mobile home

How to Make Your Mobile Home Handicap Accessible

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Although 6.8 million Americans require mobility devices for their daily lives, half of these individuals report that they need to contend with stairs when entering and exiting their homes. This puts unnecessary strain on the millions of people with accessibility needs, so it’s important to eliminate the problem wherever possible.

A mobile home is an excellent solution because you can add handicap accessible features to it quickly and easily. Read on to learn how you can upgrade your mobile home features to make it more handicap friendly.

Why Mobile Homes?

Mobile homes are an often-overlooked choice for anyone looking for a place to live. Renting a mobile home is significantly cheaper than renting a manufactured house in most cases. Sometimes the rent is only $300 per month!

If you plan to remain in one place for a long time, you can also buy a mobile home. Assuming that you choose a quality home in the right location, this is a wonderful and less-expensive alternative to traditional housing.

One of the biggest benefits of mobile homes is that they are extremely customizable. If you have someone in your household with accessibility needs, you can add features to your home without needing to rip it apart. You can simply remove an area of your wall, extend it with other portable materials, and enjoy your renovations within a day or two.

Wide Doorways

One of the easiest features that you can adjust on a mobile home is your doorways. Most doors span 24″ or 26″ across, which makes accommodating a mobility device difficult. You can have 36″ doors easily installed into your mobile home to ensure that those in wheelchairs and walkers can easily move between rooms.

With a permanent home, you would need to demolish your doorway and rebuild it to make this happen. However, in a mobile home, you can simply remove parts of the wall around your door to make it bigger. This simple process is a great way to ensure that you or your handicapped loved ones can easily experience every part of the space.

Wheelchair Ramps

Wide indoor and outdoor doorways aren’t the only things that wheelchair-bound individuals need to move freely. They also need ramps to get into the home.

Make sure that you install a wheelchair ramp that leads into your wide front door. Include an open space behind the door so that the wheelchair can easily maneuver and get into different areas of the home.

You also will want to install ramps that allow easy access to various rooms. The bathroom is a critical one since those in wheelchairs will likely need a ramp to get to the toilet. Make sure that you include handrails at the top of the ramp so that individuals with mobility needs can get onto and off the toilet.

Handrails

Speaking of handrails, you likely should incorporate this feature throughout more areas of your home. They aren’t just grab bars for bathrooms- they can offer a sense of safety and stability throughout the home. This is especially the case for hallways and narrower passageways within your space.

Handrails can also be useful around the entrance and exit of your home. They’re also good for spaces where handicapped individuals might transition between rooms. If people move from one wheelchair to another (or to a walker) at a specific location, grab bars may also help to make this transition easier.

A Walk-In Shower

An accessible bathroom isn’t just one that features handrails. It also needs a shower large enough to accommodate a wheelchair. While people aren’t going to shower inside their wheelchair, they’ll need the space so that they can transition into a bath chair that makes bathing a simpler process.

Make sure that the walk-in shower is at least as wide as your doorways. It probably should be wider so that moving between mobility devices is even easier. It’s easy to install these features in a mobile home, so make sure that you ask about getting them put into your house.

More Open Spaces

An open floor plan might be difficult to implement after your mobile home is built and purchased. While it’s possible, you would need to alter the entire structure of the building’s interior. Luckily, it’s more than possible to find a mobile home that already has more open spaces.

A wider space lets those in wheelchairs maneuver easily throughout their homes. They don’t need to worry about moving around tight spaces and trying to get from room to room. They also don’t need to worry about moving through hallways or getting onto wheelchair ramps since they’ll have the space needed to do so.

Higher Countertops

Most countertops are made to sit around chest height for a person who is standing. Unfortunately, those in wheelchairs (or people slouched over walkers) can’t easily access these countertops. They would need to use their arm strength to pull themselves up towards the countertop, which isn’t even possible for many people.

Make sure that you talk to a mobile home builder about installing countertops at wheelchair height. Those in these chairs will then have the freedom to cook and access kitchen tools on their own. They also can use the surface as a table where they can eat, write, or go on the computer.

 

Rent or Buy a Mobile Home

While most regular houses struggle with handicap accessibility, mobile homes don’t have this issue. You can easily remedy it by talking to professionals and adding new features to their design.

Now that you know how you can make a mobile home more accessible, it’s time to get started. We’re committed to helping you find homes to buy or rent. Contact us with any remaining questions that you have about living in a modular home with special needs.

Mobile Home Windows

The Ultimate Guide to Replacing Mobile Home Windows

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Have you noticed that your mobile home has felt drafty and cold this winter, and have your power bills been on the rise? Do you ever look at the outside of your house and wish it looked a little brighter or newer? Have you noticed fog inside your window panes or damage on your window frames? 

If any of this sounds familiar, it may be time to replace your mobile home windows. Read on to learn what’s involved with this process and discover which windows are the right choice for you.

Benefits Of Replacing Mobile Home Windows

Before we dive into the details of how to replace mobile home windows, let’s talk some about the benefits of doing so. Old windows can be leaky and may not do a good job of keeping your home insulated during extreme weather. You’ll likely save a lot on your heating and cooling bills by replacing your old windows. 

Window replacement can also be a great way to breathe new life into your home. Worn-out windows with torn screens and beat-up frames can make your mobile home look dilapidated. New windows can make everything seem brighter and cleaner, both inside and out.

Signs You Need New Mobile Home Windows

So how do you know when it’s time to replace your mobile home windows? One of the first things you may notice is fog or condensation building up between the panes in your windows. This means that the seal on these panes has been broken and moisture (and heat) are leaking through.

You may also notice that your mobile home feels drafty, especially around the windows, and that your power bill is high. Aluminum window frames may begin to rust, wood frames might rot, swell, or crack, and your glass may become scratched or clouded. And, of course, if you still have single-pane windows, it’s a good idea to replace them no matter what sort of condition they’re in.

Types Of Windows 

There are a few different types of windows you can choose from for your mobile home replacement. Casement windows hinge open from the side, like a door, and can provide excellent ventilation for your home. You may also want to look at awning windows, which hinge from the top and swing open from the bottom. 

Hung windows slide up and down and may be either single-hung (with one fixed panel) or double-hung (with two panels that move independently). Sliding windows glide side to side on a track, much like a sliding glass door. Bay windows project out from the home in an arc, and fixed windows are simple panes of glass that offer tremendous views.

Window Materials

In addition to different mobile home window styles, you can also get window frames in different materials. Most of the time, in mobile homes, you’ll be able to pick between vinyl frames and aluminum frames.

Vinyl window frames are can be energy efficient, come in several color options, and can have a good lifespan. However, these frames are not as durable as aluminum and may become discolored or cracked over the years.

Aluminum window frames are a little more affordable than vinyl windows and are incredibly strong. Their main drawback is that they only come in one finish, and they don’t offer the best look for the outside of your home.

Picking The Right Type For You

So how do you decide which window type and material are going to be best for your mobile home? You need to start by taking a hard look at your budget and how many windows you have to replace. Your budget may make aluminum windows the best option, or you may be able to afford to upgrade to vinyl if you’re only replacing a few windows.

While budget is a factor in deciding what type of windows you want, there are a few other things to look at as well. If you’re considering casement or awning windows, check if there are any obstacles the window will run into when you open it. Also, think about how much ventilation you need and what’s going to be most accessible for you to use. 

Standard Window Sizes 

In general, mobile homes have different standard window sizes than fixed homes do. However, depending on how handy you are, you may be able to cut your mobile home to fit a standard fixed house window size. Since the walls are thinner and require less framing, it can be simpler to adjust these sizes. 

Mobile home windows come in one of three standard sizes: 30” by 60”, 36” by 60”, and 36” by 54”. You can also get custom-sized windows if you need or want alternate sizes in your home. You can even get windows in custom shapes, including round windows, octagon windows, and so on.

Learn More About Mobile Home Windows 

Replacing your mobile home windows can be a great way to breathe new life into your home. You can save money on your power bills, have a more comfortable home, and be proud of how your home looks inside and out. All you have to do is decide which size, type, and the frame material are right for your home.

If you’d like to learn more about mobile home windows, check out the rest of our site at Manufactured & Mobile Homes. We have information about everything from mobile home living and parks to dealers and design options. Join our community today and start making your mobile home your forever home.