Welcome back,
Over the past five decades the building materials used on the exteriors of mobile home and manufactured homes has slowly evolved and improved. These improvements in mobile home siding material has led to more affordable siding products that resist dents, bugs, hurricanes, extreme temperatures, and rusting. If you’re on this page you likely have some interest in mobile home siding.
In this article we’ll discuss the common types of mobile home siding. Where to purchase more? What’s a fair price?
Mobile home simple exterior wall construction
Lets first understand the basic construction of a mobile home’s exterior walls. Inside your next investment mobile home you’ll find likely find classic mobile home paneling or modern drywall covered with paint or wallpaper. Under this layer of drywall or paneling you will find the wall studs, insulation, and electric wiring. On the opposite sides of the wall studs (closest to the outside) will typically be a layer of durable clear/colored plastic that acts as a water barrier should any water get past the exterior siding of the home. The final layer and exterior of a mobile home is the siding material itself.
1. Aluminum Mobile Home Siding
Aluminum is durable and has been used in mobile home construction since the very beginning of mobile homes. As an active mobile home investor you’ll absolutely invest in mobile homes with aluminum siding. Aluminum siding will resist rust, bugs, and the weather very well. However this siding will most certainly dent with normal use.
Identify by: Aluminum siding panels may typically be identified by the metal panels aligned vertically on the mobile home’s exterior. Each aluminum panel overlaps the next and is nailed or screwed into place. Aluminum mobile home siding panels were most common during the 1960s through the 1990s. If you see wavy metal sheets arranged vertically then you are likely dealing with aluminum siding.
Try fixing: Aluminum is a soft metal that can be straighten with a hammer and patience. Dents can be corrected, not perfectly but enough. Aluminum panels may be pressure washed and painted for a new look.
Pro Tip: When pressuring washing any painted surface be cautious to not strip away the paint. However if you plan to repaint any surface it is important to clean and pressure wash loose dirt/paint away.
Where to find: New aluminum panels may be found online at the websites below or at a local mobile home supply store. Search Google and ask local mobile home park managers for referrals to any mobile home supply stores in the area. Consider asking your local park managers if there are any condemned mobile homes in the park that you may potentially remove the existing aluminum panels to replace on your own mobile home, or keep for future projects.
✔ The online mobile home parts store
✔ Westland distributing – mobile home products
Pro Tip: If purchasing a mobile home inside a preexisting mobile home park, aim to ask the park management if any improvements to the exterior are needed after you purchase. Some communities may request a new buyer clean the exterior, add new steps, add a shed, improve curb appeal, add vinyl siding to the exterior of the current aluminum panels, and/or more.
2. Vinyl Mobile Home Siding
Vinyl siding is extremely common around the country on brand new housing, both on single family homes and mobile homes. As an active mobile home investor you will absolutely invest in mobile homes with vinyl siding exteriors. Mobile homes from the 1990s through today may typically have vinyl siding of some color and texture from the factory. While this type of siding comes in dozens of colors, styles, and textures you’ll normally see neutral colors and double/triple lap siding on used mobile homes. Older mobile homes may have had vinyl siding added to the exterior of their aluminum siding. See picture below of this process in action.
Vinyl siding typically resists dents, bugs, and damages better than aluminum. Both vinyl siding and aluminum siding on mobile homes collect dirt and algae that needs to be washed or pressure washed away periodically.
Identify by: Vinyl siding can typically be identified by the vinyl siding panels running horizontal across the length of the mobile home. Vinyl siding is made from flexible vinyl, not stiff metal. Each vinyl siding panel interlocks with it’s neighbor and is nailed in place to create a weather resistant barrier.
Try fixing: Vinyl siding may be pressure washed for a cleaner look. Small tears may be mended with a clear waterproof epoxy or silicon caulk. Serious tears can be removed and replaced. Cut and remove the existing torn panel piece and replace with a new one. Ideally the person installing the home’s current siding left some extra under the home home. If there is no extra siding to use aim to visit a local mobile home parts store or the two websites below.
Where to find: Shop local if possible. Check with any local hardware stores and also mobile home part stores nearby (ask local park managers for referrals). Aim to compare prices online at mobile home specialty websites for the best value depending on your needs. When shopping for vinyl siding you’ll need to calculate the exterior square footage of your mobile home.
✔ The online mobile home parts store
✔ Westland distributing – mobile home products
How much is needed? If replacing or adding to the full exterior the total exterior square feet is likely needed when ordering supplies. Example: If the dimensions of your mobile home are 14′ by 60′ then the perimeter of the mobile home is 60’+60’+14’+14’= 148 feet. The height of the mobile home, not including skirting or gables, is 8 feet. 148 feet multiplied by 8 feet equals 1,184 square feet of siding needed. Lets add 10% for miscellaneous purposes and order 1300 square feet because it’s better to have too much than too little material.)
3. Wood-panel siding or T1-11 for Mobile Homes
Wood siding panels or T1-11 (pronounced T-one-eleven) is a plywood wood that has been pressed into rectangle panels that extend the entire height of a mobile home. These wooden panels interlock with each other to protect the interior of many mobile homes around the country. This material is susceptible to wood rot, bugs, and holes over time. As an active mobile home investor you will absolutely see and likely invest in mobile homes with this plywood siding.
Identify by: Plywood siding panels can typically be identified by the wood panels being aligned vertically on many mobile homes from the 1980s through the present. If you see 4′ by 8′ wooden panel running vertically you’re likely dealing with plywood panel siding. Two quality types: T1-11 is available in two types 1.) cheaper OSB (oriented strand board) which is the lesser grade and made from many smaller pieces of wood glued and formed into the grooved siding panels and 2.) plywood which is more expensive and made from larger wood sheets that are glued together to form the grooved T1-11 panels. Plywood T1-11 is recommend for all exterior applications.
Pro Tip: As an investor do not make unnecessary improvements or upgrades to a mobile home’s exterior if not needed.
Try fixing: This product does a very good job at resisting damages. Common repairs over decades will likely be due to water causing wood rot. Water on the exterior of the home as rain, and water that inevitably leaks behind the walls to cause damages and softness overtime. These panels may be removed and replaced if needed. Panels come ready to be painted. Aim to repair only what is needed.
Wood rot & plywood siding: Some older/neglected wood siding panels you see will be terribly damaged with wood rot. These panels will be falling apart, moldy, brittle to the touch, and may even look like thin paper instead of wood. Wood rot this severe should be removed and replaced with new material.
Where to find: Your local hardware store or national brand hardware store. Check with any mobile home parts stores nearby (ask local park managers for referrals). Aim to compare prices online at mobile home specialty websites for the best value.
Related article: Mobile Home Skirting – A Definitive Guide To Mobile Home Skirting As An Investor
4. Fiber cement siding
Fiber cement siding comes in a variety of colors, thicknesses, and textures. However most commonly you will see traditional horizontal lap panels/planks, similar to traditional horizontal vinyl siding on used mobile homes. Fiber cement is made from silica, cement, and wood fibers. Other styles besides traditional horizontal lap siding will include irregular horizontal shingles and rustic stained cabin panels. These product resists rotting, bugs, rain, corrosion, and rusting.
Identify by: Most commonly faux wood looking planks running horizontally along the mobile home’s exterior. This material is partly made of cement but commonly made to look like painted wooded planks or shingles. If you are unsure of the material simply feel it. Fiber cement feels and sounds more like cement than wood.
Pro Tip: As mobile home investors we typically will not add this material to the exterior of our mobile homes. The cost is at minimum double the cost of adding new vinyl siding. With that said, if a high-retail-price all-cash or bank financed price is wanted fro your buyer then adding this siding may make financial sense. Be aware this siding weighs significantly more than vinyl or aluminum siding. If installing fiber cement siding yourself make sure your mobile home will ideally not be moved from it’s current location and has at least 2″ by 4″ studs in the walls.
Try fixing: While this product is extremely durable it may crack or break under pressure. Seal small cracks and openings by using a quality silicon acrylic caulk. Fiber cement is typically fastened to a mobile home with nails. Remove and replace any broken pieces with new siding purchased at your local hardware store. Ideally the person installing the home’s current siding left some extra under the home home or in the shed. If there is no extra siding aim to visit a local mobile home parts store or the two websites listed above. Fiber cement panels can be pressure washed and painted for a new look.
Where to find: Your local hardware store or national brand hardware store. Check with any mobile home parts stores nearby (ask local park managers for referrals). Aim to compare prices online at mobile home specialty websites for the best value.
The 4 types of materials above cover roughly 90% or more of the used mobile homes in existence. However there are some newer products that allow homeowners to customize their properties.
5. Other trendy materials for mobile home siding
As an active mobile home investor you will see and walk through some very impressive and not-so-impressive mobile homes. As an investor try not purchase a mobile home simply due to the exterior appearance or material. Appreciate the home, but let the numbers speak for themselves.
Some less common exterior mobile home siding choices include…
✔ Log timbers
✔ Cobblestone or brick
✔ Faux or real Rustic wood planks
✔ Mixtures of stone, vinyl, and brick.
✔ Something not completed or partially renovated. If something is not completed then this repair cost and any associated repair costs should be account for in your purchase offer. This partial rehab may show the owner’s lack of home-pride or a financial hardship.
Identify by: Using common sense, your eyeballs, and maybe your hands.
Where to find: Check with local hardware stores and any local mobile home parts stores (ask park managers for referrals). If possible ask the previous owners where the current exterior panels/material were purchased. Aim to compare prices online at mobile home specialty websites for the best value depending on your needs.
✔ The online mobile home parts store
✔ Westland distributing – mobile home products
Try fixing: Use your best judgement, consult how-to videos on Youtube, and/or hire a professional when unsure. If possible aim to follow this handyman or contractor to learn from what is being done to make the needed repairs. Aim to repair only what is needed.
Pro Tip: As investors we want to help sellers and owners that need our help or assistance. Owners of stylish mobile homes may need our help less due to the fun desirability/look of their mobile home. With that said lets aim to help anyone that fits our criteria.
When problems arise aim to deal with them sooner rather than later. A big enemy of a mobile home is water, aim to keep your mobile water tight by keeping the siding close to the home, hammering in loose nails, clearing gutters, and fixing roof holes promptly.
Related article: Mobile Home Roof Repairs For Mobile Home Investors
In conclusion the exterior siding of a mobile home is there to protect the interior and the occupants. If a mobile home has functional siding then consider this satisfactory and move on to your next issue or due diligence phase. If purchasing a mobile home be aware if any exterior siding improvements are required by your local park, home owners association, or municipality. Aim to always have clarity in what you are buying and who you are helping on a regular basis.
Did we miss anything? Comments or mobile home question below.
Love what you do daily,
John Fedro
39 Comments
Lucia Brown
May 10, 2018Thank you John. This is a very timely posting as I’ve just inherited a mobile home with extensive damage. I’m deciding if it is worth my trouble to live at the home and make the repairs. I would like to sell the home however I’m not knowing if it will be profitable and how much. How much do repairs usually cost for siding on a mobile home? Any assistance you can provide will help.
Sincerely,
Lucia Brown
John Fedro
May 10, 2018Hi Lucia,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. First things first, I regret to hear that somebody passed away with regards to the inheritance. It sounds like the home certainly does need a bit of repairs. If the home likely needs this type of repair on the outside I’m curious about the condition on the inside. Also curious about the local inventory for sale, location, how many bedrooms home has, and more? With that said I certainly do not want to give you any wrong or misleading information with regards to the repair cost you are specifically dealing with. Depending on the repair cost and your exit strategy this opportunity may or may not be a profitable one for you. With that said please email me over pictures if possible as that would help me give you a much better sense of what you are looking at for repairs, budget, and a timeline moving forward. I hope this helps and makes sense. Please feel free to email me at the email support@mobilehomeinvesting.net. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out anytime. All the best. Keep in touch.
Talk soon,
John
Brandon
June 5, 2019Hi John,
I’m a new investor of a fixer upper noble home. The unit has vinyl siding currently and has some cracks and waves around the perimeter. I was looking at Suntuf polycarbonate corrugated roofing material as a possible replacement to the exterior facade. It is extremely rigid and lightweight and should be fairly inexpensive at about $27 for a 144” x 26” sheet.
It seems to be used mostly for roofing on sheds and requires fasteners with washers but I’m thinking the gray would make an excellent siding material if I use perlines for support. Thoughts?
Thank you
John Fedro
June 5, 2019Hi Brandon,
Thank you very much for reaching out and connecting. Great job getting involved in this niche. Very glad to hear that you are not afraid of fixing a roof and investing in a mobile home that needs an updated roof. You’re right that this corrugated polycarbonate look is popular, affordable, and looks very decent. I would recommend corrugated metal if you can afford it, however the polycarbonate works well too. I like your idea about it being used for siding as well. I do not see this very often however when I do it does not look bad at all. It should have a backer board and ideally be a color that is not very see-through. With that said, if the mobile home is located in a pre-existing mobile home park make sure that the park manager is okay with these repairs before you do them. Thanks again for commenting. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns now or moving forward never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
John Anderson
May 11, 2018Thanks John as always good advice. What is the cost per sq ft average? Know its probably location driven but what has been your experience.
John
John Fedro
May 14, 2018Hi John,
Great to hear from you. Great job getting your most recent property sold! Very good question about the siding. This question is fairly general and I’m not sure as to what type of siding you are referring to with regards to average cost per square foot. For that reason I will certainly tell you most of the ones that we use as investors. However it is important to understand that when making repairs we typically either 1.) Spot fix a tiny section of the siding that needs repaired or 2.) Remove and replace entire exterior siding panels or 3.) Add vinyl siding on top of the entire homes current existing ugly siding. I mention this because it is important to know if you will be redoing the whole home, or just a few small areas.
You are correct that price is driven by the location and also by who and where you are buying this material. In addition to buying the material you will also have to have it installed. Depending on the handyman or contractor you use you may pay more or less than the material itself just to have it installed. Keep in mind that much of this installation can be done in a few days or less. For this reason it is important to pay people accordingly and not overpay them because the job seems overly difficult or confusing to us because we are not used to doing this type of work. For any specific questions and prices reach out to me personally when you start talking to local handymen.
As far as average prices per square foot please see the list below. Keep in mind that this is very general and is to be used for mobile home investors, and not so much the general public. The reason I say this is because investors will typically go above and beyond getting different quotes from different handy people to make sure we are using the most qualified and affordable person we can find. The general public may not go through this length and effort to find a quality handyman that is as affordable as we would like to be. Anyone listening to this should at least get three different bids from three mobile home experienced handymen that have significant experience putting on siding. Prices below do not include installation. Add 25% to the cost of the material to approximate installation costs.
Vinyl siding: Try to fix the siding before replacing it if possible. Try to only fix the panels that are needed. However if you have to replace some or all of the vinyl siding you will be looking at roughly $1.20 per sqft. Any price within 30 cents of this is fairly decent.
Aluminum siding: Try fixing the siding before replacing it if possible. To replace an entire 3×8 sheet of aluminum siding from Home Depot will cost about $80. The should absolutely take less than a few hours to remove and replace.
Plywood/T1-11: Try fixing the siding before replacing it if possible. To replace an entire 4×8 sheet of plywood siding from Home Depot will cost less than $40.
I hope this helps and makes sense. If this does not answer your question are you have any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out to me personally or call me anytime. Again this is a very rough estimate and I encourage you to run any bids you get past me as well. Keep me posted please. Here when you need me.
Talk soon,
John
M D'Antoni
June 3, 2019Greetings, I am trying to figure out what to call the horizontal strip at the top of the exterior wall. It would be the equivalent of fascia on a regular house… Did that make sense?
John Fedro
June 5, 2019Hi M D’Antoni,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. If you are talking about older mobile homes from the 70s, 80s, and 90s then this horizontal strip at the top of the exterior wall provides aesthetics as well as helping to secure the aluminum siding to the home. I’ve also seen the strip on T111 siding as well. In my experience I call this a facia strip. If I need to replace part of it I usually try to match it with the closest material I can find similar to the existing material. I’m not sure if this is what you are referring to however I do hope that this helps him and starts to point you in the right direction moving forward. If you have any specific follow-up questions or concerns now or moving forward never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Keep in touch.
Talk soon,
John
Charles Shephard
August 20, 2019Hello John,
I’m thinking about using that hardie board (cement) siding on my mobile home. I have already took 2 single wides one 16 by 80 and the other 16 by 65 and placed them togather and removed the wall in the middle for one large space living rooms kitchen and now OLD kitchen to dinning room. Yes I have reinforced the ceiling in the centerof each one and have 2 beems about 14 foot apart to holdup both sides. Anyway………….. back to my main question will the walls outside walls which are 2×4 be enoigh to hold up the hardie board also what about the floor joists. As you know they are not at the end of the mobile home but inside about a foot and a half or so. Would this put like a tetertoder affect on the floor and let the wall sag in time?
John Fedro
August 25, 2019Hi Charlie Shepard,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Additionally, thank you for the detailed comment as the certainly does help me understand your situation and point you in the right direction moving forward. Congratulations already with regards to semi-joining these two mobile homes together and making them into one good-sized property. It sounds like you are trying to do things right and that it will look pretty amazing once it is done. I do believe that the walls will hold up the siding, from personal experience, however depending on the local weather, win, or snow load I would not be confident that they could hold up everything. This added weight will certainly put a strain on the mobile home walls and floor joists. However in my experience this will hold up for a while. With that said I’m certainly no architect or designer in the slightest. With that said I do hope that this helps him and starts to point you in the right direction moving forward. Keep up the great work. If you have any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Jennifer
August 26, 2019Hello John,
I have a 20 year old double wide mobile home. Just put on a tin roof and luxury vinyl plank flooring and need to reside the exterior. What are your thoughts/ experiences with insulated vinyl siding. I have seen it used on several new builds and like the look.
Thank you
Jennifer
John Fedro
August 30, 2019Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Congratulations with regards to these improvements. It sounds like this mobile home is looking extremely nice. I love to hear folks taking care of their properties. I’ve been through some newer properties that look absolutely horrible, and some very older properties that look amazing. It definitely comes down to people’s prides of ownership. I do not have anything negative to say when it comes to the insulated vinyl siding. It is a step up in price however it is worth it, especially if the property is yours and you will be living there for a while. I like the look as well. I hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction moving forward. If you have any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Keep in touch.
Talk soon,
John
Katie
August 30, 2019Hi John,
Very glad I stumbled across your website! My husband and I purchased a double-wide manufactured home built directly on a foundation (no skirting, there isn’t a basement but there is an approx. 4′ high crawl-space under the entire home). The home was built in 2004, we just purchased in Dec. 2018. We have vinyl siding. Here’s my situation: I tried to hang a lightweight outdoor clock on the outside wall under our patio roof and there doesn’t seem to be any wood behind the siding in which to put a screw?? I also wanted to remove the shutters to paint and then rehang, however when I gently tug on the shutters they appear to be just attached to the vinyl siding itself, not to anything structural (like wood) underneath the siding. Am I correct in understanding your diagram above that there is NO WOOD or anything structural underneath my siding? What is the siding attached to? How can I hang new things or attach things like a windowbox planter, and how would I re-hang the shutters if I decide to take them down to paint? Thanks for whatever help and insight you can offer.
Sincerely,
Katie
John Fedro
August 31, 2019Hi Katie,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Please see my thoughts below in bold.
Very glad I stumbled across your website! My husband and I purchased a double-wide manufactured home built directly on a foundation (no skirting, there isn’t a basement but there is an approx. 4′ high crawl-space under the entire home). That certainly is a huge crawlspace. I know if you folks that would likely put a child’s playroom under there with stairs walking up to the first floor. However that’s a story for another comment. The home was built in 2004, we just purchased in Dec. 2018. We have vinyl siding. Here’s my situation: I tried to hang a lightweight outdoor clock on the outside wall under our patio roof and there doesn’t seem to be any wood behind the siding in which to put a screw?? Understood. I’ve certainly seen some pretty janky skirting options over the years. Sometimes the skirting is held up by other skirting which is eventually held up by one screw in a soft piece of wood. I also wanted to remove the shutters to paint and then rehang, however when I gently tug on the shutters they appear to be just attached to the vinyl siding itself, This is common in mobile homes as these are only for decorative purposes and not function. Not to anything structural (like wood) underneath the siding. Am I correct in understanding your diagram above that there is NO WOOD or anything structural underneath my siding? Ideally the top channel and bottom channel are installed and secured to the mobile home as well as the earth. However vinyl skirting and other skirting that is 2.5 feet off the ground or less will keep pretty rigid in most conditions. However 4 feet or more will definitely sag and get heavy over time, if not very quickly. Building a wall frame of pressure-treated two by fours would be ideal to help support the skirting from behind. This would certainly be costly however I’ve also seen lattice used behind skirting to help support it some. What is the siding attached to? Typically the top channel is driven directly through the wall into the wood at the bottom of the mobile home. How can I hang new things or attach things like a windowbox planter, and how would I re-hang the shutters if I decide to take them down to paint? There will be two by fours running along the perimeter, around the windows, and inside of your manufactured home. Drilling into these wood structures and bracing with extra support will be helpful if a very heavy planter will be used. Ask your local home improvement store may prove helpful as well. Thanks for whatever help and insight you can offer. Hope this helps him and starts to point you in the right direction moving forward. If you have any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Jay
September 2, 2019Hello mobile home investing
I like your website. Nice job!
I would like to replace some of my vertical siding with something that looks similar to what I already have but I do not want to use the same wood product susceptible to water and insect damage. I’m aware of Hardie panels that match the same pattern but I don’t really want to use that material. I’m looking for sheets that are about 7/16 thick by 4 feet by 8 feet. With the same typical overlap joint.
I have been to many Home Improvement stores in the neighborhood and no one seems to carry what I’m looking for nor seems to know of any place to find it. Maybe some kind of vinyl or plastic material? Maybe something composite, black ash?? I don’t think I’m the only one looking for something like this. I’m surprised it’s so hard to find.
Another question I have, has to do with Aluminum Awnings, gutters, downspouts Etc. There used to be a local store that would sell replacement parts but it has since gone out of business. I can’t seem to Google these kind of Parts anywhere. Is it still possible to purchase replacement parts for things that need to be replaced?
Thank you for taking the time,
Jay
John Fedro
September 8, 2019Hi Jay,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Additionally, thank you for the detailed comment as a certainly does help me understand and answer your question a bit better. Please see my thoughts below in bold.
I would like to replace some of my vertical siding with something that looks similar to what I already have but I do not want to use the same wood product susceptible to water and insect damage. I’m aware of Hardie panels that match the same pattern but I don’t really want to use that material. I’m looking for sheets that are about 7/16 thick by 4 feet by 8 feet. With the same typical overlap joint. I have seen this in Hardie panels like you mentioned however I have not seen this and also vertical aluminum or steel panels with the typical overlapping joints.
I have been to many Home Improvement stores in the neighborhood and no one seems to carry what I’m looking for nor seems to know of any place to find it. Maybe some kind of vinyl or plastic material? Maybe something composite, black ash?? I don’t think I’m the only one looking for something like this. I’m surprised it’s so hard to find. You’d think that this would be easier to find. In my business I go with what looks decent, lasts a good while and is available. With that said I am curious at what you find moving forward. If you find what you’re looking for definitely comment back and let us know what you discover.
Another question I have, has to do with Aluminum Awnings, gutters, downspouts Etc. There used to be a local store that would sell replacement parts but it has since gone out of business. I can’t seem to Google these kind of Parts anywhere. Is it still possible to purchase replacement parts for things that need to be replaced? Many mobile homes I’ve dealt with the gutters and downspouts are typical to that on single-family homes. I typically go to Home Depot or another local hardware store to pick up gutter type material and supplies. I’m sure that you likely already tried this and it was not successful. I wish I could be more of a help for you with regards to these questions however I do not want to give you any wrong or misleading information. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns now or moving forward never hesitate to reach out any time. Feel free to keep in touch. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Jay
September 14, 2019Hello John,
Thank you for responding.
If I come up with something, I will let you know.
Best regards,
Jay
Karen Anderson
February 16, 2020hi John, thank you for the wonderfully informative article…we have a 1995 Fleetwood mh that has the vertical aluminum siding, which as you know is extremely thin, you can actually cut it with scissors…also, I believe the framing of the mh is only 2″x3″ studs instead of 2″x4″…we want to add a little more insulation and new siding (and windows), possibly white roofing tin panels vertically for the siding, (which we used to put a new roof on it a couple of years ago by a professional roofer), without removing the old siding…we were thinking of using 2″x3″ wood studs, possibly even 1″x3″ furring strips? over the existing exterior studs and aluminum siding, with foam insulation board in between the new studs and the white roofing tin over over that for siding…what are your thoughts, is this a viable option? do we need to use Tyvek or some other vapor barrier added into this equation? thank you for any thoughts or advice
John Fedro
March 25, 2020Hi Karen,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. I apologize about the delay in this comment reply. If you’ve already move forward I’m very interested to hear how you decided to go. I am certainly about cost savings when possible. However going with 2x4s may be the way to go for my experience. The foam insulation board in between the new studs is a great idea. A white coat over the siding can make it look nice as well. Unless the material you are using mentions no vapor barrier, installing a vapor barrier is a wise idea when adding floors or removing/replacing walls. Hope this helps him. Feel free to keep in touch. Never hesitate to reach out anytime or email me directly at support@mobilehomeinvesting.net. All the best. Keep in touch.
Talk soon,
John
Julie Burger
May 29, 2020HELP! I am having a contractor redo the siding on my mobile home, he wants to do Hardee board. I’m scared its too heavy.
Can you tell me if I should or should not do this??
John Fedro
May 31, 2020Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for reaching out and connecting. You are correct to be a bit hesitant to add all that extra weight to your mobile home. If the mobile home is newer it should be able to handle this however it really depends on who is installing the hardee board as well. If they do a sloppy job then leaks can easily lead to more and more problems. Calling the manufacturer may give you a better sense of the load limit the home can hold. I certainly do not want to give you any wrong or misleading information. If I was forced to reside a mobile home I would absolutely choose vinyl siding if possible. I would even rather add plywood or OSB to the exterior of the mobile home before adding new vinyl siding, rather than go with Hardee board if possible. Hope this helps some. Feel free to keep in touch.
Talk soon,
John
Kendall
July 5, 2020I have a 1969 Marlette mobile home I am remodeling in a mid century modern style.
It has a garage with horizontal vinyl siding that I want to eliminate. I’m looking for vertical siding that will emulate the original siding on the mobile home.
Any suggestions?
The home is white metal siding that I will paint gray. I want a similar material to install on the garage so I can paint that gray also.
Thanks.
John Fedro
July 13, 2020Hi Kendall,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Great job taking care of this mobile home. I can imagine it must be beautiful inside. The exterior siding sounds beautiful painted gray. They make vertical siding in almost any material these days. Wood, vinyl, and metal can all be purchased. Depending on the size of your garage you may want to contact a local roofing company to see what type of metal options they have available for you. I hope that this helps some and starts to point you in the right direction. As always, if you have any questions now were moving forward never hesitate to reach out anytime.
Talk soon,
John
Judi
March 1, 2021I have a 30 year old mobile home that has wood like siding. I would like to replace it but I want it to look like a cabin.
Any ideas of type of wood.
John Fedro
April 17, 2021Hi Judi,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. My apologies for the delay in this common reply. Please see the following link with regards to mobile home siding that is similar to the look of a log cabin. Over the years I have seen a number of these mobile homes and manufactured homes with this type of faux log cabin exterior. Some homes are definitely done better than others. However usually they look amazing and sometimes are tough to tell that it is actually a mobile home from the outside. https://modulog.com/photo-gallery/log-siding-for-manufactured-homes/ I hope that this helps and begins to point you in the right direction. Feel free to keep in touch moving forward. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Monicka
August 30, 2021Hi John,
I’m starting to question my remodel plan. We bought a wonderful piece of property and it has an old 1977 double wide trailer on it with aluminum siding. My dream was to put a log cabin on it, but I figured until there is really a reason to justify taking the trailer down, I would just reside it. I have purchased 1/8 log siding to install. We were contemplating either taking the aluminum down and putting up plywood and then attaching the logs; or putting stickering (I believe is what my husband called it) on the aluminum and attaching the logs that way. Now i’m questioning if it will be too much weight? Please advise if you can.
John Fedro
August 31, 2021Hi Monicka,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Additionally, thank you for the detailed explanation. Certainly does help me understand your situation a bit better. Congratulations on the home and the coming remodel. I love the log cabin idea and look! The only mobile homes I have seen log siding on tend to be newer homes from the 90s and 2000’s. Since this is a 1970s double wide I definitely have hesitation to say that everything will hold firm once installed. Normally when vinyl siding is being added it can certainly be placed right on top of the aluminum siding. I would definitely agree to remove the old aluminum siding first, make sure there is solid wood to screw into, and add the new siding. In reality it will likely be fine while standing still. However if it ever has to be moved this could create a serious weight issue that may make the home difficult or impossible to move. You can always have an engineer, siding specialist, local mobile home parts store, or call up the manufacturer if they are still around to ask them this question. However in reality it is likely based on the condition of your specific home and if it is able to hold all of this serious weight. This definitely was not any definitive answer but I do hope you get this checked out by one or two professionals locally if possible. Feel free to keep in touch moving forward. Any follow-up mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out anytime. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Nefertiti
January 30, 2022You are so knowledgeable–I don’t know where to start!!! I had Hope of upgrading into a new manufactured home but circumstances have changed. Now I am hoping I can remodel my 2000 Horton double wide into a dreamy home. Question–do you have any referrals of companies that work on mobile homes?
John Fedro
July 19, 2022Hi Nefertiti,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Great name by the way. Understood about you originally wishing to upgrade to a newer manufactured home. However one that is 20 years old is not that old at all. I’ve certainly seen homes from the 70s that are in better condition than ones from the teens. It depends on how people take care of them and how well the homes have been protected against water damage. Water coming in from the outside and water coming in from pipes as well. Water is the enemy of these mobile homes. I’m not sure exactly where you are located however I would encourage you to reach out to every local mobile home supply store you can find within a 90 minute radius, as well as every mobile home dealership to call them up and ask for referrals for handymen. May also want to talk to any of your local neighbors or local mobile home parks to see if they have any referrals. Referrals will be the best way to go versus placing an ad out for randomly looking for mobile home handymen online or in the paper. I hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction. I have no doubt that you will turn your existing home into the dreamy makeover property you have in mind. However definitely talk to a lot of handy folks before committing to the right person that fits your budget, they have experience, are trustworthy, and have signed a scope of work and agreement where they understand exactly the work to be done, the cost, and what their timeframe will be. Hope this helps him. Moving forward if you have any follow-up questions please never hesitate to reach out anytime. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Nikolaus Heilman
April 4, 2022Hi John,
Great site! I sure have learned a lot.
I have a 1976 Kenwood 14 x 60 with aluminum siding. I’ve seen other owners install cedar shingles on top of the aluminum siding with a vapor barrier and a 1″ x 2″ wood grid to attach the shingles in a straight line style.
What do you think of this?
Thanks, Nikolaus.
John Fedro
April 4, 2022Hi Nikolaus,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Yes, I have seen this before. I have seen homes in the 1970s look more beautiful on the inside than some homes from the 2000’s. However when it comes to the construction, typically the older the home the less quality material was used. This of course is not always the case of some builders take much more care than others. Adding all of these shingles will obviously does add a significant amount of weight to the home, so if you plan to move it anytime soon this will not be a good idea. I’m curious if you plan to do the work yourself or not. Either way I hope the end result looks as nice as some of the ones I have seen. If possible, you may want to reach out to a local mobile home supply warehouse to ask them about adding all of this weight to your manufactured home. Get three or four opinions from folks in the business that have actually installed these or worked with folks that have installed these. Again, taking your time to figure out if the walls will bear this load is worth the extra time. However if it is possible that I think it is a good look when done correctly. Hope this helps and points you in the right direction. Any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out anytime.
Robert
May 3, 2022Hello John, I have a question about replacing old composite panel siding on a single wide 1980s Champion mobile home with new 1/2” DuraTemp plywood siding. My question is if the weight will be too much for the exterior walls since they are only 2×4 studs. They weigh 60 lbs each. Thanks
John Fedro
May 6, 2022Hi Robert,
Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Very good question. You will be spending a good bit of money to add this type of siding and I would not want anything to happen to your home, you, or the new siding. For that reason I definitely would err on the side of caution to add more support if possible. You may want to talk to a local engineer or mobile home supply warehouse/store nearby. These folks will certainly have more experience with this exact topic. I’ve never added this type of siding to any of my homes, however I have seen this type of siding on mobile homes from the 70s seemingly without further support. However I would still err on the side of caution to triple check with a local expert or by adding more supports that are able to disperse the weight onto the ground as well. Keep in mind that once this is added I would very much encourage you to never move the home if possible. Hope this helps some and point you in the right direction moving forward. Feel free to keep in touch with any follow-up mobile home related questions. All the best.
Talk soon,
John
Angie
March 3, 2024I’m thinking about putting a metal skirting on my mobile home where can I buy that?
John Fedro
March 4, 2024Hi Angie,
Thank you so much for reaching out and connecting. There are so many different types of skirting, the choice these days is really excellent. That said some skirting definitely cost way more than others. When it comes to metal skirting, most of the time this is a corrugated metal that is usually repurposed from something else. Corrugated roof metal, aluminum siding that was removed off of a different mobile home, or other sheet metal that was likely intended for a different purpose used as skirting. For this reason I would encourage you to check out a roofing company to see what corrugated metal material they have lying around. Perhaps you could buy some on the cheap that they are not using any more or if there is not enough for an entire home you could certainly pick this up at a discount. I hope this helps and makes sense. I did not fully answer the question or you have any follow-up questions please never hesitate to reach out anytime.
Talk soon,
John
Leigh
October 9, 2024Hi John
I purchased my neighbors 4 acre property that has an older 70’s mobile home on it that is stepped in the middle so that the bedrooms and bathrooms are in the back with the kitchen and living room in the front. On the roof there is a step of over a foot from one to the other that makes it seem like its 2 units put together as one but I think it was made this way. The width is 12ft and the overall length is 72ft. My question is given that it is so narrow and the plumbing is shot is it even worth the trouble and expense to make it habitable again? Replacing it with another used or new MH is way outside my budget but I don’t want to put more than 20K into it. Dilemma
John Fedro
November 26, 2024Hi Leigh,
Thank you so much for reaching out and connecting. My apologies for the delay in this comment reply. First things first, congratulations purchasing this 4 acre property! Ideally before you purchase any mobile home or investment property you want to make sure you have a clear and realistic exit strategy lined up. I am curious if you have put much effort into this mobile home. You certainly do have some options. Redoing the entire plumbing in a single wide mobile home will certainly likely only cost you a couple thousand dollars or so. I am curious what you are planning to do with the property if you do fix up the mobile home. Do you wish to add additional mobile homes to the property to cash flow them? Or are you just looking to sell everything to make as much money as possible? If you are only looking to create a quick profit then perhaps you bought the property add a good enough price where it can be quickly resold for a profit. Additionally, depending on the area it may be worth more money without the mobile home on the property. There are definitely a lot of moving factors when it comes to these mobile home and land packages. I do not believe my advice has been too helpful already, however please feel free to keep in touch or email me directly at support@mobilehomeinvesting.net for a quicker reply. Happy to help if you have any additional questions. Keep in touch. All the best.
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