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Mobile homes or manufactured homes are first built in a factory. They are then lifted onto a trailer chassis so that they can be moved to where they must be.
Other times they are placed on land which forms part of a mobile home park. Some mobile homeowners have their own land and they have these mobile homes delivered to this land.
Modern manufactured homes look very similar to traditional homes. The walls are no longer constructed with frail, shaky wall finishes and solid kitchen worktops are no longer the norm. On the other hand, walls in the interiors are plastered brick walls and the kitchen is equipped with all modern appliances. The countertops are made of tile or granite. Bathrooms can have whirlpool tubs and many mobile homes feature cedar-lined walk-in closets these days.
What’s more, a mobile home is much more affordable. Mobile home costs as much as half of the cost of a regular home, making it an affordable option for retirees or people with low-budget.
However, like all homes, mobile homes may also get in need of repair from time to time and leaking roof may be one of the problems you may have to face while living in a mobile home.
Leaks on a mobile home roof can cause a lot of damage and if the leak is not repaired quickly by yourself or a contractor, repair mobile home roof do yourself can turn out to be a costly procedure later on.
Surge of Interest in Mobile Homes
Because they are built in controlled environments, they are built to a high standard and the newer ones provide an excellent alternative to a stick built home, coming with amazing upgrades and safety features, while still be affordable.
Repair mobile home roof do yourself is possible too and this is precisely why there has been a surge in new manufactured home sales – the roofs are of a better quality and you can buy all the roofing products and accessories at your nearest hardware store.
Different Roofs for Different Times
Mobile homes built prior to June 1976 have flat roofs that are often covered with sheet metal or asphalt coating. Those manufactured after 1976 and which are known as manufactured homes have more pitched roofs.
They are often covered with asphalt shingles or metal roofing panels. The flat roof mobile homes often come with a metal roof which is designed to be coated every few years or so, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Repair mobile home roof do yourself with a flat root does not necessarily repair leaks and sealing the metal roof gives it a reflective surface and it also prevents the metal from rusting. Before sealing, the mobile home owner will first need to prepare the roof properly and previous coats will need to be removed so that the new coat bonds well.
TPO Roofing
Thermoplastic Polyolefin is a single-ply roofing membrane. Repair mobile home roof do yourself is possible with residential or commercial roofing systems. While it is a popular commercial roofing system, it is a popular type of roofing for mobile homes too.
TPO membranes are reflective. It is a polyester, reinforced covering made of rubber and plastic. Because it is reflective and reflects heat, it will lower energy bills significantly. The membranes of TPO roofing are manufactured in sheets that can be up to 20 feet wide. All roofing accessories to repair mobile home roof do yourself are available at leading hardware stores.
There are many benefits of TPO roofing and if you do repair mobile home roof do yourself you can look forward to an affordable roofing system and the roofing is effective in resisting bacteria, algae and dirt. Also, its flexible membrane allows it to withstand tears and punctures. Being very lightweight and flexible it is also easy to install.
Mobile Home Rubber Roof
If you want to repair mobile home roof do yourself, then rubber roofing for mobile homes can be seamed or seamless. Seamed rubber roofing is the more difficult to install but repair mobile home roof do yourself is possible with all the roofing products you can buy today.
When the rubber membrane, known as EPDM, is stretched over the roof, it is fastened with screws. Also, pieces of membrane are glued around the vents to create a watertight seam.
There are lots of good reasons to consider a rubber roof, more so a TPO membrane roof as it is inexpensive, it is energy efficient, easy to install and repair, it is durable and designed to be leak proof.
TPO Roofing Cost
Repair mobile home roof do yourself is reasonable when you do research on roofing costs. In 2020, if you want a quality TPO membrane roof, pricing starts at about $5.50-6.00 per square foot. But for very large commercial projects you could be looking at between $3.50-4.00 per square foot.
If you want to estimate how many square feet there are on your roof, you measure the perimeter of your house. Look out for the TPO roofing cost calculator which you can find on roofing websites, as these can give you some idea as to the estimate of your roof based on the average cost of materials and labor. With the calculator, as a DIYer, you can be guided as to what your roof repair job will be.
What Does TPO Stand for?
When you want to repair mobile home roof do yourself, it pays to do research to find the best roof products there are/ What is TPO? It is Thermoplastic Polyolefin which s a single-ply roofing membrane that is used to cover flat roofs,
They are manufactured in sheets that are 10, 12 or 20 feet wide. The reason it is so sought after is that it is a natural reflective surface to reflect UV rays. For a mobile roof, homeowners can expect longevity from TPO and a roof that is more leak proof too.
TPO Roofing Installation
With TOP roofing installation, once the existing substrate is prepared, the insulation is installed. Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) is the most used insulation type for roofing.
The TPO membrane is most often attached to the cover board with a bonding adhesive. If you do not have all the tools and accessories to repair mobile home roof do yourself, both the contractor or DIY-er can invest in a hot-air gun to weld the seams together.
When online you can also look at videos to see how a roofing team installs a TPO single-ply membrane roofing system.
Pictures of Metal Roofs on Mobile Homes
A metal roof on your mobile home can be a long-lasting way to secure and protect your home. Most roofing companies will install a metal roof for you and there are many pictures of metal roofs on mobile homes on the Internet and in books where you can get an idea of what it will look like.
Metal roofs are a high quality option that do not require replacing in a few years. They are coated with a reflective coating too.
TPO vs PVC Roofing
TPO and PVC are both part of roofing membranes and there are certain differences between the two roofing types. If you decide to repair mobile home roof do yourself, it will be to your benefit to understand the differences between PVC and TPO so that you can make an informed decision as to which one is best.
PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride while TPO stands for Thermoplastic Polyolefin. TPO combines the benefits of PVC and EPDM so that it is more flexible, reflective and weather resistant.
Both thermoplastic materials are resistant to leaks. TPO and PVC are both white but they can be grey too. The white color makes them both reflective to the sun’s ultraviolet rays and resistant to heat. They are both installed in very similar ways. PVC is a bit more expensive but then it is not weakened by chemicals or oils, making it more sought after.
Firestone TPO
Firestone is a division of the Bridgestone Group, known around the world for being a leader in rubber polymer technology. Firestone EPDM waterproof membranes are installed worldwide and they ensure water-tightness for every building they cover.
The Firestone RubberCover EPDM membranes can be found on residential roofs and ensure exceptional durability. It is available in a thickness of 1.14 mm.
Some of the main advantages of the Firestone RubberCover EPDM membrane is that it is highly elastic, the membrane and seams display high resistance to hydrostatic pressure and it is compatible with green roofing systems and photovoltaics.
Carlisle TPO
When you want to repair mobile home roof do yourself with eco-friendly products, Carlisle has been the leader in roofing or more than four decades and they are known for their environmentally responsible products and in fact they support the Building Green concept.
If you want to repair mobile home roof do yourself project Carlisle SynTec Systems is a leader in the commercial single-ply roofing industry for decades, offering excellent roofing systems through a network of manufacturers and distributors.
Their product offerings include among others, Sure-Weld TPO membranes. They also manufacture insulation, membrane cleaners and other products.
Rubber Roofing Cost
If you have a mobile home, rubber mobile home roofs are created by stretching a membrane over an existing roof. With repair mobile home roof do yourself ideas and costs, it will all depend on the size of the roof but you can expect to pay roughly about $4.00 to $9.00 per sq. foot.
There are plenty of reasons that the mobile home owner should consider a rubber roof, and more so a TPO membrane roof. One of the most obvious reasons is that the rubber roof is more affordable that other roofing options. You will also benefit from other savings because the roof is energy efficient because of the white material that ensures sunlight is reflected back. Because it stays pliable in hot and cold conditions, you wo not have to be concerned about the roof cracking.
- It stays pliable in heat or cold so that you do not have to worry about cracking.
There are definitely advantages to mobile home rubber roofing, and it can be a good option for a mobile home as well as other properties.
Building a floating roof over a mobile home
Before you add a new roof over your mobile home roof you will need to ensure the home’s structure can actually withstand the weight of a new roof. Homes with flat roofs pose a problem because they are not strong enough to withstand the weight of a new roof.
Where the home wo not withstand the weight of the roof, the best option is a floating roof or a self-supporting mobile home roof over. To give a mobile home with a flat roof better protection, mobile homeowners choose a gabled roof over design that can be covered with shingles or metal panels – the weight does not matter because the roof over has its own self-supporting frame.
Conclusion
Before you start to repair mobile home roof do yourself, the idea is to check first where the roof problem is. If you have a flat roof on your mobile home, most probably it is made of metal or rubber.
Pitched roofs came out in the 1970s. If you still have a flat roof, inadequate drainage and damaging sun exposure can require you repairing the roof. You can fix individual parts of your roof, replace your old roof with a new one or put on a floating roof or roof over.
There are newer roofing choices these days and the application of them is direct and easy, especially when you get it done in one seamless piece.
