The Set Up

The Mud

El Nino caused a big delay in, what would otherwise have been, a speedy and uncomplicated process. The people who delivered the home finally used a CAT to drag the house in. This caused massive ruts which would fill up with water. The entire area was soggy and muddy. The red clay soil caked on clothes and boots like concrete. It was a real problem.

One thing you can do to aid your set up crews is place plastic under the house as soon as possible. You can also provide plastic for the workers who will be working around the base of the house. It makes their job easier and they are more likely to get done quicker. Our friends, who were also having a home delivered, even provided lunch, on occasion, so the work crews would not have to leave the job site to eat lunch. It is a nice gesture and saves time.

One comment on the decorative brick... cover it with plastic when it is delivered. It should be kept dry as possible. We were told by the brick layer that if it is left out in the elements during bad weather, it becomes saturated. It is harder for the brick layer to lay the brick and it causes the set up to be less stable. The brick layers can also use the plastic during muddy conditions.

Notice the support blocks and the tie down. The tie downs are driven into the ground at least 4 feet. These are required to prevent wind damage.

The heating ducts in a Palm Harbor home are twice the size of those of other manufacturers. We found the Palm Harbor to be top of the line in all ways. However, other manufacturers have beautiful floor plans which we loved and some models even came with furniture.

All offered appliance upgrades and many other options to choose from. It is important to consider your finances in choosing the right home. There are many factors to consider. It is up to the individual to take all these factors in to account when making their final decision. Many manufacturers will let you take a tour of their factory. We suggest doing this before making your final decision. They are usually open only during regular work days, Monday through Friday, so you may have to schedule some time off to take advantage of the tour. Check with the salespeople about this information.

When checking the support blocks, good setup crews will use wedge shaped shims to bring the house level. The wedge shape wooden pieces, driven under the I-Beams and laying on top of the blocks, should be wedged from both sides. This prevents slippage during settling and provides a flat surface for the I-beam to sit.

The tongue, used to pull the manufactured home from the factory, should be removed. It is the home owners responsibility to discard or use it as he sees fit. Some crews will shove it back under the house before setting the piers. You might want to discuss it with he crew if you want something done special with them. Many just leave them sticking out which makes it impossible to hide them and the brick layers then have to brick around them. I suggest you discuss this with the set up crew before they place the pillars.

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