When you’re looking for a new home, the safety of that home is likely one of your top priorities. You want a home that will stand the test of time and withstand Florida’s worst storms. If this is the case, you may be wondering about manufactured home safety.
Perhaps, you’ve heard they’re unsafe to live in, especially given our storms. Today, we’re here to dispel that myth and help answer the question once and for all, “Are manufactured homes safe?” By the end, you’ll discover why the answer to this question is a resounding yes.
5 Ways Manufactured Homes Are Safe
Manufactured homes in Florida have several safety features to ensure your home can withstand Florida’s fickle weather and protect your family from certain hazards. Here are five key ways your manufactured home is built with your safety in mind.
1. Hurricane Resistant
One of the biggest hesitations Florida homeowners have about purchasing a manufactured home is the risk of hurricanes. There’s a common myth that manufactured homes aren’t built to withstand hurricane-force winds and rain, but this is simply not true.
In reality, manufactured homes, in accordance with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), must be built to the wind zone of the home’s final location. This means, manufactured homes in Florida are built to resist anywhere from 100 to 110 miles per hour sustained winds. That being said, if the winds are much stronger than 110 miles per hour, any home or structure would struggle to withstand that force.
Remember, regardless of your home type, evacuate your home if you end up in an evacuation zone during hurricane season.
2. Fire Safety
One of the biggest benefits of buying a manufactured home is they tend to be more fire-resistant than site-built homes. In fact, some studies have found that manufactured homes are over 50% less likely to have a fire than site-built homes. There are several reasons for this, including:
- Fire-resistant materials are more likely to be used in the building of a new manufactured home.
- Manufactured homes usually use asphalt roofs, which tend to be one of the most fire-resistant materials for roofs.
- The HUD construction code has strict standards for manufactured home fire safety, including the use of smoke detectors, materials used in high-heat areas, and the number of exits available.
3. New Utilities
Because manufactured homes are built-to-order, many of the utilities are brand new when you move into your home. New utilities tend to have fewer failures, which can protect your home from damages, such as water leaks, electrical problems, and AC outages. This allows you to have a truly fresh start when you enter your home, and you don’t have to worry about finding something that doesn’t work due to wear.
4. Strict Building Standards
According to their website, HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs “regulates the construction of all manufactured (formerly known as mobile) homes built in the United States.” In other words, HUD is responsible for ensuring that manufactured homes in the United States meet strict standards for safety and building compliance. They do this by having inspectors in the planet while the home is being built.
These standards are just as strict, if not more stringent in some cases, as site-built homes—requiring the same levels of stability, safety, and building standards. If a manufactured home does not meet HUD’s requirements, a manufactured home retailer cannot legally sell the property.
5. Protected Communities
Some manufactured homes are within specialized communities, such as retirement communities. Many residents of these communities state one of the benefits is increased security. Manufactured home communities are often gated, and some may even have a security guard to ensure resident safety. While this is only a benefit for those looking for this type of community living, it’s definitely something to consider in your home search.
Are There Ways to Increase My Manufactured Home’s Safety?
While we’ve established that manufactured homes are as safe as any other site-built home, there are always steps you can take to ensure your home’s security. Here are our top three tips for increasing your manufactured home’s safety.
Insurance
While insurance is not required for manufactured homes, we couldn’t recommend it enough, especially in Florida. Wind, rain, and hurricanes are bound to happen in our state, and we can’t always predict when damage will occur to our homes. To prepare for the worst (while hoping for the best), insurance gives you peace of mind that even if damage does occur, your investment is safe and will be repaired quickly.
Invest in a Roof Tarp
Preparing for hurricane season before it begins is one of the best things you can do for your home. Roof tarps are an important part of hurricane preparedness, but they often become scarce once a storm has been named. In order to stay ahead of the curve, purchase a roof tarp early on in the year, so that if damage does occur to your roof, you’re able to protect the rest of your home easily and without delay.
Regular Inspections
We’d all hope that we would be able to see signs of damage before it became a major issue, but this isn’t always the case. Some signs of damage on your home can go unnoticed until it becomes a costly repair. In order to minimize these issues, we recommend that you get your home inspected by professionals at least once a year. This would include having a roof inspection, pest inspection, HVAC inspection, and general inspection to ensure every part of your home is in working order.
Homes Designed to Last a Lifetime
Your home should be your sanctuary. When you come home after work, there shouldn’t be worries about its safety—just the simple enjoyment of your home. For this reason, Prestige Home Center is dedicated to building and providing manufactured homes that are built with your safety and comfort in mind.
Rest easy knowing that Prestige homes are built with the highest standards and are thoroughly inspected for any issues before you’re ever handed the keys. Find a model center near you to find your next dream home—built to last a lifetime.