What is the best but cheapest way to add a pitch to the roof of a mobile home?
Manufactured Homes August 25th, 2010Ok I am purchasing a mobile home and the roof has some leak issues, I was going to cover the whole thing with bitchutane and shingle it, but someone told me to use tar paper and shingles I have also decided it is too flat and needs a better pitch so what is the best pitch and the cheapest way to add one (single mom raising a 5 month old on a limited budget with a pretty good knowledge of construction, roofing etc)
August 25th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Ive worked extensively on mobile homes… so .. my first question is… metal roof or shingle roof already on the home? (shingle roof construction is generally made to sustain a greater load bearing capacity, than the rolled ’sheet metal’ that was so common on "trailers" for so many years.
Next question… single or double-wide home?
Third question … is this home perimeter blocked?
Youve got to remember that any additional weight you add to the roof is going to be transferred to the walls… and your steel frame may not be strong enough to support a lot of additional weight, by itself. If the home is perimeter blocked, then you will be able to add more weight.
The approach I would consider first…would be steel roofing with steel rafter studs. This method has a few good things going for it… First.. it will be lighter than standard deck sheathing and shingle construction over lumber rafters. Second, it will go on faster. Third… it costs less. (And it will actually outlast most shingle roofs) You can purchase the steel in practically any color and length you want these days, from a number of sources.
The second approach, if you prefer the look of shingles, and just do not want steel…. you will need to get rid of as much pre-existing weight as possible… this means stripping your current shingles AND sheathing off of your existing roof. A lot of work, heheh…but it can be worth it, if thats the look you want. Once you get the deck sheathing off, you will see that the roof ‘attic’ space is comprised of trusses. Depending on who built the home, this could be wood as small as 1 1/2" square, or full 2×4" studs. I personally would not bother removing the trusses, especially if they are the smaller version. Instead, I would add vertical supports where necessary to support the main roof beam. You might even consider laminating some 2×6 studs with a layer of plywood between them, while offsetting all the joints. Use a good construction adhesive between all three layers, and you will have a very strong beam. An example of this would be to start with a 2×6 – 6ft, a piece of 3/4" plywood cut to the width of the lumber – 8ft, and on the other side of the ply, a 2×6-10ft…. then follow the rest of the length of the home with the same lengths of wood, and all the joints will be offset those same 2 feet on each joint, adding strength to the joints. Make sure you have a way to keep this straight, as you assemble it ! Lift the beam into place, and secure it to your vertical supports, and then you are ready to begin placing your new rafter studs.
Apply new sheathing, heavy felt (tar paper) and the shingles of your choice. (dont forget the drip edge, heheh)
Obviously, this method is a lot more work… and will cost more, and will add much more weight to the structure… so decide carefully if you really want the shingled look.
ALSO — do not forget that with raising the pitch… you are going to have to extend all the pipes and exhausts that go thru the existing roof! Drain/waste/vent plumbing, and even furnace or hot water heater exhausts, if they are gas units. You most likely even have a bathroom exhaust poking up thru there. You will need new roof flanges, too.
If I were trying to do this on a limited budget, with possibly only one extra helper… I would seriously look at the steel roofing. There are lots of options there.
Good Luck!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Just tilt the trailer
have 2×4 cut into right triangles and plywood that and then rubber roofing material
August 25th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
you cant shingle a flat roof. patch the seams or dont buy it sounds like a leakey mess
August 25th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Look in to a mobile home roofover. This is probably the best way to accomplish what you are looking for. Probably a little less than shingling and you get an extra layer of insulation that will help on your utility bill. http://www.ballews.com/prod_mobile.php
Check out that site and if I can help you email me. The company I work for installs these and we have NEVER had a complaint.