I have a 1968 Fleetwood Mobile Home that I live in next to a Expressway in California, believe it or not it gets chilly and noisy. The inside is wood panel and the outside the typical metal paneling.
We don't want a big mess we have new wall to wal carpeting and new interior and exterior paint. I want to insulate it quick, easy and no mess.
2006-12-26 05:01:59 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
I own a mobile home warranty service business, and I have personally, done the type of work you are asking about.
I will warn you up front, that this is going to take some work.
I went to a home, that someone decided to park on the very top of a steep hill.... constant wind ... and they wondered why they had drafts, heheheh....
Well, to insulate the home better against the wind, I removed the outside metal sheathing, a section at a time. (most of this stuff is just stapled, and screwed on.) You will run into screws around the windows, any 'decorative' window trim, and vent flanges, like a range vent.
As I removed each section, I took a caulk gun, or a can of expanding foam, to the backside of the interior walls, to seal them.... I went thru a LOT of caulk, and foam, hehehe. I also added fiberglass insulation as needed... in many of these homes.... if an electrician needed to work in an area, they simply ripped the insulation out.... so you may have areas of your home with no insulation at all.
You can replace the sheetmetal using a small staple gun, and screw gun. You should be able to line the pieces back up to their original locations, as long as you do not try to take too many off at once.
Note, the sheetmetal actually has to be able to breathe... you need some air movement behind the sheetmetal, to remove condensation. This is why I always approach this type of task from the outside.
Other steps you can take.... buy foam insulaters to go behind receptacle and light switch covers. Dont forget underneath the home... check for holes in the underbelly... replace any missing insulation under the home, and seal those holes. You can buy new underbelly plastic, in pre-glued patches,or strips, from most mobile home supply stores.
IF you remove the inside paneling... do NOT caulk against the outer sheet metal... as I said, it has to 'breathe'. What you CAN do, is apply a heavy plastic sheeting to the studs, before you put the paneling back in place. You can buy this in 6 mil thicknesses, in rolls, at any hardware store. Then apply caulk to the backside of the paneling.... this can get messy, but if youre careful, it can be done.
I recommend using a latex caulk, rather than a silicone caulk. Silicone will last longer... but... it takes longer to 'cure', and you have to live with a pretty strong odor until it does. Latex caulk is easier on the nose, and eyes, inside a home, and since you are not exposing it to the elements, it will work just fine. If you prefer to use the expanding foam, use DAP... NOT GreatStuff.... the Dap product is water clean-up.... Greatstuff, you wear until its worn off, lol You will find that a tube of caulk goes a lot farther than a can of expanding foam. I liked to caulk around the paneling, against the studs, and use the expanding foam, around the electrical boxes, and to help fill holes drilled thru the floor.
Also check the obvious areas for air leakage.... improperly aligned doors and windows. This is a mobile home... all of those windows and doors are meant to be adjusted when necessary. Apply new weatherstripping, also.
Have Fun
2006-12-26 09:17:14 · answer #1 · answered by thewrangler_sw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thermal pane windows will pay for them selves in a few years and and insulated skirting will make an even bigger difference in your heating bill. The soil under your trailer stays well above freezing and insulation can actually make the air underneath much warmer. You will also have a savings with your hot water heater if the incoming water is less frigid. The roof foam will work just fine if you keep it dry. If you are in a snow fall area, after the first big snow, bank up the skirting with snow as high as you can. Snow is an excellent insulator. You can also buy window insulating kits at most hardware stores that consist of plastic film and either tape or tack strips that you can put inside or outside the windows. The idea is to create a dead air space that does wonders for keeping cold and drafts out. Check all your door seals. There are stick on foam strips in varying thicknesses available you can add around the door sills as well.
2016-03-19 13:35:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
How do I insulate my mobile home?
I have a 1968 Fleetwood Mobile Home that I live in next to a Expressway in California, believe it or not it gets chilly and noisy. The inside is wood panel and the outside the typical metal paneling.
We don't want a big mess we have new wall to wal carpeting and new interior and exterior...
2015-08-13 09:50:54 · answer #3 · answered by Rosana 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mobile Home Interior Paneling
2017-01-03 13:48:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend that took the paneling off the inside and went to home dept (or other LARGE hardware store) and bought big pink Styrofoam sheets (I think these are rated for interior insulation, might want to ask to be sure though) and cut to fit and glued them down. Styrofoam is awesome as an insulator for both temp and sound and these are about $20.00 for a 4x8 sheet about 1/2 inch thick. Hope this helps
2006-12-26 05:07:48 · answer #5 · answered by Julie Hartford 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No real way for easy. You will need to remove the aluminum siding from the outside, 1/4" hex screws hold it to the studs. Then install insulation with paper side facing the inside. Reinstall the siding. The siding will have screws about every 4". They are "tongue & groove". The "S" side will havea few staples attaching it to the stud, they remove real easy. This is a time consuming job but not real difficult.
2006-12-26 05:08:04 · answer #6 · answered by BUBBA~THE~POOCH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insulate the sides to keep the wind from under it, that should do it for most of it. An outside barrier from the wind would help also.
2006-12-26 10:55:18 · answer #7 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have whats called a blown in insulation. They cut a hole and blow in the insulation. Not cheap. Skirt the trialer it helps big time
2006-12-26 13:41:40 · answer #8 · answered by Larry m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No easy effective way.
Please do not take the advice of removing the paneling and installing foam insulation board without also installing drywall on top of it as a fire barrier.
If you do not do this you won't have to worry about burning in a fire because the toxic smoke will kill you long before the fire gets to you.
2006-12-26 05:19:18 · answer #9 · answered by paul r 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
can i put 1/2 board insulation over the panel on inside a nd then repanel it i was gonna repanel the inside anyways
2014-08-31 02:29:56 · answer #10 · answered by m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋