Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Housing Inspection Services

We conduct Structural Engineering Site visits and review the properties to determine if they meet the requirements of HUD 007487 “Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing” dated September 1996.  We also provide engineering services for the design of modifications and repair recommendations to the foundation system to meet FHA guidelines as specified in HUD 007487.

We provide a preliminary verbal summary of our visual observations, this is a limited inspection based on visible evidence readily available during the inspection.

The Engineer will use his skill and judgment to provide an informative and unbiased report, no inspection can reveal every detail of a structure or equipment that might be of interest.

The verbal and written reports are not guarantees or warranties of the condition of the buildings or grounds.

Due to this FHA requirement, un-mortared or "dry" stacked masonry piers are not permissible in foundation systems of manufactured homes seeking FHA approval. 

For cases of previously installed homes in which the foundations are at least 12 months old  that are on "dry" stacked masonry piers, the only FHA approved retrofit is the application of  "Surface Bonding Cement" (formerly known as Surewall) manufactured by Bonsal American. FHA approved this product and specified its application in the HUD Materials Release (MR) 907f.  This MR also states "Surface Bonding Cement" can only be applied by a contractor whose personnel have been certified in training by the manufacturer, Bonsal American and has received a certificate stating such.  A complete copy of MR 907f can be downloaded from www.HUD.gov.

The homes foundation must be at least 12 months old.  The application of "Surface Bonding Cement" to masonry piers is not FHA approved for new construction foundations.  For new construction foundations the masonry piers must be mortared as stated in Section 503-4 (above).

There many other issues that the engineer must evaluate in order to verify compliance with the FHA/HUD Publication "Permanent Foundations Guide For Manufactured Housing" dated September 1996. 

In an effort to abide by these FHA guidelines, more and more lenders are hiring or require their customers to hire independent Engineers to perform the inspection of the foundations, then providing a certification letter.  The Engineer inspecting the manufactured home foundation should have a strong background in structural engineering. 

Any questions concerning the FHA requirements for manufactured housing, please feel free to call or email:

Bruce Ensor, P.E., S.E.
BE Structural, P.C.

500 North Front Street
Wormleysburg, PA 17043
Office: 717-737-1559
Fax: 717-737-1320
Email: bruce@bestructural.com