Mobile Homes...

[paulharvey]

So, I live in a 1996 double wide, that I bought in 2007. Roof is plain 3-tab shingle and is getting close to needing replaced. In mean time, I have two small leaks at vent pipe boots. I tore into one just the other day, replacing roughly 32" x 36" piece of OSB, and have some observations....

They dont use tar paper/roofing felt under the shingles, it had a waxed craft paper....

The roof trusses, which I saw for first time, are actual true dimension 1" x 1 1/2"...... at 16" oc. And they are spruce to top it off. The web members where 1.5" x 2" but still, I was really surprised to see roof trusses made from what are basically furring strips.

Of coarse part of the floor needed replaced as well, so I found it was 5/8" osb, which I guess is only 1/8" less than im used too.

Basically it seems to me every building has a base line cost, and after a point you get diminishing rewards in either upgrading or down grading. It seems they probably saved 10-15% on materials, and lost 50% on quality.

Dont know what the purpose of this post was, guess I'm just venting

 

[rtimgray]

The thing to remember is that in manufacturing, if you use cheaper materials and can charge the same price, that's more money for the bottom line. I lived in a 1969 12x60 for 11 (memorable) years. It's wall "studs" were similar 1.5" x 2"s, the roof "trusses" similar to yours, flimsy paneling, etc. Our floor was only a 1/2" thick.

I just assume that they use the lowest cost materials assembled by the lowest paid workers that they can get as quickly as they can. All at a price I still really can't afford.

I share your frustration. I don't know if some mobile homes are built better than that now or not. I've heard some advertise "2x6" walls - and I always wondered if the joke was that they started with 2x6s and ripped them into 2x2s for use!

Good luck and take care.

 

[bandaidmd]

I'm not sure about the single wides but most of the doubles are full size 2x6's ( actual 1 1/2 x 5 1/2).
It depends on the mfg what quality of materials is used, the better ones are built just the same as a regular house.
I own a small MH park and have a mixture of both single and double.

 

[Bird]

I know OSB is popular and I'm probably in the minority (nothing new for me), but I hate that stuff and would not want to use it anywhere there's the slightest possibility of it ever getting the tiniest bit wet.

 

[Egon]

I know OSB is popular and I'm probably in the minority (nothing new for me), but I hate that stuff and would not want to use it anywhere there's the slightest possibility of it ever getting the tiniest bit wet.

I'm
With you Bird

 

[Bird]

I'm not sure about the single wides but most of the doubles are full size 2x6's ( actual 1 1/2 x 5 1/2).
It depends on the mfg what quality of materials is used, the better ones are built just the same as a regular house.
I own a small MH park and have a mixture of both single and double.

I'm old enough to remember when we didn't have mobile homes, RVs, travel trailers, mobile home parks, etc., but we did have house trailers and trailer parks.:laughing: In 1959, I bought a 1952 Henslee house trailer. It was 8' wide and 28' long. And in the trailer park there were some people who had those monstrous, luxurious 10' wide Hicks trailers that were over 30' long.

 

[paulharvey]

I'm old enough to remember when we didn't have mobile homes, RVs, travel trailers, mobile home parks, etc., but we did have house trailers and trailer parks.:laughing: In 1959, I bought a 1952 Henslee house trailer. It was 8' wide and 28' long. And in the trailer park there were some people who had those monstrous, luxurious 10' wide Hicks trailers that were over 30' long.

By mobile home, I do mean house trailer; not a travel trailer. I dont mind the idea of using 2"x3" studs on interior walls, finger jointed studs, ect; just kinda amazed an engineer would stamp plans using 1"x1.5" (true size) roof trusses.

 

[smstonypoint]

I dont mind the idea of using 2"x3" studs on interior walls, finger jointed studs, ect; just kinda amazed an engineer would stamp plans using 1"x1.5" (true size) roof trusses.

Just curious -- to what extent are mobile homes subject to building codes?

Steve

 

[RoyJackson]

Just curious -- to what extent are mobile homes subject to building codes?

Steve

That depends on the state and localities. I know one area (Hartford County in MD) that basically banned mobile homes...but this was more due to the "elites" moving into the area.

 

[paulharvey]

Just curious -- to what extent are mobile homes subject to building codes?

Steve

My understanding is that they have an approved plan stamped by an engineer, and an staff engineer seals a permit stating that it was build to all applicable building codes for its time and area.

 

[RSKY]

Lived in one in the seventies when we just got married. I worked the afternoon shift and got home one cold January about 1:00 in the morning. Stepped into the bathtub to take a shower and stepped on ICE. Went out the next morning and opened the hatch over the little ten gallon water heater and could see the underside of the tub. The hatch was well vented.

Mobile homes are built very cheaply, barely safe to live in. I steered both my kids away from them when they got married.

But we were newlyweds, both going to school, both working, and we were happy.

RSKY

 

[bandaidmd]

Actually i have never seen OSB in the flooring of a MH, OSB would be a upgrade over the brittle water wicking particle board.
The advantec brand of OSB is what i use on all my subflooring and its a awesome product.

https://www.google.com/search?q=osb...cplywood.com%2Fcatalogue%2Fosb-3%2F;3508;1748

https://www.google.com/search?q=par...orizontal-f22_PNr%25C2%25B00101.jpg;2413;1997

 

[bcp]

Many of the older mobile homes seem to be built like they were large versions of a travel trailer, which was as light as possible so the family car could pull it.

Newer ones are more like a conventional house in construction.

Bruce

 

[paulharvey]

OSB is fine by me, is plywood better, yes, but its 85% more money, for 25% better material IMO. I dont like that certain cheap ,"better building practices" dont seem to trickle down to the manufactures though.

No insulation under bathtubs

No trim rings/escutions where plumbing enters cabinets

The worst possible doors, interior and exterior

None of these would be much more money, probably less than $500 per home

 

[kenmac]

some of these newer MH'S are very nice. I've worked in them. If I wasn't told, I would have never known. The newer ones aren't built like the older ones. They are or seem to be built better than some homes...Google triple wide MH's,,,, 2x6 wall studs ??? My house isn't built with 2x6 wall studs

 

[KubotainNH]

I lived in a 12x65 one in the 80's, early 90's. It was high end, had well built 2x4 walls but the insulation was pitiful. Always cold in that place. I made it much better with lots of work and real windows. Insulating the floor better would have helped but I never got there. Luckily I was able to build a real house and sell the MH. Those particle board floors just didn't like getting wet, match that with damp crawl space underneath and you get a bad mix. Hopefully I never have to live in one again. I've seen some really poorly built units, the walls were less than 2x3. I think my cheapo shed has stronger framing. I think part of the reason for light structure is so it can be towed on a metal frame. IMO, modular houses are not typically as long so they are usually built better.

 

[nc redneck]

It all depends on what you pay for. My first house ( Oakwood double wide) has been a rental for almost 20 years after I lived in it for 5 years. I am not a slum lord. Current rent is $ 900.00 per month. In many ways it was built better than my current house that I paid $ 360,000.00 for in 1996.

 

[paulharvey]

It all depends on what you pay for. My first house ( Oakwood double wide) has been a rental for almost 20 years after I lived in it for 5 years. I am not a slum lord. Current rent is $ 900.00 per month. In many ways it was built better than my current house that I paid $ 360,000.00 for in 1996.

I built low income and section 8 apartments about five years ago, and they where nicer than all but one place I've lived in (moms last house when I was teenager). I rented a 2 bed block home for a year, which was nicer than my double wide in some ways, and worse in others, it had all VCT floors which I didnt like, and kinda felt like a cave with only a couple small windows. Me and my now wife lived 27 months in a 520 sq ft single wide from early 1970s when our son was born. Shoot I lived in a one room tin shack for couple years as a kid, wood stove for heat and cooking.

Edit: a 1970s model single wide, not in the 1970s, I wasn't born yet, lol

 

[smstonypoint]

My understanding is that they have an approved plan stamped by an engineer, and an staff engineer seals a permit stating that it was build to all applicable building codes for its time and area.

Apparently there is a federal buiding code that trumps local codes -- "A manufactured home is a single-family dwelling built according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act, which is a national, preemptive building code." Mobile/Manufactured Homes

Steve

 

[RoMad]

To the OP. My brother and I have done a lot of work on mobile homes. If you put 1x4 non treated purlins on top of the shingles and then a galvalume metal roof on top of them you will do wonders for the life of the home. If you do it yourself it is not to expensive. They make boots that fit over the vents. Try calling Gulf Coast Metals in Horshoe Beach.