Mobile and manufactured homes sit on piers, not a poured foundation. In Central Florida, sandy soil, a high water table and heavy summer rain slowly shift the ground under those piers, and the home drifts out of level. The good news: your home usually tells you before the problem gets expensive. Here are the seven signs we look for.
1. Doors that stick or swing on their own
When the frame twists, door openings go out of square. A door that suddenly rubs, will not latch, or swings open or shut by itself is the most common early warning.
2. Windows that bind
Same cause, different opening. If a window that used to slide easily now sticks or leaves a gap at one corner, the wall around it has moved.
3. Cracks near doors, windows and corners
Diagonal cracks that start at the corner of a door or window frame are a classic sign of settling. Small cracks that keep growing are worth a level check.
4. Floors that slope, sag or feel soft
Put a marble or a level on the floor. If it rolls to one end, or a spot feels soft or bouncy underfoot, a pier may have sunk or a shim may have slipped.
5. Gaps along trim, ceilings or skirting
Gaps opening between walls and ceiling, along baseboards, or at the bottom of your skirting mean parts of the home are moving at different rates.
6. Plumbing leaks or drain problems
Pipes and drain lines are installed with the home level. When it shifts, joints get stressed and drains can lose their slope.
7. It has been years since anyone checked
Even with no symptoms, a home that has not been checked in several years, or that went through a big storm or a very wet summer, is due for a look underneath.
What to do next
Re-leveling is far cheaper than repairing the damage a twisted frame causes over time. We check every pier, take level readings along the frame, re-shim the low points and re-tighten your tie-downs, then show you the photos.
Call (689) 371-4053 for a free estimate, or read more about our mobile home leveling service. We serve Orange, Seminole, Brevard and Volusia counties.
