Before installing insulation in a mobile home, it is essential to repair any damage and remove existing insulation. Fill holes with insulation stuffing or wood cutouts to seal the holes, and if water has accumulated, dry it completely to eliminate mold growth. The underbelly of a manufactured home, also known as the bottom board, belly, barrier, bottom wrap, sheeting, belly paper, or closure, protects the insulation and keeps out moisture and pests.
Installing insulation in a mobile home can reduce utility costs and increase family comfort. Insulating under a mobile home floor optimizes heating and cooling ventilation, saving money on energy costs long-term. To install floor insulation, follow the step-by-step instructions. One cost-effective method is expanding spray foam insulation, which can be applied using adhesive spray.
To repair an existing underbelly, cut a piece of polyethylene slightly larger than the hole being patched and clean around the area to be repaired. Replace pink insulation and staple chicken wire to hold it up, or use adhesive spray to attach a piece of underbelly material securely over the damaged spot. Foam board has a lower R-value than batt insulation, so remove the belly board and insulation in wet areas and let everything dry out. Most mobile home particle board floors are 5/8″ thick, but they may appear thicker due to swelling when wet.
In summary, installing insulation in a mobile home is a cost-effective and efficient home improvement project that can save you money on energy costs and improve your family’s comfort.
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Spray-contact-cement, a coat on both surfaces to be joined, really makes a better quality bond than most tapes and is easier to do. After doing plumbing repairs and having to cut into my belly pan, I cut out over sized patches of billboard tarp, sprayed their perimeter and the perimeter around the removed sections of the repair area, gave them a minute or two to get tacky and then just overlaid the patches over the repair areas.
Hi there, great article! Recently my wife and I have been interested in buying a mobile home (saskatchewan). I have a quick question, why is it only fabric underneath the mobile home and why isnt it, say, sheet wood or a more durable material? Wouldnt it make sense to have a plastic material or solid material secured to the bottom of those floor joists for a secure barrier to keep heat in and moisture from the ground out? Not to mention wouldn’t it protect the insulation more? Thanks! Im genuinely curious as it seems like the material would get tarnished due to it being exposed under the mobile home. Take care.
You’re so right about rodents getting in if they really want to. 😄 There are lots of rats in our area and no matter how well I fix the underbelly they easily get in. They also dig quite deep so easily get under the skirting. This summer I’ll be taking extreme measures to keep them out. They may ultimately be smarter than me but I’ll try!