Can a Double-Wide Have a Basement Added?

What's Involved

• To install a basement, the double-wide must first be lifted up and slid onto beams 4 to 6 feet off the ground. The house will stay on these beams while the basement is being constructed. The utilities must be disconnected, and it may be impossible to live in the house while the basement is being installed.

Hiring a Contractor

• If you have no construction or excavating experience, you best bet is to hire a contractor. He will first dig out an area for your basement, then pour the concrete and construct the basement. The cost of this project will depend on the rates in your area, but it will be expensive. If borrowing money to finance the project, your lender will tell you if installing a basement is a financially feasible option.

Installing the Basement Yourself

• You can save a lot of money by doing much of the work yourself, provided you have the skills to complete the task. You'll still have to pay for the equipment to move the home, and will likely need to purchase a skidsteer to dig out the basement. The project is likely to take three to six months.

Considerations

• Before adding a basement to your modular home, check with your home's manufacturer to determine how to anchor the home to the foundation. If your home does not already have a place to install basement stairs, determine where you will be able to install them.