Homestead mailing list

[Tvoivozhd <tvoivozd AT infionline.net>]

Toni Hawryluk wrote:

> Tvo wrote :
>  
>
> > They aren't lovely to look at, but you can't beat them for price and utility. 
> >  My Fruehauf cost $750 shipped from Norfolk area and set in place on steel 
> > pipes.
> >    
>
> http://www.escapeartist.com/OREQ4/Nomadic_Housing2000_4.html<http://www.escapeartist.com/OREQ4/Nomadic_Housing2000_4.html>
>  (Shipping Container mobile home, storage---cheap, long-lived, easy to move 
> and set up, take down.)
>
> Just thinking about the mobile homes in Florida -
> had some of them been 'built' from these, and
> *anchored* correctly, seems like they could
> withstand hurricanes .... having them partly
> buried or earth bermed up the sides would also
> cut the wind force and prevent them being
> turned over, wouldn't it ??
>  
tvoivozhd---you are absolutely correct---shipping containers have a 
strength factor several times that of  stick-builts, and an even greater 
advantage over mobile homes or prefabs found in trailer parks.  Berms 
would be a great help in reducing wind loads on walls, though roofs 
would remain a weak point.  As you point out, anchorage is profoundly 
important too.  Actually anchorage in Florida could be quite good in the 
coral rock that underlises the souhernmost counties.  It is soft enough 
to receive a spiral anchor and won't pull out like it would in sand.