How To Fix Soft Spots In A Mobile Home Floor & Identify The Problem

Well, look no further! You can learn how to fix soft spots in a mobile home floor by taking a look at some of these suggestions.

What causes soft spots in mobile home floors?

Some of the most common causes of soft spots include:

• water leaks
• repeated exposure to moisture

Therefore, if you find yourself dealing with soft spots, you might want to start by finding any sources of water that are contributing to the problem.

Investigating for water leaks

Typically, the biggest culprits in a mobile home when it comes to water leakage are bathroom appliances, other household appliances, and windows, the worst of those being bathroom appliances. If you’re finding soft spots in your bathroom floor, check your sink, bathtub, and toilet to see if any water leaks are occurring. If you do find water leaks, it’s a good idea to have them fixed as quickly as possible, since water issues are the bane of a mobile home’s existence.

Washing machines are another frequent origin of water leaks. There are a host of things that could be causing a washing machine to leak. Sometimes, it involves what kind of machine you have. To be on the safe side, if you notice soft spots developing near your washing machine, take a look underneath your washing machine and determine if it’s leaking.

Mobile home windows also have a tendency to leak and may be allowing water to run down onto your floor, where it seeps into the flooring and begins to create soft spots. This should be a simple fix. It may require nothing more than simply sealing small gaps around your window panes with caulk.

Other problem areas

Soft spots can also form in areas where water is allowed to accumulate. For example, if you consistently keep a pet’s water dish in one area, any spills that aren’t cleaned up quickly enough might begin causing problems. To be on the safe side, always clean up water spills as soon as possible, and be on the lookout for developing soft spots in areas near standing water.

How to fix soft spots in a mobile home floor  

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in how to fix soft spots in a mobile home floor – and you’re looking into doing it yourself. Well, gear up, because you’re about to find out how to make it happen!  

Dealing with your floor covering and trim

First, you’ll need to clear away whatever is covering your floor. If you have carpet, it should be cut away. Tile, on the other hand, must be pulled up. If you’re dealing with linoleum or vinyl, then you’ll need to make a cut around the outer edges of the room. After you’ve made the cut, you can remove the linoleum or vinyl covering easily.

On the same note, you’ll also need to remove any trim along the floor’s perimeter.  

Taking out your subfloor

Your second step is to cut the subflooring away from the outer edges of the room. You should use a circular saw for this. Before you start cutting, find out how thick your subfloor is, so that you can set the depth of your saw blade correctly. Otherwise, you risk slicing into your joists, which isn’t exactly a fun new project you want to create for yourself right now!

Part 2 of taking out your subfloor

At this point, you’ll need to remove your subfloor, one section at a time. In order to do so, you’ll have to cut each section out by sawing in between the joists beneath your floor. To prevent any unnecessary heartache during this part of your project, it’s a good idea to make sure that you aren’t about to sever any pipes or wiring before you start cutting away – because let’s face it, nobody wants to experience strong emotions over a floor.  

Check your joists

Make sure that there is no damage to your joists – if there is, then now is a great time to get it fixed.

Photo credit: Triforce

The new floor

Now you can put in your new subfloor! Obviously, this is the most exciting part of the whole process, but there’s still some important factors involved in making sure that your new floor is installed correctly. Of course, the floor must be the right size for the room you’re re-flooring, so you may need to carefully cut it down to the correct measurements. You’ll also need to affix extra boards between your joists. This will give you something to attach your flooring to, and it’ll ultimately strengthen your new floor.

Throughout the process, make sure that your floor is level. At the end of your re-flooring project, you don’t want to find out that your brand new floor is uneven. It’s not the most inspiring end to a project that’s gone wonderfully otherwise.  

Covering your floor

Last but not least, you’ll need to install a new cover for your floor. Ultimately, that part of the process is up to you, so be creative! If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips on choosing the best flooring for your home.

A job well done

Now that you’ve learned how to fix soft spots in a mobile home floor, what are you waiting for? You can be sitting in your living room, sipping your tea, and enjoying your new floor in no time. Maybe you’ll even start planning other repairs for your mobile home. Don’t wait – today’s a great day for a new project!