Keeping your home safe against winds with modern anchoring systems.

All homes must be able to stand up to lateral winds. Manufactured homes are no different and are designed to resist wind load. In addition to solid construction techniques, manufactured homes use stabilizing devices to help transfer forces produced by the wind so that they don’t exceed the maximum allowable stresses. Which stabilizing devices your home requires depends largely on which wind zone your home is located in. Wind Zone I, Wind Zone II and Wind Zone III can be seen on the map below.

 

https://olivertechnologies.com

 

As mentioned earlier, all our homes must be secured to a foundation using various techniques, and the pier and beam system is our most popular foundation system for manufactured homes. In the past, all homes implementing this system used anchors that were driven into the ground to hold your home down and protect it from wind forces. The anchors go into the ground first and then steel straps are attached. The straps connect the anchors to a main I-beam on your home’s steel frame. This is commonly known as a tie down.

 

https://www.huduser.gov

 

New Alternatives to the classic tie down system

Site grading, rocky soils, underground utilities, and frost depths can make conventional ground anchors a challenge for many installers and so an innovative alternative to conventional anchors is an all steel foundation.

https://www.claytonhomes.com

In the case of many larger homes located in wind zone I, a steel foundation is all that is needed. However, lighter homes may require the traditional straps and anchors in order to add extra support to the homes.

Generally, these still foundations are secured to a metal platform also known as a pan then the steel arm is secured to the I-beam that runs underneath the home.

 

 

https://www.huduser.gov

 

These steel foundations can also be secured directly into a concrete footer as pictured below.

 

 

https://www.tiedown.com

 

After the pan has been placed securely in the ground, the concrete pier is built. 

 

 

http://minutemanproducts.com

 

Different homes have different set up requirements, but all homes that we set up use both a lateral and longitudinal system.

 

 

https://olivertechnologies.com

 

Homes in wind zone 2 will need two longitudinal supports.

 

 

https://www.tiedown.com

 

Below are three providers of the modern steel foundations discussed here. All three provide exceptional customer support. We referenced all three sites in the writing of this post as they all have comprehensive information on their websites and are very helpful over the phone as well.

 

• • • All Steel Foundation from Oliver Technologies Click Here for Oliver Technologies
    • L & L Bracing System (LLBS)  from Minute Man Click here for Minute Man
    • Xi2 from Tie Down Engineering Click Here for Tie Down Engineering

 

As always, make sure that the manufacturer has approved whatever system you choose, and our team at Aiken Housing Center can help you decide whether or not a steel foundation system is right for you.

Are you interested in learning more about these modern foundations? You can contact us directly at Aiken Housing Center and any one of our housing specialists will be able to answer your questions.

As always, happy building from Aiken Housing Center!