Mobile home leveling is exactly what it sounds like: the process of ensuring a mobile home is perfectly even, not tilted to one side or another. Because mobile homes don’t have traditional foundations, leveling is crucial to avoid structural issues, reduce safety risks, and create a more comfortable home environment.
At D&D Home Setters, relocating mobile homes isn’t all we do; we’re also experts in mobile home leveling, whether it’s after a move or time for a refresh. Our goal with this blog post is to help you identify when your mobile home might need leveling and learn what signs to look out for, ensuring your home remains in optimal condition for years to come.
What Is Mobile Home Leveling, and Why Does it Matter?
If you’ve never owned a mobile home before, you may not have considered how to ensure it’s level. In reality, regular leveling is a fundamental aspect of owning a mobile home that should not be ignored.
Without a traditional foundation to anchor them in place, mobile homes can settle over time as conditions change, soil shifts, and moisture levels fluctuate. This can cause one area of the structure to sag, which causes ripple effects across the entire structure and puts its integrity at risk.
Mobile home leveling is the process of using hydraulic jacks and shims, along with repairing or adjusting foundation blocks, to restore the structure’s evenness and ensure everything is perfectly horizontal.
There are many reasons why mobile home leveling is so essential. First of all, by removing a major source of stress on the building’s components, it protects the structural integrity of the home and prevents damage to plumbing, doors, windows, and walls. Furthermore, it improves the safety and comfort of the home, so you don’t have to deal with un-level floors or worry about items falling off the shelves. Finally, leveling may be required for resale or inspections.
Common Signs Your Mobile Home Needs Leveling
Now that you know why mobile home leveling is so important, let’s go over some signs that your mobile home needs leveling. Keep an eye out for the following things:
- Doors and windows don’t function properly: If your doors and windows are difficult to open or close, or there are gaps in the doorframes, this can be an early warning sign of unlevelness.
- Visible cracks in walls or ceilings: Uneven settling can cause stress fractures or cracks in the walls and ceilings.
- Bouncy or uneven floors: Floors that sag or feel soft underfoot may indicate that the home’s supports have shifted.
- Unusual sounds: Uneven weight distribution can create friction between different parts of the structure, causing creaking or popping noises as they settle.
- Plumbing or drainage issues: When your home is un-level, the pipes may slope upwards or downwards, leading to slow drains or leaks.
- Gaps between skirting and ground: If you notice a gap between your home’s skirting and the ground beneath, it can indicate that the structure has shifted or settled unevenly.
How Often Should a Mobile Home Be Leveled?
Guidelines for how often you should seek mobile home leveling services depend on your home’s location and age, along with the environmental conditions and soil content. Generally, you can expect to require mobile home leveling every three to five years.
Regular inspections can catch issues early, allowing you to address them before they have the chance to escalate. This is why it’s so important to not procrastinate your inspections, protecting yourself from the stress and cost of extensive repairs.
DIY vs. Professional Leveling
You may be tempted to attempt mobile home leveling by yourself. However, this is not typically a good idea — without the proper equipment and training, you risk creating safety hazards and causing more damage. Hiring professionals is the way to go. With their expertise, tools, insurance, and safety training, they can make accurate adjustments and ensure satisfactory results.
What to Expect During the Leveling Process
The leveling process begins with an initial inspection and measurement process. Based on what the technicians find, they’ll adjust the piers or supports to restore the structure’s levelness. After that, they’ll verify that the structure is level and check for other potential issues caused by settling or shifting.
Mobile Home Leveling by D&D Home Setters
Mobile home leveling is an essential part of home maintenance. At D&D Home Setters, we’re experts in all things mobile home leveling, whether you’ve just moved your home to a new location or it’s been a few years since it was last leveled. Contact us today for a professional assessment and reliable leveling services.
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