Knowledge Builders

can you add a second story to a mobile home

by Halie Hagenes MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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One of the most popular ways to add a second story to your mobile home is to build a self-supporting addition and then attach it to the mobile home. Because mobile homes aren't always built to support a second story or level, this is a great option.Jun 29, 2022

What is the best way to add a second story addition?

Modular Designs: A modular second-story addition is designed and built off-site and brought, fully built, to your existing home. It is often the quickest and most cost-effective way to add a second story to your home.

What is a modular second story addition?

Modular Designs: A modular second story addition is designed and built off-site and brought, fully built, to your existing home. It is often the quickest and most cost-effective way to add a second story to your home.

Can a mobile home addition be attached to a house?

A mobile home addition must move freely from the home. Your addition or porch should not be attached to your manufactured home. You need your manufactured home addition to be a completely separate structure from your home. The only ‘attachment’ between the home and the addition will be sealed around the door, siding, floor, and roof.

Is it possible to build a house with two stories?

If you want to preserve your outdoor property and keep it as big as possible, then building a second story on the house is an ideal solution because you can double the square footage of the home without using a single square foot of your yard. Then, you’ll have a two-story house with an average height of 18 – 20 inches.

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How do you put an addition on a mobile home?

A mobile home addition must move freely from the home itself. Porches, decks, and additions must have their own foundation or footers so the structure can shift independently of the home. The addition is simply 'butted up' and attached to the mobile home, and 'sealed' so nothing impedes the separate movement.

Can you stack a mobile home?

Though manufactured homes are typically single story dwellings they could be modified to be stacked.

What upgrades can you do to a mobile home?

Upgrades That Can Increase the Value of Your Manufactured HomeReplace Old Skirting and Siding. ... Add Insulation. ... Make Energy-Efficient Door and Window Upgrades. ... Add on to Your Manufactured Home. ... Consider Less Expensive Upgrades. ... “Upgrade” Your Manufactured Home's Classification.

Can you add a loft to a mobile home?

Most mobile homes don't have the height to make a custom loft possible. However, there are alternatives. Park model homes, while not technically mobile homes, do provide you with the ability to have a loft.

How high off the ground should a mobile home be?

Because manufactured homes must conform to state transportation guidelines, the maximum allowable height stands at 13 feet, 6 inches from the ground to rooftop. This generally equals the ceiling height norm in site-built homes, which typically runs between 9 and 10 feet.

How much weight can a mobile home wall hold?

The walls of a typical mobile home can hold between 50-100 pounds of total weight. Generally, the walls of mobile homes are not made with many weight-bearing walls, so it's important to know which walls can hold items such as pictures in advance.

Is renovating a mobile home worth it?

' is yes. You absolutely should buy an older mobile home and remodel it if you can find a home with a sound structure and you can do some of the updates yourself. If you like the idea of living debt-free eventually you should absolutely consider buying an older mobile home and remodeling it as your budget allows.

What is the downside of buying a mobile home?

A disadvantage of buying a mobile home is that its value will depreciate quickly. Like a new car, once a mobile home leaves the factory, it quickly drops in value. Stick-built homes, on the other hand, normally appreciate in value over time because the stick-built home owner almost always owns the underlying land.

Is it worth upgrading a mobile home?

Most experts will advise new manufactured home buyers to spend money on construction upgrades before cosmetic updates. You can't go wrong with increased energy efficiency, better protection from the weather, and better construction specs. A better-built home will usually have a better resale value in the future.

Can you raise a ceiling in a mobile home?

No. Your roof is built to minimal height standards for cost, insulation, travel height, wind handling, etc. You basically have ceiling joists, a relatively small space for insulation, and the roof. There's no extra height available there.

Can you make a mobile home bigger?

Definitely, mobile home additions are available in a wide range. You can have additions to your porch, bedroom, living room, or any other room that needs enlarging or change.

How do you make a mobile home look like a house?

How to Remodel Your Mobile Home to Look Like a House (Interior)Remove all of the trim from your walls.Prime your walls using an oil-based primer.Fill in all of the line gaps left by the paneling with drywall mud.Tape and mud the wall joints between the sheets of paneling.Use an orange peel texture spray on the walls.More items...

Can you add onto a single wide trailer?

If you own a single-wide mobile home, you might be considering what is called an “addition.” An addition is an added room, porch, deck, or car park. It can even include transforming your mobile home from a single-wide to a double-wide.

How do you turn a single wide mobile into a double wide?

How to Join Two Single Wide Mobile Homes Into a DoublewideStrip the siding from both mobile homes on the sides that will be joined. ... Align the 2-by-6 boards so that those on one frame match up as closely as possible to the other, using the bottom of the 2-by-4 frame as a reference.More items...

How much does it cost to put siding on a 16x80 mobile home?

Installing siding on a 16-foot-by-80-foot mobile house might cost anywhere between $3,500 and $8,000.

Can you put siding on a mobile home?

Vinyl siding provides durability and protection on a mobile home. Many mobile homes will eventually need vinyl siding replacement over their lifespan. The first mobile homes were framed from cheap wood material instead of today's vinyl.

Home Addition Advice from Professionals

First and foremost, additions should not be attached to a manufactured home at all. You have to build the addition as a completely separate unit th...

Financing and Insurance Issues For Mobile Home Additions

Additions to manufactured homes are not often seen as an ‘improvement’ – meaning it probably won’t increase the value of the home in most cases. It...

Footings For Mobile Home Additions

You need your manufactured home addition to be a completely separate structure from your home. The only ‘attachment’ for the later will be at the f...

HUD Guide on Manufactured Home Foundations and Support Structures

There are some great online resources about mobile home foundations. This guide about manufactured home foundations and supports is invaluable. For...

Sealing The Walls of A Mobile Home Addition

As stated previously, a basic mobile home addition is not completely attached to the home. It is simply butted up to the home and the sealed all ar...

Roofing Your Mobile Home Addition

The roofing on a mobile home addition depends if the addition’s roof is lower, higher, or equal to the home’s roof.

Examples of Mobile Home Additions

Look at the home below, without judging its appearance (because it could look just fine with some new siding). You are seeing a mobile home additio...

How much does it cost to add a story?

Improvement.com shows most homeowners spend between $24,897 to $42,357 nationally on a just single story addition, including materials and labor. Home Advisor has a per square foot estimate for an addition to be between $80 and $200.

Where is the marriage line on a manufactured home?

On the left you can see the single wide. The area with the window and the thermo wrap will become the marriage line, where the exterior wall is removed to combine the addition and the manufactured home.

What is Jessica's favorite part of her new home?

The finished living room and dining area is Jessica’s favorite part of her new home.

Did single wide stay single for long?

This single wide didn’t stay single for long . It didn’t stay single story for long, either. See how one tenacious couple created their dream home by building a two-story addition onto a manufactured home.

Did the family live in a single wide?

The family continued to live in their single wide while building the two-story addition onto their manufactured home. Here you can see how the addition was constructed and framed out as a completely separate structure from the single wide.

Is the addition built separate from the single wide?

You can see the addition is built completely separate from the single wide (on the left). Here the framing is just getting underway.

Can you put a manufactured home over a full basement?

Adding a manufactured home over a full basement is becoming more popular now that new tools and technologies have made it easier to move a manufactured home horizontally. In Jessica’s case, they were creating a basement under their single wide. Literally. This was no simple task.

Why do manufactured homes need to be raised off the ground?

Manufactured homes need to be raised off the ground to protect them from the elements as well as any potential floods, etc. You could use this requirement to your advantage to lift the home high enough to turn the space below it into a living area or a carport.

How much does it cost to build a house?

Generally, we’ve found most people end up paying anywhere between $27,000 to $50,000 from start to finish.

Can you put piers on a mobile home?

As long as the piers or support columns meet all the requirements for mobile home foundations and the HUD code, you should be fine from a legal perspective. An advantage is that the floor will be on ground level, and consequently, it will be easier to install utilities.

Can a manufactured home have a pitched roof?

Most manufactured homes that are reasonably new can support a roof over. However, you will need to make sure that both the home and the new roof can support the extra weight of treating the attic as a living space. The bonus that comes with a pitched roof is the great improvement of the curb appeal of your home.

Can you extend utilities to the second part of your home?

From the very beginning, you will need to factor how you are going to extend utilities to the second part of your home. If you aren’t experienced and skilled in working with plumbing or electricity, you should get an independent contractor to do this for you.

Is a 2 story trailer a good option for a mobile home?

If you’re surprised to hear that this is even an option, that’s completely understandable. Because it’s difficult, expensive, and slightly risky. Not many people attempt it.

Can you hire a professional to raise a home?

In some cases, you will have no option but to hire professionals. Or high-end equipment, such as a crane, like when you need to raise the home. This will add a few thousand dollars more to your total.

What are the disadvantages of adding a mobile home?

A big disadvantage of building an addition on your mobile or manufactured home involves financing and insurance. It may be harder to obtain both if your home has been modified in any way. If you didn’t get the proper inspections and permits you may run into serious issues if you try to sell the home later down the road.

How much does it cost to build a bedroom addition?

There is little chance that you can legally build a complete bedroom addition for less than $2000. Materials alone will cost at least $2000 and then you have labor and inspections to pay for. The foundation of your manufactured home will not matter because the addition must be built as a completely separate structure.

Can I Move a Mobile Home Addition?

Can the addition be moved together with the mobile home when we have to move? Or will the addition have to stay?

Who built the addition on the 1985 Liberty Single Wide?

Addition on 1985 Liberty Single Wide. Sarah and Justin Wartick built an addition onto their 1985 Liberty single wide. You can see how they created the footers right up against the home and then framed the floor of it out (they were test framing the top in the first image).

Do you need to follow your local code for mobile home addition?

You want the mobile home addition to having framing that is equal to or better than the framing that your home has. Of course, you’ll need to follow your local code.

Can a mobile home be attached to a manufactured home?

A mobile home addition must move freely from the home. Your addition or porch should not be attached to your manufactured home. You need your manufactured home addition to be a completely separate structure from your home. The only ‘attachment’ between the home and the addition will be sealed around the door, siding, floor, and roof.

Can you close a doorway to add an addition?

You’ll have to determine the size of your opening from the home to the addition. Doorways are easier to close up should the home ever need to be moved or the addition removed.

Decision time

To help you through the decision making, Madison Homebuilders has a list of pros and cons for 2 story homes. While they probably didn’t have mobile homes in mind, we think their ideas are still applicable. Below, you might detect an echo of their concern about heating and cooling.

Mobility

Okay, here you need to take a minute to consider how opting for a 2 story mobile home may affect your ability to move your house in the future. If you’re planning to pull up stakes and set your new abode down in a different location in a few years, be sure you keep that in mind.

Safety

Be sure to weigh any possible safety pitfalls of going with a 2 story double wide. There are some cases you’ve never even thought of.

Expense

If you find that your 2 story double wide is going to cost you more to purchase than a single story double wide, take a pause. Reflect on what your priorities are. If you’ve heard of the economic concept of “opportunity cost,” now is the time to rope your knowledge of it into your home-buying decision.

Rethink and move forward

We hope we’ve been able to get you thinking more deeply about your idea of 2 story double wide. Be sure to consider the implications for mobility, safety, and expense before making your decision.

Why add a second story to a house?

Adding a second story to your house is a great way to save space and improve your quality of living. It’s also a massive undertaking, so be prepared for anything. By carefully planning and making wise decisions along the way, you can save money and not get in over your head with your construction project.

Why add a second story instead of an addition?

One of the upsides of adding a second story instead of an addition is that you won’t have to build a new foundation. The foundation is one of the more expensive aspects of building, and as long as you don’t have to make foundation repairs, this won’t be a concern. That’s where the savings end in terms of the second story versus other additions.

How to determine if a second story foundation is good?

To figure this out, you’ll need the assistance of an engineer that’s qualified in these matters. The engineer will run a series of tests to determine your foundation’s capabilities. If their tests confirm that you have a solid enough foundation, you’re ready to proceed.

What to do before adding a second story?

Before adding a second story to your home, it’s essential to plan out the addition properly, make a budget for the project, and ensure the house’s foundation can support the new second story. Building outward is an entirely different process than building upward, and it is often more expensive.

Is it dangerous to add a second story to a house?

No matter what your building project is, safety is always a paramount concern. Adding a second story to a house is a complicated and sometimes dangerous project. Here are a few additional vital notes to keep in mind.

Is a construction site dangerous?

A construction site, especially one as complicated and involved as adding a second story, is a dangerous place. You and your family will most likely want to find somewhere else to live during the process.

Is it cheaper to build a second story or a second story?

Overall, it’s cheaper to build out than adding a second story if you’re remodeling an existing house. On the other hand, it’s cheaper to build up than build out if you’re building a new home.

Benefits of Adding a Second Story

There are some obvious benefits of adding a second story to your home, for example, the extra living space which will be created and the value added to the property.

Attic Conversion Vs. Full Second Story Extension

There are two ways you can alter your existing home to add an additional story to the property. The easiest and least expensive way will be to convert the attic. This will involve creating a solid flooring surface over the attic joists and finishing the ceiling.

Can Your Home Have a Full Second Story?

The first thing you need to do when thinking about adding a full additional story to your home is to find out if the local zoning laws will allow it.

Adding a Full Second Story

You will need to work with an architect to draw up plans for what your second story addition will look like and most likely submit plans and material choices to the local authorities along the way to ensure you are meeting zoning requirements.

Why add a second story to a home?

When creating your home remodeling plans, remember that adding a second story makes sense if your lot is small and you want to preserve as much open space outdoors as possible for gardening, outdoor living, or simply an adequate sense of separation from neighbors.

How to keep a small one story house in proportion?

Keep the individual elements of your house—such as windows, trim, eaves, shutters, columns, and dormers— in proportion with its new overall size by beefing them up or giving them extra visual emphasis (accent colors, contrasting finishes, etc.).

Why add up your remodeling costs?

If you need to add a sizable amount of space ( several rooms rather than just one or two) but are faced with a tight budget, adding up may be your smartest option. One reason your remodeling costs may be lower is that you won't have to do any foundation work (one of the more costly portions of any remodeling project) because you'll be building on your existing foundation. (You'll need to have the foundation checked, however, to make sure it can support the additional weight.)

How to save bundle on roof construction?

Second, you may be able to save a bundle on roof construction by lifting off the existing roof with a crane in one or two large sections and reinstalling it on the new second story. Renting a crane can be expensive, but it's much cheaper than building a whole new roof from scratch.

How to make a house look boxy?

Avoid awkward massing. Doubling the height of a plain, rectangular house can create a boxy effect. Offset it with roof pitches, overhangs, porches, and trim details.

What is the third tactic for a house addition?

Expand: The third tactic for your house addition is to expand an upper level out across an existing one-story section , such as a flat-roof garage or porch.

Can a house be a second story?

Also, rafters in a one-story house usually aren't strong enough to double as floor joists for a second story. Have a structural engineer evaluate your home's foundation and framing before you begin planning the new level.

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