Hi Shellhoya!

I'm so glad you asked before it gets worse! I think you have been extremely lucky. To leave the belly board (I've never heard it being called "belly fabric" ) with large rips in it for all those years, it is beyond amazing that you haven't had moisture problems or a bug or rodent infestation until now (or have you?).

I think I know why the problem started after you "fixed" the belly board. You absolutely cannot use a tarp as a belly board! You didn't say how you sealed it, but if you used anything other than the tape made specifically for sealing it, such as duct tape, expect it all to come undone. You can't use visqueen, or anything, and I mean anything, other than the plastic specifically made for this purpose.

Putting up a new belly board underneath a manufactured home is not a DIY project. It should be done by a licensed professional. Additionally, to really do it right, she or he should also put a special net over the belly board to keep it from sagging with age.

I'm betting your moisture/mold problem developed because of the tarp that was used for the belly board. Of course, I don't know what kind of climate you're in, and I'm not a professional by any means, but my best guess is that the tarp is retaining moisture, rather than repelling it.

My manufactured home is the same age as yours, 1979. Fortunately, the original belly board is still intact. But if it ever develops a problem, or a plumber has to open it up (which seems likely sooner or later), I won't even mess with trying to repair it. It can be done, but it has to be perfect, so I'd rather have a new one altogether. I'd get the netting now recommend as well.

My advice would be: first, get a professional to do a mold inspection and take care of any issues in that regard. Then get a new belly board of the correct material with the proper tape, and get the net. Have it professionally installed. The visqueen on the ground underneath your manufactured home is good, if it is visqueen.

I hope this helps. christopher_h or cathyyg, do you have anything to add?

Oh--also check out the website, mcgarryandmadsen.com. They are home inspectors who are real experts in manufactured home inspection. They have an entire blog dedicated to manufactured homes. The number one problem they find in older MHs? Tears in the belly board. It's a really, really good blog by two experts with decades of experience.

Good luck! :-)

Sincerely,

Debbie

Here's a link to one of their blog posts, "What can I do to prevent moisture and mold in my mobile home?" It may give you some other good tips. :-)

http://www.mcgarryandmadsen.com/inspection/Blog/Entries/2013/1/18_What_can_I_do_to_prevent_leaks_and_dampness_problems_in_my_mobile_home.html

And here's one that talks specifically about belly boards:

http://www.mcgarryandmadsen.com/inspection/Blog/Entries/2013/2/18_What_is_the_plastic_sheet_called_that_covers_the_underside_of_a_mobile_home.html

The tape I used is something I ordered online that is made specifically for mobile home bellies, since duct tape or anything else doesn't work. This is black tape that has to be heated to stick the best. I read several websites and watched a lot of videos and some of these "pros" used tarps, or tyvek, for belly patching, so I just figured it was ok.

The plastic I used on the ground was labeled specifically for ground barrier, but I don't remember the brand (assuming visqueen is a brand name). When the belly was torn, I did get some damp odors coming up into the home during the warm months, but never moldy smelling. Mainly under the sinks where the plumbing comes through the floor. That's the main reason I did the ground barrier, which was also much nicer to work on during the other repairs under there, instead of the bare ground. I also used to get 1 or 2 mice in the winter, but no bad infestations.

I will take a look at the links you shared. I can't afford a professional, so will have to come up with another solution.

I went to the site and realized I did read it before. The page about moisture control is where I read something that I forgot to post above, and may also have contributed to the problem. My AC unit is toward the rear end of the trailer, and I have kept most of the ducts closed beyond the kitchen towards the front of the trailer. From what I read, this can cause the cold to build up behind those closed vents, which would put that spot in my kitchen if I understand correctly. Maybe that's also causing extra condensation on the duct under the cabinet? I have all the vents open now after reading that article. Also it mentions keeping the AC set at 75 in hot humid climates. I'm in Missouri and it does get very humid here in the summer and been in the mid to upper 90s lately. I used to keep my AC set at 78 to save energy, but last year and this year I've been keeping it at 72, thanks to my age and introduction to hot flashes LOL. So there's another possible contributing factor. Wow, I am amazed I've lived here for 19 years and just now learning all this!

Believe you me, I know all about hot flashes, lol! :-) Yes, visqueen is a brand name, and it sounds like what you got is the same thing. It also sounds like you used the correct type of tape, so I'm surprised some of it came undone. On that mcgarryandmadsen.com site, you probably read their recommended method for patching, using both staples and the tape. It sounds like a lot of work, especially in the heat and under the house! I agree with you, though, I'd rather be under the house with the visqueen down than on the bare dirt.

I also think you're right about the AC and the condensation being a contributing factor to your problem area. I just have a window unit in the living room, so I haven't had to deal with that. I'm hopefully putting in a mini split system next fall, and that eliminates the need for ducts, and I can't wait!

You might be able to get a free mold inspection through your state and/or county. It would be worth a couple of phone calls and an internet search to find out. Your state and county also might be able to help with mold removal if any bad stuff is found.

I hear you about affordability--everything is just so darn expensive! I got this house (14x64 SW) last January almost for free ($2,000). My daughter and I moved in on March 1 and the previous owners, who are good friends, were still here. Unfortunately, my friend has a shopping addiction and is a hoarder. The MH was falling down around them and they either couldn't see the problems, because they were buried underneath the hoard, or they didn't think it was important, like not thinking a fan in the bathroom needs to be kept in working order, or they "could 't afford" to fix it, like the furnace which they lived through three winters without! Yet, she could afford to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars every month on clothes, make up, shoes, handbags, etc., 80% of which still have price tags on them.

Anyway, when my daughter Joy and I finally got the house cleaned out of the gigantic piles of hoarded stuff, and got the house as clean as we could by ourselves, we were able to see the extent of the damage--and it's bad. Really bad. There's like 4-5 really major projects that all need to be immediately if we hope to salvage the structural integrity of the home...but I am not a wealthy woman by any stretch of the imagination. So it has to be one project at a time, as money becomes available.

So I've spent literally over one hundred hours researching every aspect of manufactured homes. This site has been a treasure trove of information! Last October, when I agreed to buy this house from my friend, I actually read through every single thread on this forum! It was like taking a class in MH101. I've also read all the blog entries on MHs on the mcgarryandmadsen site. mobilehomeliving.org is another good one.

Joy and I figured out that we spent about 300 hours between the two of us cleaning out the massive hoard they left here and cleaning. That didn't even include the regular home cleaning and maintenance of our own stuff! There are a few things I can't do because I have pretty severe rheumatoid arthritis. The range was one of those things. I managed to get the stove top pretty clean and put in new burner bowls, but there was no way I could have scrubbed the hood, under the stove top, the oven, or underneath the oven where we found all kinds of used, greasy paper plates! Last night, a young couple I hired from craigslist came over and it took them two solid hours, so four work hours, to get it clean! It was definitely worth the $60 I paid them.

Well, good luck with your mildew problem...I hope you can fix it without too much expense or too much time crawling around under the house! :-)

Sincerely,

Debbie