Choosing what type of roof to put on your mobile home is essential to every homeowner. The aesthetic and visual quality, durability, and longevity are important factors to consider in getting a mobile home or any home improvement project. Whether it is a metal roof, a TPO roof, a shingle roof, a flat roof, or a pitched roof – all these are a matter of personal preference for people who choose mobile home living.
How do I Choose A Roof for My Mobile Home?
Choosing your mobile home roofing material can be sometimes tricky. The key important factors to look for in your mobile home roof are cost, durability, and design. A mobile home roof that can protect you from external elements for years onwards is likely to come out cheaper in the long run as longevity outshines cost. Visual aesthetics must also be considered in choosing your mobile home roof as they not only give your home exterior some class and pizazz but also increase the value of your mobile home.
The best roofing material for mobile homes in terms of weather resistance and long-term durability would be asphalt shingles and metal roofing. Not only are they proven to last you a good number of years, but they also come in a variety of color and style options that can easily help you with your desired mobile home roof design.
Types of Mobile Home Roofs
Commonly, as compared to more permanent home structures, mobile homes have either flat roofs or low-sloped roofs. If you plan to replace your mobile home’s existing roof shortly, it is imperative to first know what best materials are available in the market before even moving forward.
Asphalt Shingles
Also known as composition shingles, asphalt shingles have become a popular choice for roofing material for mobile homeowners. Because asphalt shingles are also used in more permanent homes, there is no doubt that they provide the same if not even more durability to mobile homes. Asphalt shingles are waterproof and can last up to 30 years.
Furthermore, because mobile homes have a smaller roof area than a permanent structure, asphalt shingles as a mobile home roofing material come out much cheaper in terms of cost. And because many mobile homes have flat roofs, all you need will be a single layer of asphalt shingles instead of overlapping layers.
Shingles can make a mobile home look nicer. This means they can help increase a mobile home’s curb appeal and its value if you’re looking to sell.
As a bonus, because asphalt shingles come in a bevy of style and color choices, a shingle roof can improve your mobile home’s curb appeal and increase its value.
Metal Roof/Aluminum Roof
Increasingly used for all types of different buildings, from residential to commercial projects, metal roofing is an excellent option for mobile homes. In mobile homes, metal roofing usually comes in aluminum and is usually installed over the top of an original roof.
Aluminum roofs are known to help homeowners save a lot on their energy bills. By reflecting the sun’s heat away from the mobile home, installing metal roofing or aluminum roofing in your mobile home assures you of energy efficiency. On the other hand, during winter, metal roofs provide more insulation, thereby significantly reducing heating bills.
Here is another great advantage of working with metal roofing. You need not remove any parts of the old roof before any roof replacement project. You may j want to make sure that all leaks and damage are repaired beforehand. Most metal roofing kits have a warranty of 40-60 years, and this eliminates any maintenance hassles and expenses you may have to cover on your end.
Durable and long-lasting. These are the two best qualities of metal as a material for mobile home roofs. While metal roofs may have an initially higher installation cost, this is easily offset by the fact that metal roofs last for up to 70 years, can withstand extreme weather, and even hurricane-force winds, and do not typically corrode. Metal roofs are therefore extremely durable. A big plus factor is the fact that they are often installed on top of a pre-existing roof, thus greatly reducing the cost of a roof material replacement.
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Additional Roofing Options for Mobile Homes
When considering your choices of mobile home roofs, you need not be limited to just asphalt shingles or metal roofing. The good news is that there are other available options in the market today. Some good examples would be rubber roofing, liquid roofing, and TPO roofing.
Rubber Roofing
For mobile homes that have flat roofs, rubber roofing is a good option. Because rubber roofing is waterproof, it helps weatherproof your mobile home. The process of rubber roofing essentially entails stretching a thin sheet of rubber across the roof and adding it over an existing roof to act as both a waterproofing and insulating layer.
While the installation of rubber roofing typically takes less than a day, it does not particularly look nice which could be a downside for a mobile homeowner. Moreover, rubber roofing must be installed in dry conditions, which can be an issue depending on where you live.
Liquid Roofing
Liquid roofing is similar to rubber roofing. It is a liquid coating applied on an existing roof to act as both a waterproofing and insulating layer. Simply applied using a paint roller, liquid roofing quickly dries up and can then weatherproof a mobile home’s roof making it inexpensive especially since it is also resistant to extreme weather conditions.
However, liquid roofing is susceptible to tearing especially when a heavy or sharp object hits the roof. Also, the water-resistant nature of liquid roofing can cause the roof to become slippery over time.
TPO Roofing
Thermoplastic polyolefin or TPO TPO stands for thermoplastic polyolefin is a thin, flexible membrane that is installed over an existing roof. Single-ply and coming in sheets between 12 to 20 feet wide, TPO can accommodate a wide variety of different roof areas of mobile homes. TPO makes the mobile home energy efficient. With its ability to deflect the sun’s rays away from the mobile home, TPO roofs can certainly help you save money by reducing energy bills.
Three downsides to TPO roofing: first, it has very limited color options; second, TPO roofs have to be installed perfectly or the seams won’t hold up over time; and third, it’s a fairly new material that does not yet have any research to show on how long it will last.
Average Cost for A Mobile Home Roof Overhead
As mentioned earlier, one of the important factors in considering your type of mobile home roofing material is cost. In this article, we will focus on the cost of 3 roofing materials that are most common and popular these days.
Asphalt Shingles
While we did mention that asphalt shingles are durable and come in a variety of colors and design choices, they are not commonly used as roofing material in mobile homes because of their weight. It is not recommended to use just a single layer of shingles on your roof as that may only make your mobile home roof susceptible to leaks and weathering. You may only end up spending more time and resources maintaining your mobile homes especially if you do not have the proper warranty.
However, asphalt shingles as roofing material are easy to install and can be relatively cheap. Expect to pay anywhere from $700 – $2,000 for single-wides or $1,200 – $4,000 for double-wides.
TPO Roofing
Again, we’ve already mentioned both the advantages and advantages of TPO or Rubber Membrane roofing earlier. While TPO roofing is easy to install on your own, you may still want to hire a professional depending on your experience level in installing your new roof. Expect to pay around $1,175 – $2,295 in materials for a single-wide and $1,595 – $3,610 for a double-wide.
Metal Roof/Aluminum Roof
We did say the metal roofs, which usually come in aluminum in mobile homes, have become a very popular choice as it is now being used in a variety of buildings, from residential projects to commercial edifices. Considering that is extremely durable and assures you longevity, it is not surprising at all that many mobile homeowners are most willing to pay extra for these added protection qualities.
Insulated metal products are estimated to cost around $3,000-$4,000 for a single-wide or $7,800-$8,000 for a double-wide.
Whether you are looking for a total roof replacement or just doing some minor repairs to your mobile home roofing, there are some important things to remember. First, you can’t roof your mobile home without first thoroughly inspecting it for damages and doing the corresponding and necessary repairs. Second, make a plan and stick to it to avoid costly repairs. Roof replacement is a major home improvement project. Third, choose your roofing materials well – be it shingles, metal, rubber membrane, or liquid roofing. Finally, remember that the biggest and most important factor in keeping your mobile home in tip-top shape is proper maintenance.
