Understanding
These days mobile or manufactured homes have become a norm. More and more homeowners decide to get them for the range of benefits that they offer. Some of these benefits include quick construction time, durability, and reduced costs. However, there are still questions surrounding the construction and building of these mobile homes. One of the most common concerns for mobile homeowners as well as those who are planning to get this type of house will be how strong they are to brace against natural disasters. One such example is earthquakes.
Wherever you live, earthquakes are a common concern that people cannot predict to happen. Besides the strong earthquakes that can take place at any time these days, there will be a series of aftershocks that happen after such strong rumbles. These aftershocks can affect millions of people and thousands of homes. This leaves mobile homeowners to wonder if their homes have what it takes to withstand these earthquakes, especially if they hit big and hard.
When earthquakes happen anywhere around the globe, this implies that there are chances for a greater earthquake to take place in the coming years. For some states and cities, local and state governments offer grants for seismic retrofits for older homes. But what about manufactured homes? Can they be safe from earthquakes too?
According to manufacturers of mobile or manufactured homes, this type of home fairs well during earthquakes. If you choose your manufacturer wisely, you will learn that your mobile home comes with an earthquake bracing system. Mobile home earthquake bracing systems are no longer something new in the manufactured home industry. Also, these homes come with a high percentage of shear walls. These walls offer excellent structural support during any rattling or shaking that you feel from an earthquake.
In terms of weight, manufactured homes are much lighter than the homes and buildings that you construct on site. Being lighter is a significant advantage that mobile homes have over traditional homes in terms of earthquake ground motions. The reason for this is that seismic forces are proportional to the weight of architectural structures. Since manufactured homes are built inside a factory, they are specifically designed to resist severe shaking and forces when transported using a permanent chassis from the factory to the site.
The mobile home earthquake bracing systems that manufacturers install depends on many factors. Their seismic performance often depends on many things. For starters, the condition of the foundation determines how these bracing systems will do well. Also, the connections between the foundation and the home will determine how effective the earthquake bracing system of the mobile home.
Reputable manufacturers of mobile homes ensure to be up to standards with every home that they create for their clients. When it comes to these manufacturers, they make sure to install the mobile homes they will create into a group of steel support piers. These piers are one of the most commonly used earthquake bracing systems there are. Take the time to get to know about these systems and ask about them from your manufacturer for you to have peace of mind that your mobile home is safe enough during earthquakes and other natural disasters.