Bricked in Mobile homes

[pontiacpassion]

Hi, just wanted to know if anybody knows if a bricked in mobile home has a better hurricane resistance. Being that I live in Pensacola, FL and my trailer has survived Ivan the terrible and Dennis the menace. I feel that if I invested the money to get my Mobile home bricked in, I would have a safer hurricane resistant home. Any body out there with suggestion ? Thanx

[harmclan]

The serious threat to mobile homes wouldn't be the direct impact from a hurricane, although that could do significant damage to your mobile home, but rather the possibility of tornados. NO trailer is safe from the wind force of a tornado.

[spinfan4eva]

I have never understood why a mobile home is so dangerous and a house with a crawl space isnt. They are essentially the same but one is on wheels and one is on blocks. Here in jax though, there are homes in riverside built in the 1800s that survived the 1898 hurricane and Dora of 64 and countless indirect hits and have always survived. If they survived, I dont see how a mobile home wouldnt.

[wxman57]

What do you mean by "bricked-in"? Do you mean surrounded by concrete blocks with steel reinforcement or a flimsy brick veneer? The former would definitely offer protection - but it wouldn't be much of a home to look at. The latter would just add missiles to the wind when it came apart.

[wxman57]

I have never understood why a mobile home is so dangerous and a house with a crawl space isnt. They are essentially the same but one is on wheels and one is on blocks. Here in jax though, there are homes in riverside built in the 1800s that survived the 1898 hurricane and Dora of 64 and countless indirect hits and have always survived. If they survived, I dont see how a mobile home wouldnt.

Mobile homes are much lighter than permanant structure homes. Since they're not connected to any foundation, they tend to blow away in even tropical storm-force winds. I agree that a home built on blocks that isn't secured to the ground is more at risk than one firmly secured to a concrete foundation. But a standard home on blocks is more secure than a mobile home because of its weight and the stronger construction methods used.

[HollynLA]

I can't comment on the strength aspect, but just wanted to tell you that there are two mobile homes near me that are bricked in and for the longest time, i thought they were houses. They really look great.

[flashflood]

After Hurricane Andrew in south Miami-Dade, most trailers were badly damaged, destroyed, and some never to be found. One of my co-workers who was renting one, lost everything, including the trailer.

When I went to help him find some stuff I noticed that there were some trailers still intact and in relatively good condition. After a further inspection, I noticed the those trailers still standing were the ones that were behind a 5 feet wall like structure that ran on the east side of the park. This park was just south of Country Walk for those who know that area.

Based on that, I would venture to say that yes, a bricked in mobile home should have a better hurricane resistance.

[Extremeweatherguy]

Here is an idea of what Cat. 3/4 force winds in Punta Gorda from Hurricane Charley did to mobile homes:

http://www.parrinspections.com/graphics ... _Erwin.jpg

[Cookiely]

Hi, just wanted to know if anybody knows if a bricked in mobile home has a better hurricane resistance. Being that I live in Pensacola, FL and my trailer has survived Ivan the terrible and Dennis the menace. I feel that if I invested the money to get my Mobile home bricked in, I would have a safer hurricane resistant home. Any body out there with suggestion ? Thanx

Before you decide you need to check with a bank or finance company. A similar situation happened with my brother in law. The original owner couldn't sell a bricked in mobile home because none of the banks would finance it for people. He was stuck with it so he did a rent to own with my brother in law who in turn couldn't sell it when they moved to Alabama. The original owner ended up bulldozing the home and sold the land to a developer.

[HollynLA]

Here in LA, one of the bricked in trailers that I mentioned just sold so I guess it's different rules in different locations. It will still be considered a trailer and not a house but I would think it's much sturdier against high winds.

[TSmith274]

I can tell you from experience why mobile homes aren't safe in hurricanes. My fishing camp in Buras, La was a brand new 4BR doublewide rated for winds of 131mph. Upon inspecting the debris from the destroyed home, I noticed that much of the house is literally stapled together. Also, wide use of particle-type plywoods, etc... The straps that are supposed to hold the house in place in high winds failed... every single one of them. They attatch to the exterior walls of the house using just 4 small nails, and do not strap the entire house as they should. It's just not very good construction.

[docjoe]

Many gulf coast homes built between the end of the Civil War and 1900 are still standing today. They have survived storms much better than their newer counterparts. I lived in a shotgun cottage in Mobile Alabama that was built on brick pilings about 3 feet high. It was built in 1888 and was primarily constructed of cypress and heart pine. It has survived the storms of 1906, 1916, 1926, Frederic, Elena, Georges, Ivan, and what I am sure would be several other canes and tropical storms. As a matter of fact the entire historic district has fared well. The big problem is that these homes would be prohibitively expensive to build today .

docjoe

[Stratusxpeye]

Here is an idea of what Cat. 3/4 force winds in Punta Gorda from Hurricane Charley did to mobile homes:

http://www.parrinspections.com/graphics ... _Erwin.jpg

Looks exatly like the video I took of After charley rolled thourgh. Whole trailer parks just in compelte ruins. But a lot of those home are the really old ones from 70's and 80s alot dont even have hurricane straps on them. I live in a better quality mobile home and is built to withstand 120-140mph sustained. based on zone three construction standards. theres a home accross the street from me in this neighborhood that is from like the 60's early 70's and it is literally sitting on blocks with no skirting or anything underneath it. Just hope it don't blow this way.

[Cookiely]

Here in LA, one of the bricked in trailers that I mentioned just sold so I guess it's different rules in different locations. It will still be considered a trailer and not a house but I would think it's much sturdier against high winds.

Its not that it can't be sold if the person has cash. It was a matter of the buyers getting financing to purchase and when the bank went to inspect the property, they turned down the loan. The original owners had ten, I repeat ten sons, and they added on lots of bedrooms and baths when they bricked in the original double wide which was the center of the home.