Mobile Home Remodeling: The Ultimate Guide

Planning a Remodel

Remodeling a mobile home can be quite expensive, and it requires excellent planning if you want to stick to a specific budget. Decide which areas of your home that you want to renovate, and choose where you want to spend money and where you want to save. Let’s look at some ways you can remodel your manufactured home on a budget.

Did you know that buying a new mobile home can sometimes be more cost-effective than completely remodeling your current one? This is especially true with HomeNation’s amazing prices!

Budget-Friendly Remodeling Ideas

If you’re planning a massive remodel for your manufactured home, it’s not going to be cheap. Fortunately, there are plenty of budget-friendly solutions for a DIY mobile home renovation. Check out these inexpensive remodeling ideas:

Related: How Much Does a New Mobile Home Cost?

Roofing

Roofs built out of metal typically start showing a lot of wear and tear after a few years of being exposed to the elements. Here are some cheap roof remodeling ideas:

Cleaning Your Roof

Cleaning your roof is an easy (and free) way to make it look better while extending its life. You should clean your roof regularly and free it of small and large debris -- even leaves and twigs can cause problems. 

Obstructions on your roof can inhibit the flow of water and create a dam, which can cause leaks in your roof when water pools up underneath the shingles. Don’t forget to clean out the gutters too!

Liquid Sealant

If you’re having problems with your roof, you might not have to replace it entirely. Liquid sealants that bind with metal can provide a waterproof coating for trouble areas on your roof. Light-colored sealants can also help keep away heat and make your manufactured home a little bit cooler.

Interior Walls

Painting your walls can quickly become expensive -- not to mention that it is a lot of work! Here are some cheaper and more accessible solutions to remodel your interior walls:

Plywood Panels

Hear us out on this one, you probably think that there’s no way plywood panels would look good on your walls, but not all plywood is created equal. You can buy plywood panels that are printed with vinyl patterns -- there are so many options that you’re sure to find one that suits your taste.

If you have an older manufactured home, the walls might already be lined with these panels, and replacing them is a great way to update your home in a way that’s much less costly than sheetrock and paint.

Washi Tape

Washi tape is another budget-friendly DIY option for remodeling the walls of your manufactured home. Much more affordable than paint, and easily removed if you change your mind, Washi tape is a great choice to make your walls stand out.

The downside is that if you want to completely change the color of your walls, Washi tape is not ideal for that -- it’s much better when you want to make custom designs on the walls.

Folding Screen Doors

If you only have a bad spot or two that you want to cover up, folding screen doors can draw peoples’ eyes away from the problem area while adding visual depth to the room. You can also hang art or other decorations on these doors to create a mini-masterpiece in place of an eyesore on your wall.

Bathrooms

You can update your bathroom and make it look brand new by merely replacing existing plumbing fixtures. You don’t need to go all out and break the bank either; finding modern faucets and showerheads is easy with just about any budget. Some other bathroom ideas are:

Fiberglass Panels

Replacing old ceramic around the bathtub and shower with fiberglass panels is an easy project to take on and doesn’t cost much. Not only do these panels brighten up the bathroom, but it makes your shower more comfortable to use -- no more staring at chipped and stained ceramic while you’re bathing.

Painting Faucets

Aged bathroom decor is becoming more and more popular, and you can get that look without having to buy new faucets. Removing the sink hardware and painting them with products like Rust-Oleum can breathe new life into your bathroom fixtures at a very low cost.

Flooring

Tile and wood flooring might look great, but it can be extremely costly. Here are three ways to make your floor look great without breaking the bank:

Clean It

Before you think about replacing your flooring, giving it a deep cleaning might reveal that a new floor isn’t needed. You can use a pressure washer, steam cleaner, or floor strippers to thoroughly clean the floors; this can be done yourself, or by a professional.

Paint It

The odds are that your bathroom and kitchen flooring is made out of linoleum. Replacing linoleum flooring can be pricy and time-consuming -- so freshen up the floors with a new coat of porch and patio paint to make them look brand new again!

Vinyl and Laminate

If you decide to replace the flooring, consider using vinyl or laminate materials; they come with the same look and appeal as wood floors at a much more affordable price. Vinyl floors are also easier to maintain than wood.

Related: How To Replace Flooring In a Mobile Home

Free Home Renovation -- Decluttering

Sometimes all it takes to give your home a nice new feeling is a bit of decluttering -- and the best part is that it doesn’t cost you a thing (you might even make some money by having a yard sale!)

The easiest way to declutter is to make three piles and start sorting out your house:

• Pile one: gather up any trash and things that are broken or no longer work -- this should all be thrown out.

• Pile two: gather up any items that you don’t use or want anymore -- these can get sold or donated.

• Pile three: gather up anything that you might be able to get rid of, but aren’t positive -- store these somewhere for now. Anything in this pile that doesn’t get used in the next six months can get sold or donated.

Should I Remodel My Mobile Home?

If small DIY projects are enough to remodel your mobile home to your liking, then we say go for it! Try out some of our budget-friendly tips and see if your house is feeling like home again -- if it’s not, you may wanter to consider purchasing a newer manufactured home rather than spend thousands on a professional remodeling service -- it might cost more to completely remodel your current home than it would to buy a new one.

Is it Worth It to Renovate a Mobile Home?

In most cases, it is worth renovating your mobile home. Updating and upgrading your mobile home can add value to your mobile home and boost the appeal of your home when or if you decide to sell. Smart renovations that increase the value of your home include:

• Porch

• Carport

• Sunroom

• Modular Addition

You do need to be careful that any renovation project you decide to do should not violate HUD rules, codes, and requirements. Failure to comply will depreciate the home and make it extremely challenging to sell if it doesn’t pass inspection.

What is the Average Lifespan of a Mobile Home?

Mobile home quality has increased substantially since the 1980s. The Manufactured Housing Institute found that mobile homes retain their resale value similarly to single-family homes. And due to safety regulations on building quality, most mobile homes can last up to 55 years. 

Mobile homes made from high-quality materials and bolstered construction quality can last for a long time. You’ll want to choose a builder known for quality construction to ensure the lifespan of the house. 

Can You Remodel a Mobile Home to Look Like a Single-Family Home?

Yes. There are several things on the interior and exterior you can remodel to help your mobile home look more like a single-family home. The biggest changes you can make are:

• Replace your roof and eaves

• Install larger doors

• Install the home on a basement foundation

• Add a garage or carport

• Add drywall to your walls and upgrade trim

• Remove texture from the ceiling and paint your ceiling

• Remove excess moldings

• Upgrade your cabinets

• Upgrade bathroom vanities

How Do You Renovate a Mobile Home on a Budget?

There are lots of DIY renovation projects you can do to upgrade the quality of your home on a budget. Here are our favorite affordable renovation projects that won’t break the bank but will add considerable value to your manufactured home:

• Update kitchen appliances

• Install synthetic countertops

• Paint walls, ceilings, doors, or cabinets

• Replace cabinet doors and fixtures

• Replace bathroom flooring, mirrors, and toilet seats

• Replace outlet covers and light fixtures

• Install thicker trim

What Upgrades Can You Do to a Mobile Home?

Most newly manufactured homes come with many high-quality standard options and features. But there are some ways you can upgrade your mobile home when you build or renovate:

• Replace the roof with a steeper pitch

• Upgrade the exterior siding, shutters, and shingles

• Install new flooring

• Upgrade kitchen cabinets

• Upgrade kitchen appliances

• Install a kitchen island

• Upgrade cabinetry and countertops

• Upgrade bathroom textiles, tubs, and shower stalls

• Add more storage space with bigger closets, a mudroom, or a carport

• Upgrade lighting fixtures

• Upgrade your walls to drywall

• Install bigger windows

At Home Nation, we offer an extensive inventory of high-quality options for your mobile home renovation. We have high-quality builders who can help you with your mobile home renovation projects. We know the ins and outs of building manufactured homes that meet safety and construction standards.

Want help with your mobile home renovation project? Contact us for help with your next home renovation project or home addition. Do you want to see how HomeNation’s mobile home prices compare to your remodeling estimate?

Related: Best Modular Homes Builders of 2020