Mobile Home Repairs

Should you hire a repair service or handle your mobile home repairs as DIY projects? Read an informative guide on mobile home repairs today.

If you are one of the twenty million+ households living in a mobile home, you are likely looking for a reliable guide on mobile home repairs. Mobile homes have unique and specific needs, but repairs do not have to be complicated or overpriced. In fact, many preventative maintenance tasks for your mobile home are suitable for DIY projects. For those requiring more skill or experience, nationwide mobile home repair services are available in your area. Choosing between DIY projects and third-party mobile home repairs services requires some research and guidance. Read ahead for an informative guide on mobile home repairs today.

Mobile Homes - Common Repairs

Some types of mobile home repairs are extreme and require professional service providers to be completed properly. Others are more common, leaving you with the choice between tackling a DIY project and hiring a professional third-party service. Before assessing how best to get the job done, it is important to understand the types of common repairs needed on mobile homes, and what is required for their accurate - and safe - completion.

Roof Repairs

Roofs repairs are often the number-one priority on mobile homes. A roof’s primary function is of course to prevent all outside elements and debris from entering a home from above. Water typically causes the most problems, although pests, wind and debris also contribute to the need for roof repairs. Mobile home roofing materials consist of asphalt shingle, rolled steel, galvanized metal or rubber. Sometimes combinations of these materials are used for extra protection (such as rubber over galvanized metal). Leaks are the most common problem with all roofs, and this is especially true for those installed on mobile homes. Cracks and holes lead to potentially expensive water damage repairs. They also lead to drafts (which escalate home energy bills) and pest invasions (which lead to chewed electrical wires, animal waste and bacteria-riddled debris.

Skirting Repairs

The skirt around a mobile home is like a skirt around a bed. Mobile home skirts are made of metal, plastic, fiberglass, or wood, however, and are designed to keep rodents and pooling rainwaters from invading or flooding underneath your home. Undamaged skirting is important to the protection of a mobile home. This is evidenced by financial institutions requiring it as a top condition of approval for mobile home purchase loans. Common skirting repairs include missing panels, holes, cracks, and leaks.

Ceilings and General Leaks

Leaks occur through the ceilings of mobile homes when roofs need repairs. Water damage is a serious risk to mobile homes because of the way they are constructed. Acoustical panel ceilings are more prone to springing leaks than ceilings made of drywall, but all mobile home ceilings are susceptible to this type of problem. Leaks occur in more places than mobile home ceilings, however. Leaks also spring up around windows, sinks, showers, toilets, and bathtubs. Washing machines are also common locations of leaks. When leaks occur in a mobile home, its subfloor is often damaged. Older mobile homes commonly used polybutylene pipes in their plumbing systems, which are unfortunately prone to internal degradation leading to bursts. When leaks occur through washing machine draining vents they cause water to pool under the mobile home’s foundation, leading to potential foundation collapses.

Additional Common Mobile Home Repairs

Roofs, skirtings, ceilings, and leaks are important aspects of mobile home repair and preventative maintenance. Multiple other types of common (and damaging) mobile home repairs are also important to be aware of, however. A list of some of those common repairs includes:

Unaligned doors and windows (causing drafts, leaks, insect, and pest invasion, etc.).
Faulty wiring (common in older mobile homes or when DIY electrical additions are installed).
HVAC (especially important for keeping mobile homes comfortable, which are more susceptible to weather-related issues).
Foundations (sinking piers, tilting frames, separated frames, loosened tie-down straps, collapsing house, etc.).
Insulation (damaged belly-wrap beneath the home leads to energy-draining hot and cold updrafts).
DIY Additions (improperly installed room, porch or shed additions cause potential damage to roofs, walls, electrical systems, and foundations).

DIY vs. Mobile Home Service Providers

Choosing between DIY mobile home repairs and hiring a third-party service provider requires self-knowledge about your skill sets, safety considerations and the severity of the repairs required. If you tackle a DIY project and do it incorrectly you will cost yourself more money. On the other hand, some DIY preventative maintenance tasks help save you money in the end.

DIY Preventative Maintenance

Check your mobile home frequently for leaks. Seal all drafts and leaks using caulk, plastic sheets, and other appropriate weatherizing sealants. Purchase a de-humidifier to prevent moisture and mildew buildups. Also check your mobile home frequently for signs of insects, rodents, and other pests. Contact a pest control specialist immediately if any incursions are found. Finally, winterize your mobile home by:

Applying heat tape to exposed water pipes.
Checking insulation quality every season.
Checking your skirting for damage at least once per month.

Average Costs

Average cost for repairing roofs on a mobile home are dependent on the type of roof installed and the extent of the damage. Asphalt shingle roofs might cost between $4,000 and $6,000 to replace in full. Less serious problems solvable by using sealants might cost $200 to fix, however. Moderately rusted to severely damaged foundation piers might cost anywhere between several hundred dollars and $4,000+ to repair. Mobile home plumbing jobs also vary based on severity. Because mobile homes are only one level with relatively easy access beneath the home, expect to pay a maximum of approximately $1,000 for serious plumbing issues (unless additional water damage is also involved). Wiring and HVAC repairs also vary widely in price between a couple hundred and a few thousand dollars. Please note: While most DIY mobile home repairs cost less money up front, if they are not performed correctly, they are likely to cost you more money in the end. It is therefore advisable to at least consult with a professional service provider before making any decision about your mobile home repairs.

How to Get a Mobile Home Repair Quote

Most home repair services offer estimates and free quotes regarding your mobile home repair needs. Some companies charge for on-site service calls to perform estimates, while others offer estimates for free. Many companies offer free quotes and estimates online, however, which helps you make better decisions faster. Websites such as ContractorQuotes.us allow you to search for mobile home repair quotes from both local and nationwide service providers in operation near you. Additional resources from getting a mobile home repair quote from a provider near you include: