How to Provide Affordable Roofing for a Mobile Home

Roofs on mobile homes can take a beating with constant element exposure. Choosing a roof for a mobile home that is resistant to wind, heat and cold can be costly. It is, however, possible to install affordable metal roofing on your mobile home if you follow a few tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safety glasses
• Gloves
• Drill or screwdriver
• Tape measure
• Saw
• Sheet metal
• Elastomeric coating
• Ladder
• Roller with handle extension

1. Install a new metal roof on your mobile home for a thrifty option. Purchase sheet metal for roofing at any building supply store or lumber yard. This is inexpensive compared to all the gallons of sealant you've bought over the years. You can also save money by doing it yourself.

2. Drill your metal roof onto your home with drill bits or screws, attaching the metal roof onto your mobile home.

3. Seal around all vents when installing the metal roofing. Doing this will make the new metal roof more energy efficient, reducing your heating and cooling bills.

4. Fill in around vents and other protrusions with an asphalt-based coating and wire mesh.

5. Seal your roof with an elastomeric coating that contracts and expands with the weather, such as Snowroof. Prepare your roof before you apply this coating by removing the material from previous sealants. This is a relatively new product and may not adhere well to the existing coating material. It's a safer product for you to use since you don't have to be on the roof to apply it. Just use a ladder and a roller with a long extension handle to apply the coating. This product must be reapplied each year.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide to use tar as roofing for your mobile home, be advised. Applying tar can be extremely messy to use even while wearing gloves, and the only way to remove tar from your skin is with gasoline. This is definitely a hazardous way to go for affordable roofing.