Mobile home insulation may be added to units of all ages in the floor, walls or attic. The only difference between traditional homes and manufactured homes is how the insulation is installed. Cost is determined by the size of project, location, and material used including blanket and blown-in styles.
Typical costs:
Blanket insulation[1] -- most commonly made with Fiberglass in flat precut sections called batts or rolls -- is often used in do-it-yourself mobile home insulation projects for about $.20-$1 per square foot, depending on the R Value, manufacturer, size of home and location. The R Value rates the level of effectiveness, with the higher ratings going to the most effective. This product may be used in the roof, flooring and walls with a material cost of about $200-$1,500 for a single-wide mobile home and $250-$1,600 for a double-wide unit, depending on size of unit, R Value and location. A single-wide unit measures from 14'-18' wide by 60'-90' long, while a double wide is 28'-36' wide by 60'-90' long.
Blown-in insulation[2] may be added to a mobile home roof or floor by a DIYer for the cost of materials from about $0.22-$1 per square foot or about $370-$2,350 for a single wide or $740-$4,700 for a double wide, depending on R Value, size of unit and location.
Both blanket and blown-in insulation may be handled by DIYers comfortable with opening the access to the spaces needed in the walls, attic and floors. The cost for a handyman would be about $240-$480 for each day of work. Prices for an insulation professional to blow in insulation would be about $2-$3.50 per square foot, depending on R Value, size of unit and location.
In most cases, in order to receive an accurate estimate on mobile home insulation, an at-home appointment must be scheduled.
When professionally installed, all materials, labor and post-site cleanup should be included, along with sealing any holes or openings created to install the insulation.
Blown-in insulation may sometimes be used in walls; however it is a more difficult process, particularly for older units built before 1976 when wall studs measured only 2"x2". When accessing ceiling crevices to blow insulation in from the inside of a unit, a series of 2"-3" holes may be drilled along the ceiling and walls, then a long hose a long hose is inserted and fills the space between the joists. The roof or attic insulation may also be blown through holes cut in the roof or by pulling the trim off the edges of the roof and sliding a hose through. The floor or underbelly of the mobile home may also be accessed by pulling off bottom trim pieces and filling the factory-installed membrane that covers the plumbing. One person typically holds the hose at the fill end while a second feeds the blower with the bags of loose fill.
When using blanket-style insulation in the walls of a mobile home, either the exterior or interior walls will need to be removed to have full access. Batts may also be fitted in the underbelly by opening the factory-installed membrane that covers the plumbing and replacing with strips to keep the batting in place when finished.
Additional costs:
For blown-in insulation DIYers will need to rent a blower for about $75 per day.
Anytime Fiberglass insulation is handled, safety equipment is recommended including a disposable jumpsuit[3] for $4-$10 each, gloves ($8-$30) and goggles ($2-$10).
Discounts:
DIYers may be able to borrow an insulation blower from the company that sold the insulation for a savings of about $75 per day.
Shopping for mobile home insulation:
The Department of Energy lists the most economic insulation[4] by zip code.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development offers insulation and energy saving recommendations for homes[5] built before federal manufactured home building regulations were enacted in 1976.
Check local home improvement stores for rates, installation options and insulation calculators.
Locate an insulation supplier through the Insulation Contractors Association of America[6] .
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There is talk of " blown in insulation" but blown into what? These crappy walls are so thin and flimsy. I was hoping to cover the whole thing in foamcrete substantially thick enough to do some good. Yesterday it was 14 For outside and 26F inside. This is why we can't have houseplants to live through the winter. This is also standard for trailer living residents in our area. And everybody here is poor, so can't even begin to think about what to do about fixing it. There is a local young man who insulated and covered a trailer and stuccoed over the whole thing and build pillars with capital s, and it's very nice now, and much stronger against the weather.
They installed batt roll and then put a vapor barrier over it on the underside of the trailer and it's done made a major difference...I'm so pleased with the results. They know what they are talking about when it comes to insulation! Wow! Just amazed! I would have paid them more if I had known I'd have this much of a difference.
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