What You Must Know About Memphis Mobile Home Insulation

Everything You Need To Know About Memphis Mobile Home Insulation

Mobile homes are more than an RV. It's an actual house that can be transported to a new location if necessary. It is also a more affordable way to remain independent of real estate and not get into decades of mortgage debt. But even owners of mobile homes have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to caring for their personal property. One of the major duties includes Memphis mobile home insulation. 

At Koala Insulation of the Midsouth, we have helped multiple families insulate their mobile homes, so they can expect their structures to have a longer shelf life and be equipped for every season. As your first-choice Memphis insulation company, we pride ourselves on our expertise, efficiency, and versatility in getting our jobs done.

Differences Between Traditional and Mobile Homes 

Insulation is one of the few things these two types actually have in common to maintain or increase indoor comfort.

Stick-built homes are built on a property and made to stay there for a lifetime, while manufactured homes give owners the freedom to travel around. Whether you plan to stay put or not, maintaining a decent level of energy efficiency is essential. Before we go into depth about our professional Memphis mobile home services, let’s learn more about the differences between traditional and mobile homes. 

Foundation

Traditional houses are built on-site. A large trench is dug for building the foundation and basement because these types of properties are made to stay in the same spot. On the other hand, mobile homes do not have that kind of foundation; instead, they have steel subfloors and other kinds of non-permanent foundations. When people think about foundations, a damp basement may come to mind. While basements are more common for traditional houses to have, most owners of mobile homes decide against them.

 

It is easy to think that mobile homes are better at staying dry because you do not have to worry about a soil-touching foundation. Still, they rely on a pier and beam system to hold the entire structure. Anchors are installed to the ground to hold the structure in place and protect it from the wind. The beams connect to the subfloor frame (also known as chassis) which is made of steel. On the frame structure, you will find the axles, wheels and hitch for whenever homeowners decide to move.

Even without touching the ground, moisture accumulation can still occur in your crawl space. Without proper skirting ventilation, you could experience a series of problems. Depending on your climate, muggy summers and high indoor air humidity are the perfect recipe for moisture damage.

A more common term to describe the crawl space is “undercarriage” (also known as belly wrap, belly board, or underbelly), which is a woven polyethylene blanket enclosing the base of your mobile home. Black fiber boards, fiberglass, or tar paper are also commonly used as an enclosures. Behind that blanket is where one of the most important parts of Memphis mobile home insulation goes, including utility lines.

Building Materials

The idea behind manufactured homes is to make them lightweight, so they are easy to transport. Unfortunately, this means they’re made of thin walls. Unless you have proper Memphis mobile home insulation, heat transfer problems can occur, whether it is cold air in the winter or humid heat in the summer.

Where Does Memphis Mobile Home Insulation Go?

The roof, floors (underbellies) and crawl space are probably the most important parts of a Memphis mobile home insulation, followed by the walls. Due to the thinner building materials used, you may need a higher R-value than a standard house that has thicker layers between siding and drywall.

Attic

It is not common for manufactured homes to have attics, at least not an easily accessible kind. Having extra headroom between your interior ceiling and the roof would take up more space and result in a heavier structure. That said, whatever attic space you may have, it would need proper insulation. Attic spaces are designed to handle exterior heat and circulate fresh air throughout your home.

Roof

Insulating mobile homes involves taking good care of the roof. Our professional Memphis mobile home insulation experts install roof insulation under the roof deck on the slopes. (Ideally, you are doing a roof renovation or are in the middle of building your manufactured home.) Manufacturers tend to use good-quality rigid foam boards that could last for as long as your mobile home, but it will also depend on how well you maintain your roof. An R-value of R-23 to R-40 is usually the best for most roof types, from flat roofs to cathedral style. Our Memphis mobile home insulation pros are happy to complete an insulation testing service to check for the level of efficiency.

Walls

Interior and exterior walls must be insulated to provide you with the necessary air barrier. Mobile home wall insulation is typically of low R-value. This means that your choice of Memphis mobile home insulation needs to make up for it to ensure maximum comfort and protection from the elements. The recommended R-value for walls is between R-15 and R-21. When insulating mobile homes, walls require extra attention during air sealing services, especially around window and door casings and wherever the walls meet the floors.

Mobile Home Belly/Crawl Space

We have referred to the underbelly before, which protects your Memphis mobile home insulation installation, as well as electrical wiring, plumbing, and your heating and cooling systems, while the entire structure is protected and held by the chassis and your floor joists. Even though the structure is off the ground, your crawl space is still close to the ground and surrounded by all those utility lines. To ensure everything stays properly dry and safe, it’s important to insulate mobile homes professionally by taking into account your surroundings and climate.

The entire crawl space is an important area to secure, which is why any gaps, cracks or holes in your skirting could lure rodents and other wildlife.

Although mobile homes are supposed to have lower maintenance needs, they require periodic check-ups, especially the insulation for under your mobile home. The smallest issue, such as a tear in the belly wrap, could lead to a string of serious problems.

 

Pro Tip!

We recommend checking with the City of Memphis whether they offer financing programs for insulating mobile homes. This would come in handy if comprehensive work needs to be done. But you can rely on our Memphis mobile home insulation pros!

What Types of Insulation Are There?

At Koala Insulation, we pride ourselves on our certified insulation products which include:

• Fiberglass batts
• Mineral wool batts
• Blown-In cellulose
• Spray foam insulation 

What Can I Expect From Koala’s Memphis Home Insulation Experts?

 

• Formal consultation: During an in-home consultation service, our local experts will introduce you to our products, services, and steps. From potential old insulation removal to new insulation installation and other services.
• Inspection: To better understand your mobile home’s needs, our insulation pros will perform an energy audit, using special equipment to measure your current system’s performance and efficiency. It will help us determine the best choice for your Memphis mobile home insulation installation.
• Cost estimate: Once we have covered the basics and come to an agreement, we will provide you with a formal cost estimate, detailing the cost of our products,  hours of labor, etc. 
• Installation service: On the day of installation, you can expect our skilled team to be prepared and equipped for the work ahead. They will remind you of the safety guidelines and remind you of each step of the process.
• Expertise, efficiency, accountability: Our certified technicians are more than just your regular insulation contractors. We have company values that always put our customers first, which is why all of our services are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. We take responsibility for the work we do and guarantee exceptional workmanship and customer service.

FAQs About Memphis Mobile Home Insulation

What Is The Best Type of Insulation For My Memphis Mobile Home Insulation Project?

Our insulation pros highly recommend using the best water-resistant type for your Memphis mobile home insulation, and that includes:

• Spray foam: SPF is a superior material that provides you with an efficient air barrier, vapor barrier and racking strength. When installed properly by a certified pro, you can expect it to last you a lifetime. Depending on open-cell or closed-cell, adequate spray foam layers can provide you with R-values of R-7 or R-12 per inch.
• Mineral wool batt: Also known as rock wool, it is more moisture-resistant than fiberglass, which is why it is often up to 50% more expensive. It also has a 25% higher R-value of R-4 per inch. It lasts for up to 30 years and doesn’t degrade as fast as fiberglass.
• Blown-in cellulose: Blown-in or loose-fill works well in filling hard-to-reach spots and covering all gaps and crevices, so it’s also a good choice in protecting your mobile home from unwanted air movement. However, it is essential to keep areas dry and ventilated, as any water damage to cellulose material would result in a replacement.

While spray foam and mineral wool may be your best option, it also depends on the setup of your mobile home. Besides maintaining comfort and protecting your structure, you want to make sure you are in control of your energy bills. When you get in touch with our Memphis mobile home insulation pros and request an inspection, you’ll be closer to the answer you need!

How Much Does Memphis Mobile Home Insulation Cost?

The cost varies depending on your type of insulation. People commonly opt for fiberglass batts or rolls because they are inexpensive and easy to install. That said, they are also the most susceptible types to absorbing moisture. If you have a hard time keeping your home dry, we recommend that you choose spray foam at least for the underbelly, and we guarantee it will be worth the cost. Feel free to give our Koala team a call and ask for more information, including a price range. 

What Is The Ideal R-Value For Memphis Mobile Home Insulation?

The advantage of insulating mobile homes is that you don’t have to worry about the foundation or a basement where moisture issues and heat loss are the primary concern. So there is less risk of air infiltration from hard-to-detect places.

As a rule of thumb, your floor should have a minimum R-value of R-13, your walls should have R-19, and your roof R-22. The best way to determine the ideal R-value is to hire our Memphis mobile home insulation pros for a detailed inspection as each home is built differently.

What Are the Warning Signs I Need New Memphis Mobile Home Insulation Replacement?

Common problems that occur in mobile homes are high humidity levels that can be caused by:

• Air leaks and drafts
• Poor ventilation
• Insufficient windows and doors

Besides investing in better ventilation systems, including a range hood in the kitchen and a high-quality extractor fan in the bathroom, you most likely need new Memphis insulation services.

Pro Tip!

In the high summer when it is hot and muggy, mobile homes will benefit from the support of a dehumidifier to help keep humidity levels low.

Does Memphis Mobile Home Insulation Last As Long As My Home?

It can, depending on how well it is maintained. This means keeping the interior of your home as dry as possible and regularly checking your foundational frame and underbelly.

Is a Mobile Home The Same As a Modular Home?

No. Modular or factory-manufactured homes are prefabricated and primarily built indoors at a manufacturer’s warehouse. They are called modular because they are built in sections before they are assembled together. Though Memphis mobile home insulation works the same way as modular ones. 

That said, modular homes are carefully and tightly built, so they are generally very well insulated.

Ready For Memphis Mobile Home Insulation? Our Koala Team Has You Covered!

Planning a mobile home renovation? That is usually the best time to bring in your local Koala Insulation team for a Memphis mobile home insulation replacement! 

Give our friendly customer service reps a call at (901) 613-1421 today to schedule a no-obligation and worry-free inspection to find out what we can do for you to increase your comfort and protect your mobile home.