Which Roofing Is Best for a Mobile Home?

Mobile homes often have flat roofs or a gentler slope to the roof than roofs that are commonly found on permanent structures. If you’re planning on replacing the roof on a mobile home, it’s important to know what the best material is before proceeding with the project.

Shingle Roofing

Shingle roofs are a popular option for mobile homes. If they can protect a more permanent home from the weather, they are durable enough for a mobile home as well. Asphalt or composition shingles are good options for a mobile home.

Shingle Roofing Is Cheaper on a Mobile Home

Shingle roofing can be a less expensive option for a mobile home than it is for a house. This is because a mobile home often has a smaller roof. Plus, some mobile homes have flat roofs, which only need one layer of shingles, instead of overlapping layers.

Shingle Roofing Can Increase a Mobile Home’s Value

Shingles can make a mobile home look nicer. This means that they can help to increase a mobile home’s curb appeal and its value if you’re looking to sell.

Shingle Roofing Is Durable

Shingle roofs can last for up to 30 years, depending on the type of shingles. They’re waterproof and durable so that they can protect the mobile home from the weather.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is increasingly popular for all different types of buildings, from houses to commercial buildings. It’s also a good option for mobile homes. Metal roofs, which for mobile homes are often aluminum, are usually installed over the top of a pre-existing roof.

Metal Roofing Is Energy Efficient

One of the advantages of metal roofing is that it can help to reduce energy bills. Metal roofs can help reduce energy bills because they can reflect heat from the sun away from the home. Plus, they can be insulating in winter, helping to reduce heating bills.

Metal Roofing Is Durable

Metal is a very durable material for a roof. Metal roofs can withstand a lot of extreme weather, up to and including hurricane-force winds. They don’t typically corrode and can even be resistant to impact damage.

Metal Roofing Is Long-Lasting

Metal roofs can also last for a very long time. Although metal roofs may have higher initial installation costs, this is offset by the fact that they can last up to 70 years. Plus, they’re often installed on top of a pre-existing roof so that may help to reduce the cost of a roof replacement.

Additional Roofing Options for Mobile Homes

While shingle and metal roofing are the most common and recommended types of roofing for mobile homes, there are additional options available. These additional mobile home roofing options include rubber roofing, liquid roofing, and TPO roofing.

Rubber Roofing

Because mobile home roofs are flat, rubber roofing is an option. Rubber roofing is waterproof, which helps to weather-proof a mobile home from the elements. In rubber roofing, a thin sheet of rubber is stretched across the roof. It’s typically added over the top of an existing roof and acts as a waterproof, insulating layer. Rubber roofing is often very quick to install, often taking less than a day.

Rubber roofing typically doesn’t look very nice, however. Its appearance can be a definite downside for many homeowners. On top of that, rubber roofing has to be installed in dry conditions, which can be difficult depending on where you live.

Liquid Roofing

Liquid roofing is, like rubber roofing, a coating that goes on top of an existing roof. The liquid coating is applied over the roof and acts as a waterproof layer. A contractor can apply liquid roofing with a paint roller. The liquid then dries and can thereafter weatherproof the mobile home’s roof. Liquid roofing can be a good option because it’s inexpensive and easy to apply. Plus, it’s resistant to extreme temperatures.

Liquid roofing can be susceptible to tearing if something falls on the roof. Plus, over time, the water-resistant nature of the liquid roofing material can make the roof slippery.

TPO Roofing

TPO stands for thermoplastic polyolefin. It’s a thin, flexible membrane that is installed over an existing roof. It’s single-ply and is increasing in popularity in the mobile home roofing world. It comes in sheets between 12 and 20 feet wide, so it can accommodate a variety of different sizes of mobile homes. TPO can also help mobile homeowners save money on energy bills. This is because the TPO can reflect the sun’s rays away from the mobile home.

However, with TPO, the color options can be limited. Plus, it has to be installed perfectly, or the seams might not hold up over time. Seams can be expensive to redo. It’s also such a new material that it’s difficult to know how long it will last.

Picking the Right Roof for Your Mobile Home

When choosing the roofing material for your mobile home, it’s important to factor in not only cost but how durable the roof is. A longer-lasting, more durable roof can lower roofing costs in the long run. Plus, the roof needs to look good so that the value of the mobile home can increase.

Shingles and metal are the best in terms of long-term durability and resistance to weather. Plus, they have more color and style options so that you can choose the right design for your mobile home.

For informational purposes only.