If you own a mobile home, or are looking to buy one soon—you might want to know a bit more about roofing. Unlike standard homes, the issues surrounding a mobile home’s roof are completely different.
While some roofing contractors might double up and do both, they often require a different set of skills and experience. Most of the info out there for roofs is about standard asphalt or shingle roofs that you might get on regular homes. So where does that leave you if you’ve got a mobile home?
If you want to know a bit more about mobile home roofing and some of the issues that come with it, then you’re in the right place. if you think your mobile home roof might need repairing sometime soon, then read this article for the answers to a number of your questions.
While mobile home roofs can share some similarities with other types of roofing, they aren’t always the same. One key distinction is the roof coating, and that’s what most of this article is going to be about.
if you want to know a bit more about the specifics of mobile home roof coating, as well as how much it might cost and even how to install or apply it yourself, then let’s have a look:
What is mobile home roof coating?
There are a number of different issues associated with mobile home roofs. That means they need their own type of roof coating to deal with them. While some of these coating materials might be the same as or similar to those on traditional roofs, there are a number of key differences between mobile home roofs and standard homes.
Firstly, mobile home roofs tend to have a lower pitch, if any at all. These flatter roofs are therefore not as good in extreme weather conditions, or even heavy rain. This is a problem associated with flat industrial roofs as well.
When a roof is flat, there isn’t anywhere for the water to run off and this can create water pooling issues and lead to dampness or leaks. That’s why most standard homes have pitched roofs.
Mobile homes tend not to be made of the same material as well. You don’t tend to get slate or shingle roofs on mobile homes. Many of them tend to be single fiber-glass constructions rather than a system of joists with layers of different roofing materials or constructions on top.
Because of these issues, mobile homes can be much more likely to leak as they age. Replacing a mobile home roof can be difficult, especially on some types of constructions. One of the main causes of a leaking older mobile home roof is degraded roof coating, along with other things like low-quality ceiling material.
While an overall roof repair or replacement might be difficult on a mobile home, it isn’t that difficult to replace or apply some more roof coating. Wind and tree branches can also cause problems with roof coating and require it to be replaced much sooner.
In a minute, we’ll look at how to install some more mobile home roof coating yourself, there are a few precautions you can take to make repairs less likely to be needed. Make sure you clean your roof regularly, especially if there have been heavy winds and branches have blown on top.
If there are puddles of water, remove these as often as possible. Consider extra paneling or guttering to help water run off the sides.
If you want to apply some roof coating to your mobile home, what options are there?
What mobile home roof coating options are there?
One of the cheaper coating materials that could make your mobile home roof last longer is aluminum coating. Aluminum coating is made of a mix of asphalt and petroleum along with aluminum fibers.
It’s a great in hot climates as it’s a good reflective surface and will help keep your mobile home cool.
- Aluminum coating is durable and cost-effective and will secure your home around 24 hours after application.
- Other types of coatings include silicone. This is a good adhesive and can be used to fill gaps or dents in your roof quite well. It can stop leaks and is easy to apply.
- Acrylic roof coatings are also an option. These are good in hot areas and provide extra protection. They can also help your roof expand and contract as the weather changes.
How to install mobile home roof coating yourself
Don’t consider applying roof coating yourself if you think it’s going to rain soon. Check the forecasts. Minimal wind is good too. Remember, it’ll also need a few hours of drying time after as well.
Start by inspecting the roof and removing any dirt or blockages. It should be completely clean. You can use a broom and make sure all the seals are completely clean. You can then remove your old coating with sandpaper.
While some coatings can be used on top of original layers of coating, not all of them can. Check the instructions with your specific coatings or ask an expert.
You might need to do some minor repairs to your roof like fixing screws. Make sure the roof is still watertight and secure before applying the new layer or coating. If you have mildew and other similar growth, you can use diluted bleach to remove it carefully.
After this, you need to apply the metal primer with a brush over the entire surface of the roof. You will need to follow the specific instructions that come with both the primer and coating and allow the primer to dry.
After the primer has dried, you can start applying the coating you chose. Make sure the roof is completely clean when doing so. You may need to prepare the coating or stir it beforehand. Start with the roof seams and flashing before coating the main part of your roof.
You might need a coating gun or other similar piece of equipment, but some coatings can be applied with a brush. After you’ve finished, let the roof coat dry for a few hours and then you’re done!
