How to Build a Dirt Pad for a Mobile Home
Most people don’t realize how important it is to have a dirt pad for their mobile home. Without the proper foundation, your house will not last as long, and you could be spending more money on repairs than necessary.
This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about building a dirt pad and saving yourself some time and money in the process! Many people think that only those with large properties need a backyard area for storage or housing, but this isn’t always true.
You may want an extra place where your kids can play safely outside without fear of them running into traffic or being too close to the street’s dangers. So, this article is for you. You will learn how to build a dirt pad for a mobile home with just one simple trick!
8 Steps to Follow on How to Build a Dirt Pad for a Mobile Home
Step One: Remove Rocks and Debris
Routinely check the land that you plan to build mobile home on for stones and debris. Use a shovel to remove large rocks and other obstructions if necessary. If any signs of flooding are present, do not build on that lot.
Step Two: Dig the Foundation
Find the highest point on the land and walk away from it. The foundation should be dug at least eight inches below the surface of this highest point to provide room for any flood water that might seep up. However, keep in mind that your mobile home will sink into the ground if you dig too deep.
Therefore, you should dig the foundation until it is six inches below the surrounding ground’s surface. The depth of the foundation will need to be at least 12 inches more than the height of your mobile home. For example, if your mobile home is 24-inches tall, including skirting, your minimum foundation depth would be 36-inches.
Step Three: Frame the Foundation Slab
Build a wooden frame around the foundation. The wood should be at least 2X4s laid flat with a space of about an inch or so between each board. This will provide stability and allow for any settlement. Make sure all boards are flush against each other and erect on all sides.
Where the boards meet, drill holes into them to use as screws to securely hold each board. You can attach galvanized nails if you do not have access to a screwdriver. Use two 2X4s on all corners with one across from it at 90-degrees for support.
Step Four: Fill In Between Boards
Fill in between all boards with gravel, rocks, and soil. If you have access to a front-end loader, this is the easiest way to fill the foundation. However, if this is not available, a shovel will work just as well. Make sure that the area inside of the wooden frame is filled, so there is no room for water to get in.
If you have a large amount of gravel or rocks, use a wheelbarrow instead of your hands. Make sure that there is no dirt between the boards so water cannot seep through and cause any damage to your mobile home once it is placed on top of the foundation.
You Can Check It Out to Install Lattice Skirting on Mobile Home
Step Five: Lay Down a Strip of Plywood
Cover an area on the gravel that is about 10-inches wide and ten feet long. Lay down a strip of plywood over this area and make sure it goes in all four directions north, south, east, west. This will provide stability for the foundation during rainfall or when water pressure from flooding occurs.
Place the strip of plywood on top of the gravel, with one end touching the outside edge of your foundation and its other end touching the inner edge. Drill holes all around this area and follow them up with screws to hold each corner down securely. Continue this same process for all four corners.
Step Six: Pour Concrete
Using a cement mixer is the best way to do this, but pour it in yourself if you do not have access to one. The location of your mobile home should dictate how much concrete is needed if it is near the edge of the foundation, useless because any excess will have no point after being poured out onto gravel or dirt.
To pour concrete, mix six parts gravel with two parts sand and one part cement. You can also use four parts gravel to one part sand if you do not want to make a mixture of both. Pour the wet mixture into your foundation area until it is filled in and there are no air pockets left.
Step Seven: Place Your Mobile Home on Top of Foundation
Once your foundation is finished and the concrete has dried, it will be time to place your mobile home on the new gravel-filled pad. You can do this yourself or hire a moving company to come out and help you lift it. Once in position, align all doors and windows, so they are all open.
This will allow your mobile home to breathe properly and not cause any damage due to excess moisture building up inside of it. To keep your mobile home from shifting, make sure it is properly leveled. The easiest way to do this is to use a carpenter’s bubble level. This will help in how to build a dirt pad for a mobile home.
Step Eight: Skirting Around Mobile Home
No one wants to have a mobile home tucked away in their backyard or on a piece of land surrounded by trees. You want it to be seen and not camouflaged by the greenery around it, so your best option is to skirt surrounding your mobile home with wooden boards.
The best way to do this is to use 2X4s and ensure they are completely flush against the ground. Then, once the bases are created, erect them with screws or nails into your home that will keep it stable for years to come.
You Can Check It Out to: Build an Interior Wall in a Mobile Home
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Dirt Is Used for Mobile Home Pad?
Dirt is a general term for the material found on the ground. It is usually used to refer to the loose, granular material that falls from the floor during rain and snow.
There Are Many Types of Dirt, Including :
- Crushed rock, which can be collected from quarries or mines.
- Crushed gravel, which can be collected from construction sites or highways.
- Earth, which can be taken from fields or gardens.
Can You Put a Mobile Home on Gravel?
There are two ways that you can put a mobile home on gravel. The first way is to place the home on a pile of rocks or cinder blocks that have been placed on top of the gravel. This will keep the trailer from sinking into the ground and damaging your driveway.
The second way is to buy an underlayment for putting down over the top of your driveway, which will be slightly elevated above the surface level of your gravel driveway. You can also use flagstone, pavers, or even concrete as an underlayment for this method.
How High Should a Mobile Home Be Off the Ground?
It is important to ensure that the height of a mobile home is high enough so that the doorways and openings are not too low.
To determine the best height for your home, you should measure from the ground to where you will be entering into or exiting out of your home.
The Heights Recommended by Industry Standards Are as Follows :
- In general, homes with a two-story design should be no lower than 10 feet off the ground.
- Homes with a three-story design should be no lower than 12 feet off the ground.
- Homes with a four-story design should be no lower than 14 feet off the ground.
What Does a Mobile Home Sit on?
A mobile home is a type of vehicle that is towed and stored on a foundation, which is built to be moved from one location to another. It is also known as a recreational vehicle (RV) or caravan.
The first mobile homes were created in the United States in 1926 by John Newland Muntz, who was an entrepreneur and inventor from Chicago. He founded the Mobile Home Company.
Mobile homes are typically designed for people who have limited access to land for their home or building, such as elderly people living in retirement communities, those living in apartment buildings without parking spaces, or military personnel stationed overseas.
Conclusion
When you are done with the dirt pad, it is time to move on to building a foundation for your mobile home. The typical size of a dirt pad should be one foot wider and two feet longer than the outside dimensions of your trailer. The height from ground level up will vary depending on what type of surface material you want in front of your door.
Remember that if you live in an area prone to flooding or near water tables, make sure that there is enough clearance between the bottom edge of the floor joists and any high water table to avoid potential basement issues later down the road! The article has been a good guide on how to build a dirt pad for a mobile home.
Check it out also – How to Brick a Mobile Home .
