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Different Sizes of Pitched Roofs on Manufactured Homes

The roof pitch on a manufactured home varies along the whole range of possibilities. Single-wide trailers will typically have flat to low-pitched roofs, while modular homes can have high pitched roof. A double-wides fall somewhere in the middle. Once you've determined the pitch of your roof there are some important things to know about maintaining each.
  1. Flat or Low-pitched

    • Low end double-wide trailers will have low-pitched roofs

      Anything under 3.5/12, that's 3.5 inches of rise for every 12 inches of run, is considered a low-pitched roof. This includes flat roofs such as those found on most single-wide trailers and campers. These roofs require special coverings and maintenance because of the increased likelihood for leaks. However, they are cheaper to construct and therefore will be most commonly found on less expensive buildings. It is important to never use asphalt shingles on these roofs because of their tendency to allow for pooling water which can seep under the shingles.

    Mid-pitch

    • A typical mid-pitch roof

      The majority of roofs in the United States will fall into the mid-pitch category. This means that they will have a pitch which is somewhere between 3.5/12 and 7.5/12. In other words, 3.5 inches of rise per 12 inches of run or 7.5 inches of rise for 12 inches of run. These roofs provide for adequate runoff and can be covered with asphalt shingles. These roofs can also be easily walked by homeowners without the need for special equipment and safety gear. This makes the maintenance of these roofs more accessible to homeowners without the need to hire a roofing company. These roofs are very common among double-wide trailers and can be found on some high-end single-wides, as well as low-end modular homes.

    Steep-pitch

    • A steep pitched roof which will require special skills and equipment for repairs

      Roofs with a steep pitch, that is anything over 7.5/12, should be left to the professionals. These roofs require special equipment to keep workers and materials from sliding off the roof when installing and repairing them. The trade off is that these roofs tend to last longer than mid- and low-pitched roofs. Typically, these roofs will only be found on modular homes within the manufactured homes selection.