Manufactured Homes and Germane Materials 01: General | TMH 004
Because I am looking to purchase a previously owned manufactured home, I started considering the materials that would be appropriate for a MH remodel. For my (fingers crossed) MH, I wanted materials that could survive during transportation and not be too heavy, even though it will probably never be moved. This is, for the most par, a personal choice. I plan on living in a manufactured home for a number of reasons (see FAQs), and I do not want to try and create a fake traditionally constructed home. I have a strong belief in honesty of materials - tile that looks like marble is a no-no - as well as honesty in architectural design. This will be my home, so that is what I will do. For your own home, the material choices are up to you, be it a MH or otherwise.
In this post I’m going to generally go over materials for walls, backsplashes, floors, and ceilings, and discuss those materials and why they are traditionally used in a MH. In the future I will devote single posts to walls, and then backsplashes, and then floors, and then ceilings, followed by any other subjects that need further discussion.
Walls | So, have you ever wondered why there is paneling in manufactured homes? Well, it’s because it cheap and quick to install, and it is lightweight. Drywall (gypsum wall board) is relatively heavy and the joints must be taped and filled. This tape and filling creates the appearance of one single surface - like lathe and plaster. It takes time, and some skill, to install (not as much as lathe and plaster) but is prone to cracks during movement.
When paneling - of wood, faux wood, or vinyl on gypsum (VOG) - is installed, the gap between the panels allows it to have some give during to movement and expansion. This gap can be left open when it is part of the design, or can be covered with battens (strips that cover the gaps). I should say at this point that VOG, while gypsum as the name suggests, is 5/16” thick, while gypsum wall board is 5/8“ - so it is much lighter. The self same weight and movement issues that apply to drywall are the reasons that tile is not frequently used, and why shower surrounds are usually part of the fiberglass shower. Tile may also not be an option on walls as some walls may not be strong enough to support it. As discussed in previous post (Can a Double-Wide Be Moved? | TMH 002), interior wall are not load barring, so they are just partitions - they may be as thin as +/- 2-1/2” thick! I’ll discuss tile on walls in more depth in a future post. Also, any movement issues are compounded if the MH is a double wide, as it must be split in two to be moved.
Backsplashes | In general, I don’t like tile backsplashes in kitchens. I have never got that wet n’ wild in the kitchen, Also, they are almost unheard of in modernist kitchens. But, we all need backsplashes that are moisture resistant, and can be cleaned of dirt and cooking oil (if in the kitchen). As mentioned above, tile may be too heavy for a full MH wall, but a backsplash may be fine. Other options could be moisture resistant paneling, VOG, Formica (maybe a continuation of the counter top), oil based enamel paint over an existing material, or a polyurethane coating.
Floors | Floors have some of the same issues as walls, but weight is the primary concern. Wood, laminate, carpet, vinyl, linoleum, cork, and ceramic tile are all viable options, and it simply comes down to personal taste and budget. For me tile is not appropriate for large areas in manufactured homes because of its weight and brittle nature. For instance, tile is the only flooring material that should not be laid over the marriage line found in a double wide as it will crack. If you lay the tile with a grout line on the marriage line it will crack too, but can be re-grouted. So, if you have your heart set on tile spanning the width of your double wide, and don’t mind re-grouting that center line every once in a while - go for it! Remember, bathrooms and kitchens are usually to one side or the other of the marriage line, so they are less problematic - and single wides don’t have this issue at all. Weight is also an issue with tile and you will likely need to upgrade your subfloor (from particle board to plywood) for it. The subfloor will also likely need to be upgraded for wood flooring.
Ceilings | Ceilings have the same weight and movement issues as walls, and I will cover aesthetic differences in a future Ceilings post.
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Archdaily.com - Case Study House #8. Charles and Ray Eames - 1949.
Blogs.KCRW.com - Kings Road House. Rudolf Schindler 1922.
