Manufactured homes are becoming more popular as affordable housing options, but they still need their challenges. One of these challenges is building stairs in a manufactured home. Manufactured home stairs can be tricky because they have to conform to specific regulations, and construction materials must be carefully chosen to ensure safety. Fortunately, with the correct information and a little elbow grease, you can quickly build your own mobile home steps!
What Are Manufactured Home?
A manufactured home is a mobile structure built in a controlled setting and transported to its final location. Manufactured homes are not trailers, although many people use the terms interchangeably. They differ from conventional houses in several ways, including:
- The construction materials used to make them (see “What Are Manufactured Home Stairs?” below)
- Their mobility (they can be easily moved from one location to another)
What Are Manufactured Home Stairs?
Manufactured home stairs are a relatively new innovation in the construction industry. They’re similar to conventional stairs in that they help you move from one level to another, but there are some key differences. In most cases, manufactured home stairs are meant for use inside a single-car garage or other small structure with no staircase already installed. Manufactured home stairs can be built on-site when you purchase your home and installed by professionals—or you could DIY it yourself if you feel comfortable doing so!
Building Regulations
A lot of people think they can save money by building their stairs, but this is different. Even if you’re a skilled carpenter, building regulations are very specific and often require specific materials to be used. Building safety inspectors may feel uncomfortable approving a stairway that doesn’t meet these codes, which means you could lose your warranty if something goes wrong later on.
It’s also essential to ensure that any professional installation company has proper permits for their work. They should have liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance if anyone gets hurt while working on their home improvement project.
Commonly Used Materials For Manufactured Home Stairs
Manufactured home stairs are available in a wide variety of materials. Some of the most common options include:
- Aluminum: Durable, lightweight, and low maintenance. However, it is not fire-resistant and can be slippery when wet.
- Vinyl: More affordable than wood and other options but durable with good longevity. Unlike aluminum, vinyl is fire retardant, making it safer for use in homes with children or pets living there full time.
- Wood: A popular choice because of its visual appeal but also less sturdy than aluminum or vinyl, so it will likely require more frequent repairs as they age over time, unless you opt for hardwood steps instead, which do tend to last longer due to their density (think oak). However, like any wood product exposed outdoors regularly (like those on your front porch), they may need regular maintenance, such as repainting every few years or so, to prevent weather damage from occurring over time.
Manufactured Home Stairs Checklist
Before you begin building your new portable stairs, make sure to check the following:
- Make sure the ground is level and even so that there won’t be any unevenness when you step on them. It’s best if they’re perfectly flat, but even a slight difference can throw off your balance and cause you to lose your footing.
- Strong enough to bear your weight. Since these stairs are made of wood, they can easily break under pressure or if they’re too thin/thinly spaced (try not to overdo it), so don’t go overboard with height when building them! If you’re unsure how much weight they can hold, it’s better to err on the side of caution here—you don’t want anyone falling because their steps gave way underfoot!
Conclusion
The main thing to remember when considering steps for your manufactured home is that many options are available. The most important thing is finding something that works for you and the space in question.