What is the purpose of a pier in manufactured home support systems?

The purpose of a pier in manufactured home support systems is to provide a foundation between the footing and the manufactured home. Piers are crucial structural components that help distribute the weight of the home evenly across the foundation. This distribution is essential for ensuring stability and preventing any potential shifting or settling of the home. By serving as a load-bearing intermediary, piers maintain the integrity of the manufactured home, allowing it to remain securely positioned on its footings.

While elevating the home above flood levels is an important consideration in certain locations—often accomplished through the overall design and elevation of the foundation—this specific function falls outside the primary role of piers. Similarly, while aesthetics can play a minor role in how a home appears, the main function of piers is structural support rather than decorative enhancement. Anchoring the home is indeed a critical aspect of ensuring safety and stability, but it is primarily achieved through other systems, such as tie-downs or anchoring devices, rather than the piers themselves.