Ideas on How to Remodel a Manufactured Home

New Paint

• The largest surface in a manufactured home, and the one that gets the most scrutiny is the walls. A good place to begin in remodeling is with a fresh coat of paint. Paint is cheap, simple and can change the entire look and feel of your space. Take the time to prime the walls for brighter colors. Tape off along the edges and use drop cloths to make cleanup easy. Patch any holes or cracks in the walls with vinyl infused drywall compound. Use the best-quality rollers and brushes you can afford and a good quality paint. Exterior paint has a similar effect on the outside of the house. If the house has vinyl or metal siding, give the trim a fresh coat of paint to brighten it up and use a pressure washer to clean the siding.

Flooring

• One area where any homeowners attempt to save money is in the flooring, and this is especially so with manufactured homes, where a step down in options can mean big savings. Unfortunately, cheaper laminates do not hold up as well as manufactured and genuine hardwoods. Installing most flooring is simple enough for even beginners to handle and makes a big difference. Use the floating installation method for the fastest and easiest installation, requiring no glues or fasteners. You can install your floor on top of the existing floor in most cases, adding a layer of sound insulation.

Windows and Doors

• New windows and doors are a little more expensive, but not much more difficult to install than new flooring and paint. Take careful measurements and order your windows to fit. Custom-built windows are slightly more than inexpensive off the shelf vinyl windows, but the savings in utility savings will make up for it. Install pre-hung doors that come already attached to the frame. Upgrade to nicer doors, featuring quality hardware and better finishes than the originals.

Cabinets

• Kitchen cabinets are another area where many homeowners assume that getting the look they want is the most important factor. This can lead to choosing cheaper options on finish and hardware that will not hold up to daily use. Replace the existing cabinets with higher-quality units, or replace hardware and add moldings to the existing cabinets to dress them up.

Plumbing and Electrical

• Of course making any needed repairs to these systems should be your priority, but in terms of visible changes, replacing fixtures to update style is key. Most faucets, light fixtures and other visible plumbing and electrical elements are simple to trade out for a new finish or style. Be sure to disconnect the power, or turn off the water meter before making changes. Always test new fixtures and elements thoroughly on installation. Problems are easiest to fix at that time, before any damage might occur.