Insulating your mobile home's roof can save you money.
Insulation makes any home more energy efficient, providing a barrier that prevents heat from transferring into and out of the interior. Mobile homes, also called manufactured homes, are made primarily of metal, which is not a good insulator. Often the insulating material in a mobile home's roof is minimal and may be inadequate for the climate. In addition, the space in the roof area may be narrow, limiting the insulation material choices. Although insulating the roof of your mobile home may be challenging, the project will pay off in reduced energy costs.
Instructions
1. Open the mobile home's roof, which may require drilling a hole in the roof. Determine how much space is available under the roof for insulation.
2. Cut an opening large enough in the roof for the hose of the insulation-blowing equipment that you will use to pump foam insulation under the roof. Use a metal saw to make the opening.
3. Insert the insulation-blowing equipment's hose in the roof opening, and turn on the equipment to pump foam insulation under the roof. Fill the far areas under the roof with the insulation first, and then fill areas closer to the opening
4. Allow the foam insulation to settle. If necessary, add foam insulation to fill the space completely. Remove the insulation-blowing equipment from the roof.
5. Cut a piece of galvanized metal with tin snips to make a piece that is several inches larger than the roof opening. The piece will be a patch.
6. Apply roofing cement to the bottom surface of the metal patch. Put the metal patch over the roof opening, centering it over the opening and covering all of the hole. Allow the roofing cement to dry completely.
7. Cut a piece of butyl, foil-faced roof patch to fit over the metal patch you put on the roof. Apply roofing cement to butyl surface of the second patch, and place that patch on the metal patch that is on the roof. Hold the butyl in place until the roofing cement begins to set.
Tips Warnings
Insulation can save 10 to 15 percent in energy costs.
An alternative way to open a mobile home's roof is to remove the roofing's long edge. The technique requires careful re-fastening of the edge onto the roof and sealing the roof edge with a roof caulking compound after insulation is installed.
Avoid using loose-fill cellulose insulation, which can hold moisture and deteriorate the metal materials of a mobile home.
Keep foam insulation above 65 degrees Fahrenheit to get the full yield out of the tank during installation. Warm the tank and materials with an electric or ceramic heater if the temperature falls below that temperature. Do not use an open flame to warm the tank.
Tags: mobile, home, roof, foam insulation, mobile home, metal patch, mobile home roof, roofing cement, under roof, home roof
