Twin Unit Mobile Home Foundations

and1x

Hi all,

I’ll be putting a twin unit mobile home (35ft x 20ft) in my garden in the near future. I’m trying to prepare the ground and would like some advice on what sort of foundations are required? I was thinking 150mm of compacted MOT type 3 and these: https://easypads.co.uk/uses-applications/park-homes-static-caravans/ would that be sufficient? 

 Thanks

ProDave

Personally I would lay a 150mm slab of concrete with steel mesh.

You don't want differential movement between the two halves of a twin.  I saw a case where someone replaced a single with a twin and they laid a separate slab of concrete for the new half and within a year there was differential movement between the old slab and the new slab and the whole lot had to be moved off the site, the concrete dug up and laid as one new complete slab, and the units put back.

Simple pads might be okay for a single unit, but not a twin.

Section62

and1x said:

Hi all,

I’ll be putting a twin unit mobile home (35ft x 20ft) in my garden in the near future. I’m trying to prepare the ground and would like some advice on what sort of foundations are required? I was thinking 150mm of compacted MOT type 3 and these: https://easypads.co.uk/uses-applications/park-homes-static-caravans/ would that be sufficient? 

 Thanks

I agree with ProDave regarding differential movement - you need to avoid that at all costs.

The link you've given mentions the company has an independent structural engineer service.  I'd suggest if you go for anything other than a thick reinforced concrete slab that you would be better off getting advice from a SE on what's appropriate for your ground conditions.

It also appears you've had significant excavation done on the right hand side of the area - if that is the case then you should also have the SE take into account the possibility of ground movement resulting from that area no longer having the removed mass of soil on top of it.  Are you getting some kind of retaining wall built to support the higher ground?  It won't stay self-supporting for long.

Also, have you got planning consent, and confirmed there are no restrictions/covenants in your deeds relating to this form/size of construction?

lincroft1710

This may be helpful

http://www.valuemobilehomes.com/ground-works-and-foundations/