Manufactured Homes - Can you remodel them?

[graybeard]

So I have been looking for a place to retire to, and a house with 30+acres has fallen my way. My question is - it has a manufactured house (mobile home on a foundation) on it, and would need to be modified for handicap accessibility.

Can this be done with these homes? The ramps and doors shouldn't be any problem, but the bathrooms and kitchen would need work.
Anybody else live in a manufactured house or have had their house modified without any issues?

Thanks

[Oddity]

Manufacture home and "mobile home with a foundation" are very different things. Manufactured homes are built like any other just mostly off premises then assembled on site in large sections. They can be modified like any other. Mobile homes are built on trailer beds and have different foundations and construction code from interior walls and ceilings and such.

[vjls]

agre with oddity but u should be able to modify whaat you need with those manufactured beams and reconfigure door way bathroom if you nee a roll in shower you could retile or you use a dumawall interlocking tile lots of opportunities
show picture go for it

[graybeard]

Manufacture home and "mobile home with a foundation" are very different things. Manufactured homes are built like any other just mostly off premises then assembled on site in large sections. They can be modified like any other. Mobile homes are built on trailer beds and have different foundations and construction code from interior walls and ceilings and such.

OK- Thanks Oddity - Looked like a trailer w/o wheels to me.

vjls - you are correct with the modifications. Have talked with 3 different contractors, and all say the same thing; the bathrooms in these houses can be modified, but can be tricky. What I also learned is that these houses are pretty expensive on the electricity. Not sure if its the way its floor plan is spread out, or if the structures have a lot of drafts.
I'm thinking of having an energy audit done to get a better idea of what cash I gotta put out to make this home comfy.

[vjls]

OK- Thanks Oddity - Looked like a trailer w/o wheels to me.

vjls - you are correct with the modifications. Have talked with 3 different contractors, and all say the same thing; the bathrooms in these houses can be modified, but can be tricky. What I also learned is that these houses are pretty expensive on the electricity. Not sure if its the way its floor plan is spread out, or if the structures have a lot of drafts.
I'm thinking of having an energy audit done to get a better idea of what cash I gotta put out to make this home comfy.

I live in a modular years ago its was 6 inch walls I had the bottom of it surround by straw bales so wind could not get under. engry audit smart idea also u can get 1 of those thing u point at wall and ceiling and it well tell u hot cold spot u can get them at hd or lowes insulation and windows are always good ideas along with a good heating and cooling.

keep us in loop I love remodeling homes everyone I have ever lived in redid


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[Rustyjames]

OK- Thanks Oddity - Looked like a trailer w/o wheels to me.

vjls - you are correct with the modifications. Have talked with 3 different contractors, and all say the same thing; the bathrooms in these houses can be modified, but can be tricky. What I also learned is that these houses are pretty expensive on the electricity. Not sure if its the way its floor plan is spread out, or if the structures have a lot of drafts.
I'm thinking of having an energy audit done to get a better idea of what cash I gotta put out to make this home comfy.

If it has electric heat it going to be expensive, as it's the highest cost per BTU there is.

[graybeard]

I live in a modular years ago its was 6 inch walls I had the bottom of it surround by straw bales so wind could not get under. engry audit smart idea also u can get 1 of those thing u point at wall and ceiling and it well tell u hot cold spot u can get them at hd or lowes insulation and windows are always good ideas along with a good heating and cooling.

keep us in loop I love remodeling homes everyone I have ever lived in redid

Yeah vljs - thank you for the response. I do have one of those handheld heat source detectors. Am sure the energy audit folks will cart around an upgraded model compared to the one I use.

Rusty James - Oh yeah brother! I found out quickly how 'spensive that electric heat can be! I use a woodstove now to keep the electric bill down. This house has a fireplace, which I am not a fan of. However the masonry of the chimney doesn't allow for a woodstove to be used, and the firebox is really small for the fireplace. Almost an entertainment atmosphere use than heat source.

[Rustyjames]

I live in a modular years ago its was 6 inch walls I had the bottom of it surround by straw bales so wind could not get under. engry audit smart idea also u can get 1 of those thing u point at wall and ceiling and it well tell u hot cold spot u can get them at hd or lowes insulation and windows are always good ideas along with a good heating and cooling.

keep us in loop I love remodeling homes everyone I have ever lived in redid

Yeah vljs - thank you for the response. I do have one of those handheld heat source detectors. Am sure the energy audit folks will cart around an upgraded model compared to the one I use.

Rusty James - Oh yeah brother! I found out quickly how 'spensive that electric heat can be! I use a woodstove now to keep the electric bill down. This house has a fireplace, which I am not a fan of. However the masonry of the chimney doesn't allow for a woodstove to be used, and the firebox is really small for the fireplace. Almost an entertainment atmosphere use than heat source.

Not sure what you mean by the masonry chimney not allowing the woodstove use. If there's a code issue with that than you could in most cases slip a stainless steel liner in the flue. Wood burning is a PIA but there's nothing like it when the space doesn't have a tight envelope.

[graybeard]

Not sure what you mean by the masonry chimney not allowing the woodstove use. If there's a code issue with that than you could in most cases slip a stainless steel liner in the flue. Wood burning is a PIA but there's nothing like it when the space doesn't have a tight envelope.

Yeah Rusty - guess I shoulda explained better - The masonry for the fireplace is not very high on the wall. The chimney itself - yes you are correct- a SS sleeve can be placed there for the flue. To use a woodstove, the height of the masonry is currently very low. I realized after posting that the fireplace is actually a gas fireplace. For the woodstove to be used, I would need to extend a floor protector outward maybe 3-4 ft and the pipe from the stove to the thimble would need to be 24" (fire code) if memory serves me. Wish I could remember how to post pics. Would better explain what I 'm trying to say.

[graybeard]

Ok Rusty - I think I got the photo figured out:
This is the gas fireplace: Not sure why the photo is so dinky....

[Rustyjames]

You don't like the gas fireplace? I think they are really the way to go, rather than wood. A friend has one in Her house and I was surprised how well they work. Wood is a PIA to deal with, especially if you're in a wheelchair.

[vjls]

I am going to a wood pellet stove lots easier

[Rustyjames]

Wood pellet is a good option but lugging bags of pellets around can be a hassle. And the pricing on them has increased significantly, at least around here they have.

[vjls]

well my caregiver wood put in hopper and as we are not bitterly cold like u guys it should last me 3 to 4 day a 40lb bag is 5.99 and I really would not go thru that many

[graybeard]

You don't like the gas fireplace? I think they are really the way to go, rather than wood. A friend has one in Her house and I was surprised how well they work. Wood is a PIA to deal with, especially if you're in a wheelchair.

I can agree that wood is rough, but I like the work. Most times I can use my power chair to wheel the wood in and stack it on a rack. Cutting up logs is a challenge that is doable as long as they're aren't too big in diameter. If I had to use just my wheelchair, yeah buddy, that would be a dealbreaker. I imagine as I get a lot older, gas would be the go to heat choice. Just not enamored with it right now.