4 General Questions about Mobile Home Additions
This week in our Ask a Mobile Home Expert we are going to answer 4 of our most common questions about mobile home additions.
It’s not hard to grow out of a home. We had two adults, a child, and 3 fur babies living in a 1978 single wide with 696 square feet of living space. I often dreamed of building an addition onto the home!
The following questions about mobile home additions cover topics such as adding a garage, living in a home while the addition is being built, and cost of an addition.
4 Common Questions about Mobile Home Additions
These questions were asked in the comment section of our very informative article about building mobile home additions found here.
Can I Add a Garage Beside My Manufactured Home?
I have a 1300 sq ft home on permanent foundation in rural Colorado. Last year I had cedar log siding put on the outside (big improvement).
Is it possible to add to end of the place an attached double car garage with small apartment above? My building department told me if I add 33% SQ footage to the home, it changes from mobile to standard construction. I am thinking a 20 x25 addition. An apartment could be rental income.
I bet your home is gorgeous with that cedar siding!
You should have no issues building a separate garage with a second story beside your manufactured home assuming it meets your local codes.
Additions aren’t truly attached to manufactured homes. They must be built as a completely separate structure with its own foundational support. Typically, an addition to a manufactured home will be close to the home and then sealed together at the roof and sides. Siding is then wrapped around to create the illusion of a single home. Structurally, the manufactured home will move, settle separate from the addition of any size.
Structurally, the manufactured home will move and settle separately from the addition.
Make sure to research insurance and tax increases if your home changes to real property. Manufactured homes usually have low taxes so if you transition the home into real property your tax liability may increase significantly.
The Directory of Mobile Home Manuals may help you find more information about your specific builder’s suggestions here.
Related: How to Make Your Manufactured Home Look More Like a Site-Built Home
How Much Does a Mobile Home Addition Cost?
I’m looking to add a bedroom onto my mobile home. Can it be done at $2000 or under? I’m thinking either a nursery or the master. Thinking if I’m going to add might as well get a bigger bedroom. I’m assuming I have footings because I don’t have blocks.
I’m thinking either a nursery or a master bedroom. Thinking if I’m going to add might as well get a bigger bedroom. I’m assuming I have footings because I don’t have blocks.
The simple answer to your question is no. There is little chance that you can legally build a complete bedroom addition for less than $2000. Materials alone will cost at least $2000 and then you have labor and inspections to pay for.
The foundation of your manufactured home will not matter because the addition must be built as a completely separate structure. New footers or slab foundation (depending on code) will be required for the addition.
Here is a great resource from HUD about manufactured home foundations that explains everything.
Can you Live in the Home While Building a Mobile Home Addition?
Is it possible to live in the main home while the addition is being built and sealed or is there a certain point when you have to move out for a bit? Even if hiring contractors and builders.
Yes, you should be able to live in your home while building a mobile home addition. Since the addition is a completely separate structure you can absolutely live in the home during construction. Only when you are cutting through to ‘attach’ the two together will there be any activity done to the home itself.
Can I Move a Mobile Home Addition?
Can the addition be moved together with the mobile home when we have to move? Or will the addition have to stay?
If the addition is properly built it can typically be moved. It will be transported via a flatbed truck (assuming it’s not too large). Then it will be installed beside the home once the foundation or footers have been laid for each.
Transportation companies will charge extra for that service so make sure to factor it into the overall cost.
Our Ask a Mobile Home Expert Series Continues Next Week
We hope these questions about mobile home additions will help if you decide to build your own addition.
Be sure to check out our complete guide to mobile home additions here to learn more about the process.
Also, don’t forget to comment below if you have questions about mobile home additions! Thanks so much for reading Mobile Home Living!
Disclosure: Any answers to the questions about mobile home additions are only suggestions. The questions posed and any recommendations or information provided herein should not be used as a substitute of an expert or any relevant professional that has inspected the issues in person.
This post is excellent, and answers so many of my own questions. But I need to clarify: If I connect a carport or garage to my mobile home via the roof and/or siding, that would be legal, as opposed to connecting the two structures with framework, is that right? I understand the whole separate-foundation part, but I think I’ve been misunderstanding the rest. I thought “separate structures” meant completely separate, including the roof. I hope I’m finally getting this to make sense!
Hi Robynne,
It is confusing and I’m not the best at explaining things. To make the additions look like they are a part of the home the siding, roofing, etc. is actually attached or connected to the home. It won’t be ‘structurally’ attached via framing or foundation but it will look as if it is. Roofing has to be attached so there are no leaks. Siding and skirting are installed around the home and addition to create cohesion and hide the fact that the home is not actually part of the home but a separate structure. (Of course, there is a lot more to it but that should help clarify.)
Thank you!