Moist ground and standing water under a mobile home generate water vapor that accumulates in the crawlspace and can rise up into the home, slowly damaging the structure over time. The single most important part of installing a home to avoid moisture problems is grading the site so that water drains away from the home on all sides. 

   But the soil can hold a lot of moisture, even in a well-graded site, and spreading a ground cover sheet as a vapor barrier over the soil under a home is highly effective at moisture control. HUD and manufacturers both require new homes to have a vapor barrier if it will be enclosed with skirting or other materials. Florida’s Rule 15C, which covers covers installation of used homes, does not require a vapor barrier; but installing one is high recommended.

   If you are experiencing wet soil under your home, consider adding a ground cover. Installation is simple, and can be done even years later. Cover 100% of the ground under the home with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Sealing the joints is not necessary, as an overlap of 12-inches is sufficient. 

  Also, it is not necessary to seal the ground cover around each pier if you are retrofitting it under an existing home. Just place the edges of the sheeting up against the pier base and cut back to fit. The work does not have to be perfect. It just needs to minimize the surface area of soil under the home that is emitting water vapor.

    To find out the specific HUD requirements for new home installation for what they call a “vapor retarder material,” see our blog post Is a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) required under a new mobile/manufactured home? and When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

   To learn more ways of controlling moisture in your manufactured home, we suggest clicking the link below to download and read a guide prepared by the Manufactured Home Research Alliance, entitled “Moisture Problems in Manufactured Homes - Understanding Their Causes and Finding Solutions.”

MHMoisture.pdf

Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES:

• Where can I file a complaint if I have problems with my new or used manufactured/mobile home in Florida?

• What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers?

• How do I determine the age of a very old mobile home?

• What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?  

• When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

• Is it safe to go under a mobile home? 

• Are older mobile homes unsafe? 

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosed mobile home? 

• Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home? 

• How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?

• What is the right price for a used mobile home?

• How energy efficient is a mobile home?

• When were the first double-wide mobile homes manufactured?

• How do I upgrade my old (pre-1976) mobile home to meet HUD standards?

• What size air conditioner is right for my mobile home? 

• Can you move an older mobile home in Florida? 

• What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home? 

• Can you put a zone 1 mobile home in Florida?

• How can I remove water under my mobile home?

• What's the differences between a trailer, a mobile home, a manufactured home, and a modular home? 

• What is a D-sticker mobile home? 

• What are the tie-down requirements for a mobile home?

• How fireproof is a mobile home?  

• Can I install a mobile home myself?

• What is a Park Model mobile home?  

• Does an addition to a mobile home have to comply with the HUD Code? 

• What walls can I remove in a mobile home?

• What can I do to prevent dampness and mold in my mobile home? 

• How can I tell if a mobile home is well constructed?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

    Visit our MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.