Manufactured Home Roof Over Kits Guide: A Viable Roofing Solution

When the roof of your home begins to fail, you are left with just two choices:

replace the whole roof or
install a roof over.

What Is A Manufactured Home Roof Over Kit?

A manufactured roof over kit offers an easy-to-install option of revamping the roof on your home. A roof over is remarkably different from replacing your entire roof. To roof over your home means adding a new roofing material on top of the current roof.

This means you need to repair the damages on your current roof first before doing a roof over. Very little or no material will be removed from your existing roof.

What Are The Benefits?

Besides being easy and quick to install, roof overs brings several other benefits:

It can improve the aesthetics of your mobile home
It can improve the energy efficiency of your home during the winter or summer
If your roof is prone to destruction from environmental elements, a roof over would be a great thing to do
A roof over can increase the value of your home if you are planning to sell it

What’s the cost of opting for a roof over?

If you compare to the other option – replacing the whole roof – the roof over option is the cheapest of the two.

Of course, the overall cost will be determined by your location, the kind of material you choose to use, and whether you need an additional layer of insulation or not among other factors.

Labor costs can vary from place to place as well.

For the single-wide home, costs can be somewhere between $1,000 and $3,500
For the double-sided home, costs can be somewhere between $1,000 and $4,500

Three Roof Over Materials

Three often used roof over materials are:

PTO – Rubber
Metal/Aluminum
Asphalt

Flat roofs are no longer as popular as they used to be. That’s because of the burdensome maintenance and the recoating process that must be done once in a while. Lack of an overhang and gutter system makes flat roofs exceptionally susceptible to damage from water, debris, and snow accumulation.

Converting the flat roof into a pitched roof by adding a slanting overhang is one of the popular manufactured home improvement projects (in addition to kitchen & bathroom remodeling).

Rubber – PTO, and metal roof overs are preferable options for projects involving the conversion of flat roofs.

1. Metal

A typical aluminum roof over kit would come with a warranty of between 40 and 60 years. Another advantage is that you won’t incur high maintenance costs in the years of service.

Metal roofs are also more resistant to wear and tear than most other materials. So, if you have a few precious trees with branches hanging on the roof, you can rest assured that your roof will last with all that debris falling on it.

Because metal roof overs come at a high upfront cost, they can add value to the home.

If you choose to install them with insulation – which is reasonable because metal roofs can get very hot in the summer – you could see the cost rise to between $3,000 and $4,000 (single-wide) or $7,800 and $4,000 (double-wide) – that’s according to CostHelper.

2. PTO – Rubber

PTO, or Thermoplastic Polyolefin, is a reflective single-ply roofing membrane manufactured from ethylene-propylene rubber and polypropylene. These two plastics are polymerized together to form one of the most mold-resistant materials you could ever add on your roof.

The white membrane remains white for longer, regardless of the debris that accumulates on it. PTO comes as a simple roll that you can easily unroll on your prepared roof, stick or attach to the rest of the roof and leave it ready for performance. PTO is good for both flat and pitched roofs.

According to CostHelper, the cost of installing PTO, just like any other rubber and plastic-based roof over kit, is between $1,175 and $2,200 for a single-wide and between $1,500 and $3,600 for a double-wide. TPO membranes also have the advantage of being highly energy efficient.

However, because it is a fairly new membrane, the makers are still experimenting with several chemical formulas. This means the effectiveness and longevity of the material are uncertain.

3. Asphalt Shingles

This material should appear in the ‘materials to use with care’ list – asphalt shingles have a bad reputation when it comes to roof overs.

First, they are significantly heavy that adding a third layer would be an impossibility (remember you have an existing roof below the roof over). Also, the lifespan of asphalt is uncertain. Because the panels need to overlap with each other, asphalt isn’t a particularly watertight roof over option.

However, if you can let all these drawbacks slide, this is one of the cheapest options available to you. Asphalt roof overs for a single-wide home’s roof will cost you between $700 and $2000.

A double-wide will cost between $1,200 and $4,000. If you choose the correct design and color, they can turn your roof into an absolute gem.

Seven Things To Consider Before Installing The Mobile Home Roof Over

Rather than replacing your whole roof, you will be adding another layer of material on top of the existing roof. As such, there are a few things you need to consider in regards to this type of installation.

1. The Weight Of The Kit

It is easy to be carried away by the features of the kit such as the durability and the design aesthetics it will add on your roof. The weight of the kit is one of the most critical factors yet one of the often-ignored factors.

If some parts of your roof are delicate, it wouldn’t be a good idea to add a roof over that adds undue weight on it.

The weight of the kit should never surpass 190 lbs/ sq. ft. Anything in the region of 200 lbs/ sq. ft. risks damaging your roof.

I honestly don’t think there is any roof over kit in production with this weight.

2. The Type Of Material

What’s the roof over kit made from? The most often used materials are metal (Aluminum most of the time), rubber, PTO, and similar plastics such as EPDM, and asphalt in combination with rubber or other materials.

Each of these materials comes with pros and cons, thus would be suited for different roofing projects with different needs.

If you live in a hot climate area, you would want a roof over kit that will reflect much of the UV light and heat back into the atmosphere. An aluminum-based kit would be the best choice for your home.

3. The Roof Type

Also, the type of roof over kit will depend on the design of your roof. Manufactured homes come with two types of roofs:

the flat and
the pitched roof.

Flat roofs are mainly found in older mobile homes. If your roof is prone to mildew attack, for example, the best option for you would be PTO roof over kit.

Rubber, PTO, and aluminum-based kits are good for flat roofs as they withstand moisture penetration and the rot caused by the accumulated debris and snow.

Asphalt-based kits, however, work well on pitched roofs.

4. To Go Pro Or Not?

Many homeowners often find themselves split between hiring a professional to install the kit or installing it all by themselves.

If the kit supports DIY installation and you have all the skills it takes to install it, there is no good reason why you should waste your money on an expert to install it.

However, if the manufacturer recommends that the product should be installed by a qualified expert or you feel you don’t have the skill required to install it, it would be prudent to hire a qualified contractor to do it for you.

Sometimes the decision of whether to hire a professional or not depends on the kind of material you choose, the kind of roof on your home, and your budget for the project.

Asphalt-based kits can be complicated to handle, so they certainly will require a qualified professional.

Aluminum-based kits support DIY installation more than any other material. Pitched roofs are a bit hard to work on compared to flat roofs.

5. To Replace Or To Seal?

Whether to follow the replacement route or go ahead with sealing can depend on the purpose of the project. If your roof is prone to leaking, it only makes sense to replace the roof rather than add a roof over.

If you are doing it for aesthetic or insulation purposes, installing a roof over would be the right thing to do.

If you also consider the cost and amount of labor at hand, you are more likely to go the roof over way as complete roof replacement would cost you more and take a long time to complete.

6. Cost vs Functionality

Cost is an important factor worth considering. In this case, however, it would be thoughtful of you to consider the cost of the material of the roof over kit in relation to the functionality.

Will the kit meet your needs and still cost less?

Aluminum and TPO-based roof over tend to be affordable but if you are looking for more than looks, let’s say insulation, you will need to look at costlier rubber and polymer-based kits. Consider researching the materials of your choice before evaluating the Cost vs Functionality factor.

7. Fire Codes Of Your Area

What do your local area’s codes say about the kind of materials you add on your roof? The codes may restrict the use of flammable materials on any part of your home. Some areas have codes that stipulate the procedures and conditions for adding materials on every part of the home, from the deck to the roof. Familiarize yourself with local code before embarking on your roof over the project.

Manufactured Home Roof Over Kits – 4 Recommendations

1. Peel & Seal™ 6” X 33.5’ Roof Over Kit

This self-adhering roof over kit is waterproof and also comes with a reflective aluminum surface.

Measuring 6” Width x 33.5’ Length, one unit can fit on an average single-wide home. The best part is that it is capable of stretching to accommodate the natural contraction and expansion of your roofing parts.

The aluminum surface reflects much of the heat and UV rays back into the atmosphere, helping your home say cool without even activating the A/C system.

The rubberized asphalt seals tightly around punctures and on overlaps. Not only is it long-lasting but also requires very little or no coating.

2. Aluma-Kote Aluminum Roof Coating

This 4.75 US Gallons of reflective liquid Asphalt-Aluminum roof over was specifically designed for roofs on mobile homes. It gives two attributes to your roof: high reflectivity and resistance to moisture penetration.

With this roof over kit on your roof, you could cut your energy consumption by about 20 percent.

It is reinforced with fiber to provide the much-needed durability. One gallon of the liquid can cover 75 sq. ft of the roof.

3. Fox Lite® 24″ x 48″ Tinted Polycarbonate Surface Mount Skylight

If you are looking for a roof over option that would let plenty of natural light into your home and still protect the interior from the insults of nature just perfectly, you need to try out this product.

You will save a lot on money in lighting because it removes the need for artificial lighting most of the time in a day.

The kit entails pre-punched flanges that make the installation process easy as ABC. The best part is that you can easily install it on virtually any kind of roof.

You are free to mount it flat on your metal roof or directly between your roof decking and shingles. It comes in two panes, meaning you are well protected from heat from the sun.

4. RecPro® Roofing Superflex Extreme Duty PVC Rubber Roofing Membrane

This single-ply membrane is about half the weight of EPDM – 165 lbs/ sq. ft. compared to EPDM at 29 lbs/ sq. Ft.

It is the perfect roof over option if you are looking for a product that won’t fade, chalk, of leave streaks running into the gutter.

It is offered in 9.5” Width x 114” Length but you can choose any dimension you want.

The concept of self-supporting roof overs

Older homes or those whose roofing structure can’t bear the weight of the roof over kit, new roof, or the weight of contractors, require beam framing and posts to dissipate the weight back on the ground.

Therefore, installing roof overs on such roofs can be a challenge. However, should own the land on which your home is standing because these beams turn your mobile home it a permanent residence. [[’’

Three Dos And Four Don’ts When Installing A Manufactured Home Roof Over Kit

There are a few things you should do and others you shouldn’t do when selecting a roof over kit and installing on your home:

Three DOs

1. DO determine the current condition of your roof

Installing a quality roof over kit on a damaged or badly laid roof will certainly end in a disappointment. Take some time and inspect your roof to ensure that it is on the good state before embarking on your room over project.

2. Do make proper estimates and measurements

You don’t want to buy an insufficient kit that would leave you taking a second and a third turn back to the store. Also, buying excess materials would be a waste of money because the remaining materials might never be put to use after the conclusion of the project.

3. Do check fire ratings

What is the fire and wind rating of the roof over kit of your choice? You don’t want to add a fire hazard on your roof. Also, check the wind rating of the kit. It all boils down to your safety.

Four DON’Ts

1. DON’T rely too much on the kit’s warranty

Don’t pay a lot of attention to the warranty.

After all, the warranty will only cater to the manufacturer defects – you will cover for all other defects.

So, regardless of the quality of the kit’s warranty, it is prudent to install the kit with care and schedule regular maintenance.

2. DON’T try to install the roof over alone unless you are sufficiently

The easiest way of ruining the kit or even doing a shoddy job is attempting to install the kit when you don’t have the necessary expertise. The roof over kit may appear easy to install at the sheer look at it, but intricate in reality.

3. DON’T assume all materials are the same

This is why you need to conduct a lot of research on each material before choosing any kit.

The different types of materials used to make the roof over kits come with different properties that can be used to meet specific needs.

4. DON’t block ventilation

Ensure that the installation work does not interfere with the existing ventilation infrastructure.

Identify the vulnerable points and cover them before starting the installation work.

Conclusion

Whether you need a roof over for insulation purposes of improving the appearance of your roof, consider the codes and standards of your area as well as the weight per square foot of the material.

Your mobile home roofing options will be limited to four commonly used materials:

PTO
asphalt shingles
metals (aluminum)
and rubber.