Mobile home insulation might be slightly different from the one used in the traditional or site-built house because of the presence of the underbelly, also referred to as crawlspace, bottom board and belly board). Nevertheless, the primary goal remains the same: You need sufficient insulation to reduce your heating and cooling costs and, at the same time, create a comfortable home environment.
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Mobile home insulation for the underbelly
For the underbellies, spray foam insulation is often seen as a better option than fiberglass or cellulose. Meanwhile, this type of insulation comes in two types: the closed cell and the open cell, which both last 3-4 times longer than fiberglass and provide a good amount of sound barrier.
Closed cell spray foam is the preferred underbelly wrap (to protect the rim joist and skirting) because it can withstand moisture, which prevents mold and mildew problems.
Since the underbelly is prone to excess moisture, fiberglass is often seen as a poor insulation material for this area because once it comes in contact with water, it will lose its insulating properties, sag and lead to mold and mildew growth.
Insulation for the mobile home wall
When it comes to wall insulation, you have two options: take down the drywall or use a material that you can “inject” from the outside.
If you opt for fiberglass installation, you need to tear out the drywall before installing the material into the cavities. It’s crucial that the fiberglass material precisely fits into the stud cavities to ensure there is no air leak.
By contrast, you don’t need to take down your drywall with injection foam because you can install it from the outside. Nowadays, most mobile homes have removable siding, which allows you (or an insulation contractor) to drill a hole and inject foam into the stud cavities.
However, some mobile homes have siding attached directly to the studs and lack sheathing underneath. In this scenario, you can either remove all the siding and inject spray foam into the wall cavities (assuming the drywalls are secure) or add sheathing after removing the siding.
But if there is brick siding, you need to drill into the mortar to inject the spray foam and fill the hole with a gray mortar, creating an air seal that’s key to having a comfortable home environment.
Mobile home ceiling insulation
Did you know that about a quarter of heat escapes through a poorly insulated roof? As a result, your roof and ceiling are best insulated with fiberglass or spray foam material. It’s important that these materials perfectly fit the cavities to prevent air leaks.
Spray foam provides better insulating properties than fiberglass because it creates an air seal in the ceiling, whereas fiberglass allows some air movement.
Final word on mobile home insulation
With sufficient insulation, you can lower your monthly heating and cooling costs by an average of 15% or hundreds of dollars of savings every year.
Now that you know the importance of insulation, check out Storz Management Company’s stunning mobile & manufactured home communities throughout California, Nevada and Oregon.
