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How Strong Are The Bones Of A Manufactured Or Mobile Home?

The popularity of manufactured or mobile homes continues to grow because of their simplicity in design and minimalistic qualities. They are built in a factory and installed on a wheeled chassis to allow them to move from one location to another. If you are looking to purchase a mobile home, it is important to understand how well they are built and how best they can serve your housing needs. This article discusses the structural components of a mobile home to understand how well they are built to withstand different environmental conditions.

Anatomy of a Mobile Home

  • The Chassis

The primary feature that makes this type of homes mobile is the fact that it can be fitted on a strong chassis attached to wheels and axles. The type of chassis used in mobile homes is very similar in appearance to an oversized car trailer with all the corresponding parts such as a hitch, jack, and a trailer bed. The steel chassis is attached permanently to your mobile home but the wheels and axles can always be removed once it has been planted into place. The wheels and axles are not considered part of a mobile home’s structure and they need to be removed to convert the home into real estate.

  • The Floor

The floor of a mobile home is usually made up of four layers. The initial layer is the steel frame chassis discussed above. A cavity layer comprised of floor joists and insulation is then added on top of the steel frame to make your home energy efficient. Next, a subflooring layer made up of wood or wood composite is added to the insulation to act as a support base for the actual floor. You can add carpets on top of the wood flooring to make your mobile home comfy.

  • The Walls

The walls of a mobile home are designed in layers just like the floors. It consists of an H-shape framework of wooded joists and supports. Insulation material is fitted into the space between the joists to increase the energy efficiency of your mobile home. Both sides of the wall are covered with one or two layers of panels. These panels are comprised of a sub-layer of wood and another layer for protection and aesthetics. The wall panels of a mobile home are often made up of wood, drywall gypsum, faux wood, or vinyl panels. Although metal panels can be used on the inside, they are often installed on the outside of the home.

  • The Roof

The roofing structure of mobile homes has advanced over the years from traditional flat roofs to pitched ones that are functional, structurally sound, and more attractive. Both flat and pitched roofs of a mobile home are constructed using the same practices. Some of the materials used for the ceiling include sheetrock, fiberboard, and other decorative panels like popcorn ceiling boards. The design of the ceiling cavity may vary depending on the model of the home and the shape of the roof. Other layers of material that can be added above this wooden framework include wooden frames, insulated metal sheets, and asphalt shingles.

How a Mobile Home Differs From a Stick-Built Home

Standard homes are often built on a permanent foundation from the ground up on concrete slabs or piers. Mobile homes are built on a chassis that is strapped or anchored to the ground. They are also titled differently than stick-built homes because of their construction differences. Although decent mobile homes can last for a long time, they cannot surpass the time-tested quality construction techniques used by skilled artisans in standard homes. The size of a mobile home is often smaller than a regular house to make it easier for transportation from one place to another. This could affect the amount of space you allocate for every room in your house. With a stick-built house, you can always extend other areas of the home based on your lifestyle preferences. A mobile home is financed as personal property while a stick-built home is financed as a real estate property.

The structural design of a mobile home is all about simplicity and practicality. The chassis and framework are strong enough to handle moving from one place to another if needed. A decent mobile home can last for a very long time when it is properly taken care of and offers a unique experience from a stick-built home. It is always important to weigh the benefits and downsides of different types of residential housing to find one that best suits your dream home.

 

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