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How To Repair Mobile Home Roof Leak

Symptoms Of A Damaged Roof

Mobile Home Roof Leak Repair
  • Mobile home roofing leaks can be located by noticing dark brown patches on the ceiling or water dripping on the floor.
  • The possible places of leak can be the places where the seams, vents and pipes are inserted in the roof.
  • Sagging dry-wall is a clear indication that there is water leaking.
  • The deteriorated conditions of the roofing material by the passing of time also indicate a damaged roof

Solutions:

  • Contact AMS right away for a Free Estimate and consultation. With friendly area managers servicing from Ocala to the Florida Keys we will find a quick solution to your problem. Financing is available.

Our work is guaranteed and we stand behind it 100%. The AMS Patented Weather-Lok Roofover provides peace of mind, energy efficiency, is aesthetically pleasing, maintenance free and comes backed by the AMS Lifetime Transferable Warranty. Warranty available by request.

At AMS we use only Energy Star Rated Custom Rolled Aluminum. We will not use interlocking pans, panels or membrane products or materials that will shrink, dry rot or deteriorate over time. AMS custom fabricates our own Guttering System and Tri-bend Fascia that will give your home an overhang and keep your home protected and clean from the harsh Florida weather.

Types Of Mobile Home Roof Trusses: Bowstring Slope Half Slope And Flat

Before we continue, we need to cover a few basics about mobile home roof overs. First, there are three common types of mobile home roof or truss designs: flat, standard slope, half truss, and bowstring trusses.

Bowstring trusses are a dome shape. Most mobile homes will have bowstring trusses made with 2Ã2 or 2x3s. Structurally, they cannot withstand a lot of weight.

A flat mobile home roof comes from flat rafters or trusses. Flat or bowstring roof designs were often used in manufactured home construction until the mid-1980s.

A half truss is used on double wides and means what it says, its only half a truss. When a double wide is married together it forms a full truss that slopes down each side.

Standard slope trusses are the pitched roofs we see on modern single wides. They have a high mid-point and slope down each side.

For over 3 decades, pitched roofs have been the most common manufactured home roof design. All of the truss designs are usually placed every 16 or 24 on center.

More expensive manufactured home will have better framing and a shorter distance between the roof trusses.

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Hiring A Roofing Professional To Find And Repair Mobile Home Roof Leaks

For complex leaks on mobile home roofing, you will want to call the professionals. Remember, water is the most destructive force on earth its not to be taken lightly.

If your inspection raises concerns about the condition of your roof or you feel you need an expert opinion, contact a qualified roofer in your area. Most offer free inspections and no-obligation estimates for mobile home roof leaks and repairs or for a whole new roof.

If you do decide to contact a roofer, there are several steps you should take to ensure that you protect yourself from fraud and from unscrupulous contractors.

First, make sure you contact contractors that are licensed by the state or county in which you reside. You can go online to check their status and always ask to see their license.

Second, always get several bids for the work because that will help you determine if the cost is fair.

Third, ask your neighbors and friends for referrals. There is nothing better than a recommendation from someone you know and trust!

Fourth, ask for a sample of the material that your contractor will be using and make sure that when the truck shows up that the material on the truck is the same as the sample.

Lastly, make sure you get the warranty information in writing so you protect yourself in the event you need warranty work in the future.

If you follow these simple steps, your experience involving a roofing contractor will be a pleasant and professional one.

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Pinpoint The Exact Location Of The Leak

Once the immediate leak has stopped and you can see the area is dry, go ahead and pinpoint the leak. You can do this in a few ways.

  • Use a flashlight to search for a dark, damp spot.
  • Run your hand along the roof decking to feel for any soft or wet areas.
  • If its a significant leak, sometimes you will be able to hear the dripping noise from inside the attic.
  • Take a peek at the outside of your roof to see if you can spot the damaged shingles. Figure out its placement in the attic and check that area.

Once you find the leak, circle it with some washable chalk, so you dont have to find it again during your repair.

What Is A Mobile Home Roof Over

How To Patch A Roof Hole

A roof over is the process of adding a new roof or layer of roofing material over your existing roof system. This can be anything from a vapor barrier spread evenly across an existing roof to the independent carpentry of a new roof.

So what is the right solution for you? Chances are, a variety of roof overs will meet your needs.

This is particularly true if youre looking for something thats easy to install, cost-efficient and will provide the protection you want.

Bill Burnside is the general manager for RoofWrap, a Seattle-based company that markets a product of the same name nationwide.

RoofWrap is a EPDM rubber that comes off a roll that is wide enough to cover an entire single-section home. Its like inner-tube rubber in a vehicle tire, but thicker. And it stretches to several inches beyond the roofline, where it can be anchored with an included hardware kit.

EPDM has been around since the mid-60s and is widely used in low slope roofing all around the United States, Burnside said. Its easy to install for homeowners with maybe some friends or family lending a hand. We keep the manufacturing costs low and provide as much support as possible for people to be able to do the work themselves.

With a single section, there is little prep work beyond clearing debris.

RoofWrap comes in black and white. Often the white surface is preferred because it reflects sunlight. This keeps away heat that otherwise would strain an AC.

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Whats The Cost Of Opting For A Roof Over

If you compare to the other option replacing the whole roof the roof over option is the cheapest of the two.

Of course, the overall cost will be determined by your location, the kind of material you choose to use, and whether you need an additional layer of insulation or not among other factors.

Labor costs can vary from place to place as well.

  • For the single-wide home, costs can be somewhere between $1,000 and $3,500
  • For the double-sided home, costs can be somewhere between $1,000 and $4,500
  • Three often used roof over materials are:

    Flat roofs are no longer as popular as they used to be. Thats because of the burdensome maintenance and the recoating process that must be done once in a while. Lack of an overhang and gutter system makes flat roofs exceptionally susceptible to damage from water, debris, and snow accumulation.

    Converting the flat roof into a pitched roof by adding a slanting overhang is one of the popular manufactured home improvement projects .

    Rubber PTO, and metal roof overs are preferable options for projects involving the conversion of flat roofs.

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    Serving Pinellas Hillsborough Manatee Sarasota Charlotte & Lee Counties

    If you own a mobile home, you know that mobile home roofing is not the same as other types of structures. In Florida, mobile home roofs are susceptible to a lot of damage. Your roof may be in poor condition due to excessive humidity, gale-force winds, tropical storms, significant precipitation, mold, and year-round high UV exposure. When it comes to repair or replacing your mobile home roof, it should be done by a company that is knowledgeable and is experienced. Whether you live in Manatee or Sarasota County, trust our experienced team for all your mobile home roofing installation, replacement, and repair needs.

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    When To Call A Pro

    Stopping roof leaks can be complex and labor-intensive. Roofs interwoven components must precisely coordinate to prevent leaks, and the work involves a lot of climbing and hauling.

    If you have misgivings about your ability to fix the leaky roof on a timely basis, call a roofing company or a general contractor. Also, if you feel unsafe when working on a roof, call in a professional.

    Membrane Roof: Installed By Professionals

    How to fix Leaking Mobile Home Roof

    Replacing the roof coating with a PVC, thermoplastic polyolefin, or rubber membrane is a permanent roof repair that professionals use. This is usually longer lasting than a DIY solution because a roofing specialist uses their knowledge and experience to perform quality roof repairs.

    Here are three types of membrane roof repairs:

    • PVC PVC roofs are made by bonding thin sheets of PVC together and installing them over the existing roof. This mobile home roof repair method is very durable and cost-effective.
    • Ethylene propylene diene monomer EPDM rubber roofing sheets are installed over the roof. An adhesive is used to seal along the seams and around vents. This type of roof repair is typically the best option for flat roofs.
    • Thermoplastic polyolefin An ideal type of mobile home roof repair in Florida is to install a cool roof. A specially designed TPO reflective mat is installed directly on the existing roofing surface. The white membrane helps to reflect the heat off the roof and makes the home more energy-efficient.

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    Questions About Mobile Home Roofs: Moisture And Leaks

    I bought my home in 2009. In 2013 we noticed when it rains we get moisture at the bottom of our living room, dining room, and master bath walls. The insurance adjuster said that we had flashing issues along the front of the home and said its the manufacturers issue and to call the insurance company. Unfortunately, the insurance company said this type of damage is not covered. Does anyone know how I can have this issue fixed? When it rains a heavy downpour we have moisture. Although not every time, we have had the problem a few times.Please help!

    Im sorry you are experiencing this but its absolutely fixable. An experienced roofer can probably find the issue in no time.

    Its probably going to be a shingle, gutter, or flashing issue that is allowing the water to travel the path of least resistance down to your floor. It could also be a window issue . I cant help much without seeing the issue.

    It absolutely needs to be repaired ASAP. Otherwise, you risk some even greater damage to your home. Its one of those situations where you pay $1000 to fix it today or $5000 or more to fix it next year.

    If you dont have gutters on the home you may want to consider installing them after you have this issue repaired as it helps carry water away from the side of the house.

    Identify The Roofing Material

    Metal: Many singlewide and doublewide mobile homes from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are metal roofs.

    Rubber/Tar: You will notice some mobile home roofs seems to be made of tar paper or a black rubber membrane coating the surface of the mobile home roof. This is a covering of liquid tar, liquid rubber, or some other material that has been layered over the metal roof for the past few decades. If you remove enough layers youll eventually find the original metal roof.

    Shingle: Many newer mobile homes come from the factory with single roofs. These mobile homes can closer resemble traditional site-built homes with their shingles and pitched angle. Be aware it may be wise to only have 2 layers of shingles on a mobile home at once. More than 1 or 2 layers of shingles may cause the roof trusses to fail under the weight. With that said this author has seen a mobile home roof with 5 layers of shingles and still holding strong, this however is obviously not ideal.

    TPO: Also known as thermoplastic polyolefin. This is a single-ply reflective roofing product that stretches and fully adheres to the mobile home roof, gutters, and vents.

    Roof-Over: This is a general term used to describe an complete new roof installed over an existing mobile home roof. These new roofs can mimic the same slope as the original roof or form extreme slopes based on the owners preferences. See picture below.

    Other: Did we miss a mobile home roof type? If so please let us know in the comments below.

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    Common Causes Of Mobile Home Roof Leaks

    Mobile homes have been built with three different roof shapes: flat, bowstring, and pitched. The flat and bowstring were retired in 1982 and the pitched roof has been used since. There are still many homes in use today that were built before 1982, just like mine.

    Both flat and shingled mobile home roofs face the same nemesis.

    Permanent Solutions For A Mobile Home Roof Repair

    Mobile Home Cool Roof Coatings

    In some cases, it makes sense to call professional mobile home roof repair experts.

    Suppose your mobile home roof starts to leak regularly. In that case, usually best to roof over the unit. This roofing solution involves applying a new roofing layer over the existing roof. Using this method creates a seamless covering and a leak-free roof. However, it typically requires completely removing the existing surface and replacing it with a new one.

    Here are three common options to roof over a mobile home roof.

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    Finding The Roof Leak

    Don’t bother replacing the stained ceiling panel until you have stopped the roof leak. To do that, you first must locate the leak. If you’re lucky, the leak will be a small roof hole right above the ceiling stain. Unfortunately, roof leaks are rarely that easy to find. It’s possible the hole in the roof is not even close to the stain in the ceiling. It’s also possible the hole is a tiny space between the flashing and the roof.

    To find the roof leak, you must check the entire roof very carefully. Remember to walk on the rafters or a sheet of plywood so you don’t damage the seams. Be sure to inspect:

    • The J-rail or gutter system.
    • The flashing around vents, pipes and roof windows.
    • The seams and seals.
    • Any rusted or worn-looking areas.
    • Any rumble buttons.

    What if you don’t find a roof leak? Your best remedy is to clean the entire roof and coat it with a roof coating. This should be done at least once every two years. See our section on coating your roof for more information.

    How To Locate The Source Of Roof Problems

    In some cases, the effects of a problematic roof can linger even after you make repairs, especially if you dont follow appropriate mobile home repair tips. When you look at it from the inside, the problem may not match the crack or leak on the exact position from the outside of the roof. Nonetheless, finding the source of the problem can be identified by doing a bit of investigation.

    Tips to consider:

    • Regardless of your roof type, look for any problems both inside and outside. If your mobile home has more than one room, check all of them for any sign of damage. Afterward, use the damage to pinpoint the source. You may have to wait until winter or a rainy day to trace leaks and water patches. For cracks, you can use the moonlight.
    • Once you have identified the problem from the inside and outside, go inside the attic to measure the amount of damage.
    • Apart from the roof, look for other sources of pest infestation, plumbing leaks, and drips caused by air conditioning or heating units. Next, determine the damages extent. The size of the problem will help you determine whether to call a professional contractor or to repair the roof yourself.

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    Mobile Home Roofing Materials

    Just as it is with the shape of your mobile home roof, the material the roof is made of may be an indication of your homes age. Manufactured homes built before 1976 usually have aluminum sheet metal roofs.

    Modern mobile homes have roofs made of metal roofing panels or asphalt shingles. Other types of roofing materials for mobile homes include PVC and rubber membranes.

    Guide To Trailer & Mobile Home Roofing Defects

    Mobile Home Roof Leaks. How to Repair

    Our photos above show leak-prone low-slope roofs on mobile homes. Behind the home at above right you can see that a steeper gabled roof has been added on that home – a roof less likely to be a source of chronic leaks.

    Ver.4.0 – 04/25/07, 08/15/2012 – Steve Vermilye, New Paltz NY and Daniel Friedman, Poughkeepsie NY,Hudson Valley ASHI Chapter Seminar, Newburgh NY, January 4, 2000, NY Metro ASHI Fall 99 Seminar, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October2, 1999. Our photo at page top shows inspector Steve Vermilye on a double-wide trailer roof shows areas of ponding and a history of tar patching – Ulster County New York.

    Low slope mobile home roofs are at risk of leaks in part because of their slower drainage rate and due to sagging with age.

    Our photo at left illustrates reliance on roofing mastic to seal a water heater vent that is itself partly blocked – a double hazard.

    Our photo below shows tar spills on the side of a mobile home whose roof was coated in attempts to stop leaking.

    • 31% of mobile homes had roof problems
    • Flat or near-flat roofs, may be covered with conventional shingles
    • Chimneys or plumbing vents “patched-over” so as to be blocked, and are frequently missing caps, a functional problem for the heater and a potential fire hazard.
    • Dents and ponding on mobile home roofs, and leaks at seams

    Our photo below shows six mobile home or doublewide home roofs that demonstrate a variety of materials and venting approaches.

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