It’s no secret to mobile homeowners that mobile home roofs don’t last the longest. These roofs just don’t work. Eventually, their materials wear off or get damaged and need repair.
The damaged roofs can’t handle harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, hail, and high winds. Which, in terms, causes leaks.
Mobile home roofs are made out of sheets of steel with grooves to keep water out. Although these are great for shower room floors, it’s not great for a moving trailer.
If you see any leaks on your trailer, then you need to immediately try to find the cause of the leak and repair it. It can stain your carpets or, worse, cause a short circuit in the power outlets.
In this post, I’ll help you repair your mobile home’s roof.
Let’s dive in.
Types Of Roofs
Mobile home roofs are mainly made out of 3 materials:
- Aluminum
- Rubber
- Asphalt shingles
Different types of roofs react to different materials differently, making the repair different.
Let’s take a look at them.
Aluminum Roofings
One of the most popular and widely used roofing materials on mobile homes is aluminum. If an aluminum roofing gets damaged then you need to replace the whole sheet. And since aluminum roofs are attached with screws, the holes from the screws are potential areas of leaks.
Rubber Roofing
You’ll even find mobile home roof made out of rubber. It’s the easiest and cheapest material to repair. So, you can really extend its shelf life. TPO is the type of rubber used as roofing in mobile homes. They allow for seamless installations and incredibly strong seals, preventing leaks.
Asphalt Shingles
You can even use asphalt shingles as roofing for your mobile home. Being expensive and heavy, they’re the least ideal roofing. These also aren’t very repairable, so if they’re damaged, they need to be replaced.
How To Repair Mobile Home Roofs
Things like storms, snow, hail, and heavy winds can damage the roof of a mobile home. Doing proper maintenance can help increase longevity but eventually, it will get damaged. In that case, you’ll need to repair the damages and replace them as necessary.
Let’s take a look at how to repair mobile home roofs.
Fixing Flat And Bowed Roofs
Metal roofs usually start to get bowed over time. You need to coat these with sealant. It helps prevent rusts, which in terms prevents leaks.
Getting Rid Of Old Sealant
In order to apply better seals, you need to remove the old sealant first. A lot of people skip this crucial step. But depending on how much compound is on the roof, it might take a while to remove them. Most leaks happen around the plumbing vents and chimney fittings. So, pay special attention to them.
You can use a neoprene caulking compound to seal the vents. Repair any small holes before applying the seal. Before applying sealant, add a bead of neoprene to the seams. This will preserve the longevity of your roof.
Sealing The Roof
After removing the old sealant, it’s time to reapply the new seal. For aluminum coatings, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommended dry time and temperature. Generally, you need to leave it overnight but be sure to double-check to avoid any headaches.
Many people apply the seal in the seams. But for the best outcome, seal the whole roof. You can buy mops specifically made for roofings. The key thing to make sure of is that the coat is consistent. This will prevent water from puddling on the roof. The application part is actually easier than the cleaning part.
Roof Overs
When mobile home roofs get damaged, generally, a new roofing surface is applied. Flat or bowed mobile home roofs with leaks usually get a roof over. But before that, the existing roof needs to be sanded down, repaired, and sealed.
The most commonly used roof-over option is the seamless rubber roof. Let’s take a better look at it.
Seamless Rubber Roof
This is just a thick coating of liquid rubber spread across the roof. But before applying the rubber, seal the holes and vents with a rubber neoprene. This will prevent any possible leaks and preserve its longevity.
Closing Thoughts
Like everything else, mobile home roofs eventually get damaged. Which may cause leaks, staining your carpet, or worse dripping water on you while you sleep. But if you follow the above post, you can repair that with ease.