Tango

Most people wonder what makes a floating home stay afloat? And believe me, the float of a floating home is the one thing that makes buyers….and sellers….nervous! Why? Buyers are fearful about buying a home that will require expensive and mysterious repairs to the foundation, and they can’t even see it because it is under water. Sellers fear that they will have to spend a fortune on repairing deferred maintenance on the float when they sell it.

The ‘float’ of a floating home refers to the home’s foundation. Typically the float is constructed of large logs that are bound together with stringer, large cuts of lumber that run across the logs and which are pinned to the both the logs and the house beneath the floor. This float actually sits in the water. Did you know that old growth logs, submerged in water, don’t rot? Only the part that is exposed to air is subject to rot.

The sub floor of the home is built right on top of the float…..and yes, insulation is important. Thick, hard sheets of foam insulation are best. The hard core type holds its shape, and is not friendly to river critters who like to find their home beneath your home. Just like on land, the foundation of a floating home is really important. It needs to be balanced, sturdy and able to support the home that is sitting on top. More to come!

Image courtesy of http://www.nachi.org/