Upgrading a mobile home....

[limerockconstruction]

Hi all - strange request for a price in today.

They have asked me to price up to upgrade a mobile home - essentially they want the outside rendered and insulated - but I don't think that attaching anything to the frame of the van will be good for the van - so I thought about putting in a dwarf wall all around and then putting a timber frame up around it - then ply, tyvek, counter batten, building paper, mesh and render.

Not got too much experience in this area, anone got any good ideas?

 

[OwainDIYer]

The mobile home magazines have lots of adverts for firms which specialise in this work.

You can't build up an external structure around the unit on a dwarf wall as it would then cease to be a mobile home and would have to be reclassified by planning and building control as a permanent structure.

 

[limerockconstruction]

Really? Thats weird - a lot of the other places there have done similar types of things, but maybe you are right, none so permanent....

 

[OwainDIYer]

You can clad the exterior, attaching to the existing walls.

You can build a brick skirt round the base to conceal the chassis.

You can join the skirt to the cladding to prevent draughts.

You cannot build a barn over the caravan.

As mentioned, the mobile home mags have lots of adverts from firms which do this or supply the materials and have all the mouldings to go round the windows etc. You can also clad the roof in an attractive selection of insulated mock tile plastics and metals. Worth flicking through in Smith's for inspiration.

Hide the mag inside a copy of Peedo Monthly if you're embarrassed to be seen reading a mobile home mag.

 

[maltaron]

I assume that this unit is on a mobile home park. I would therefore suggest that the cost to upgrade a unit on wheels would be close to prohibitive, and it would be a better prospect to sell the unit, add the cash saved from no refurb, and buy a chalet type park home.

 

[Nige F]

Hi all - strange request for a price in today.

They have asked me to price up to upgrade a mobile home - essentially they want the outside rendered and insulated - but I don't think that attaching anything to the frame of the van will be good for the van -Not got too much experience in this area, anone got any good ideas?

I think you`re right on that one A good friend has run aresidential park home site for decades - they used to tow them off and burn them then sift through the debris for the ali - the site workers used to have the scrap money . Best option is to forward some specialised companies to your querie customer . Even the modern ones need someone who is aware of the construction - a lot of the refurbers are linked to the factories where they are made AFAIK

 

[limerockconstruction]

Cheers Boys - think i'll be giving this one a miss, don't need the trial and error stress at the moment!

 

[^woody^]

Can't the gypsies do this themselves? They are normally quite active in the building game

 

[limerockconstruction]

Can't the gypsies do this themselves? They are normally quite active in the building game

He's actually joined 2 caravans together and put a single pitch roof over the pair of them...and what a porch!?

You'd love it woody.