Another FHA/HUD Foundation question 1

[TimmyH76]

Hello all,

I looked at a modular foundation that is built like most are.....dry stacked piers. Is this specifically ruled out as an option from the FHA/HUD permanet foundation manual even if there are other lateral support systems such as X bracing and/or straps? Thanks!

 

[CEmonkee]

Hi TimmyH76,

Section 503-4 (MASONRY PIERS AND WALLS) of the FHA/HUD Guidelines has the following: "All masonry piers and walls shall have mortared bed and head joints. Reinforcing and grouting shall be in accordance with the foundation concept selected from Appendix A and designed in Appendix C."

I found a website that said the only HUD/FHA approved retrofit for "dry stack" masonry piers is outlined in HUD's material release 907 F (see link below):

http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/bulletins/matr/907fMATR.pdf

Also, a document you might want to take a look at is "Guide to Foundation and Support Systems for Manufactured Homes," which can be found on the

http://www.huduser.org

website:

http://www.huduser.org/Publications/PDF/foundations_guide.pdf

Hope this helps

 

[CEmonkee]

One more note: in the foundations guide I found on the

http://www.huduser.org

website (the second link in my previous post), two of their case studies (#2 and #8) specifically mention that dry stacked piers are used... So why would they mention that if it was not allowed? I'm not sure, maybe somebody else can weigh in on this.

 

[concretemasonry]

In some cases, dry stacked are used if an approved surface bonding product/material (skim coat of cement, sand, bonding materials and fibers) is used to increase the shear and tensile strength of the dry stacked masonry.

Dick

 

[jheidt2543]

Is it possible that dry stacking is allowed if tie-downs are used?

 

[graybeach]

Hi Timmy,

I found some great information at Tie Down Engineering (

http://www.tiedown.com).

The people there were knowlegible and helpful. Maybe they can shed some light.