightiness. Living in a mobile home without such provisions is the most dangerous thing you can do to your family.
Manufactured homes are preferred due to the significant economic savings one makes when purchasing them. The fact that they are rebuilt means they will be ready much faster, and setting them up will not cost you as much as a house built on-site. The houses are sturdy enough to withstand the shock that comes with transporting them. They, however, suffer greatly where seismic forces attack their foundations. You need to make a strong connection between the home and the ground to be safe.
You need to find the right company to supply and install your earthquake bracing equipment. Look for one that has considerable experience in the field, for assured results. They need to deal with all manner of mobile structures, from trailers and RVs, to park models and tiny houses.
There are devices like the tie-down strapping, which are used to anchor the house to the ground. Normally, there is the use of steel straps and stabilizing plates attached to the common pier and beam foundation in a manufactured home. It will thus keep the house stable and free of tilting and sliding in case of an earthquake or a tornado.
There are different types of tie-downs. The engineered tie-down system works best for making the house resist strong winds, and also some of the earthquake shaking. If you live in a place with high seismic activity, you need to go for the earthquake-resistant bracing system. You do not want to end up with a house moved to the side, with the utility lines cut and exposed, posing more of a threat than the already occurred seismic activity.
The houses in question are usually light in weight. It is why you cannot afford not to have some form of tie-down to keep them in place no matter the intensity of the forces at play. You will see people going for a full foundation tie-down system with a good skirting.
You can also add on over the top anchors. They come in during or after the construction phase. Having them done after the construction phase will leave them exposed, which can interfere with the aesthetics. It is preferred you include them in the construction phase, to keep them artistically concealed under the roof and siding.
It is clear that your location, and the type of house you own, determine how safe you will be from strong winds and seismic activities. You, therefore, need to have the right solution in place for your particular situation.