Building Your Own Mobile Home Steps
Buying mobile home steps is usually the most convenient option but you can always build your own! If you have some construction experience you should have no problems.
Calculating the stringer cuts and slope is probably the most difficult part of the entire mobile home step building process. Luckily, there are several step calculators online that will help you.
Difference: Mobile Home Steps And Mobile Home Stairs
Though these two terms often get used to describe the same thing, there is actually a technical difference between them. The term steps is used when 3 or less risers are used. While the term stairs is used when 4 or more risers are used. So, to remember this, keep in mind that generally it is a small set of STEPS and a large set of STAIRS. But, for more useful understanding of the differences, you will need learn the definition of the term riser in the context of stairs and steps engineering.
Wait Are They Manufactured Home Steps Or Stairs
There is a distinction between stairs and steps, but most people use the terms interchangeably. Technically, stairs have four or more risers while steps have three or less risers. A riser is the near-vertical element in a set of stairs that forms the space between one step and the next.
This means that if your manufactured home isnt more than one storey, you will only need to construct steps to help you get in and out of your house. However, if it is, you will require a staircase to reach the first floor or second.
You May Like: When To Fertilize The Lawn
Duragrip* Ii Fiberglass 3 Steps
The Dura Grip II Fiberglass steps have a 12 landing surface the wider the landing the less likely you are to take a tumble due to missed steps. If someone has a tough time getting up and down, wider steps can help.
The Dura Grip II series offers a textured stone-like surface that provides better footing and a 10 year manufacturers warranty.
Check For Porch Level And Stability
The porch roof will obviously sit on the porch, so you need to ensure that the porch is on a perfect level crown and is not tilted towards any side. If at all your porch is not on an ideal level, you may get it done as soon as possible. Do not start the process until your porch is stable and sturdy.
Also Check: Hot Tub Gazebo Cover
How To Build Mobile Home Steps
There are two categories of manufactured homes steps. The first category is mill-made steps, which are usually fabricated in a factory and then transported and installed into your home. The second category is the carpenter-built steps, which are constructed on the job site by a carpenter.
Carpenter-built manufactured home steps are less expensive and allow the homeowner to customize their home. For instance, you can choose the finishes you want including colors and other special feature you want to be included.
When constructing prefab home steps, functionality is the most important consideration you should make. For a safe design, you must be accurate in every measurement you take and in every phase of the stair construction. A slight mistake can mess up the entire process of building steps for your home.
As said earlier in this article, the homes steps construction process must adhere to strict construction standards. This means that you or your contractor must first understand these building codes before they commence the construction process.
Once you have determined the correct requirements for your home steps, its time to think about the steps design aspects. You shouldnt forget that your choice of materials will dictate the outcome and high-quality materials will offer you robust and beautiful mobile home stairs.
Here is a guide to help you build wooden steps for your mobile home.
To Roof Or Not To Roof
One of the first questions you should ask yourself when installing a porch is whether you should or not. Secondly, what kind of roof you want to install. These questions will have a considerable bearing on the whole project from the time it takes to complete the structure of the railing to the weight its meant to support.
A roof on your porch can have a number of benefits. It shields the deck of the porch and the home from bad weather, and it creates a pleasant shaded area in which to relax. However, it will also come with extra responsibilities.
The HUD Code has very strict requirements on how to attach the roof of an addition to your mobile home. You might also require additional or more stringent permits.
You May Like: How To Replace Webbing On Patio Chairs
Be Knowledgeable Before You Decide To Make The Big Purchase
And, thats all you need to know when it comes to premade steps for mobile homes. Remember to try and find examples of what other people have done online before you make up your mind, there is always a wealth of interesting and exciting ideas, tips, and tricks that might surprise you. You might also want to tackle this as part of a larger mobile home exterior remodel. Weve got a whole series to help you with this type of project.
Manufactured Home Fiber Glass Stairs 2 Steps
Ideal for those homeowners who want to connect a relatively small area of their home with the ground.
Weighing around 80lbs this stair is quite portable and is easy to move from one point to the other.
With a width of 36, a total depth of 48 and height of 32: it does weigh only 135 pounds making it quite portable and easy to handle.
It also does have a sturdy wooden frame, making it quite durable and reliable.
Also Check: How To Hang Patio Lights
Mobile Home Stairs And Landing Requirements
Steps and landings are required at all outside entrances including patio doors and must be in place before inspection. Stairs and landings must be free standing with no attachments to the manufactured home. Stairs and landings must be constructed meeting the requirements of the current adopted edition of the International Residential Code . Post must be securely anchored in ground with concrete or other approved means.
Landings A minimum 3ft x 3 ft landing is required on each side of an egress door. The floor or landing shall not be more than 1 ½ inches lower than the top of the threshold. For doors other than the required egress door, the floor or landing can be up to 7 ¾ inches below the top of the threshold if the door, other than a screen door, does not swing over the landing.
StepsRisers shall be 7 ¾ inches maximum in height and the tread depth shall be a minimum of 10 inches. A nosing not less than ¾ inches and not more than 1 ¼ inches shall be provided on all stairs with solid risers. The tread depth is measured horizontally from nosing to nosing.
HandrailsHandrails having minimum and maximum heights of 30 inches and 38 inches, respectively, measured vertically from the nosing of treads shall be provided on at least one side of the of stairways of four or more risers. All handrails shall be continuous the full length of the stairs and have a grasping surface with a circular cross sectional dimension of 1 ¼ inches minimum to 2 5/8 inches maximum
Mobile Home Steps And Stairs Examples
For every mobile home there is a different design for the steps. You will find hundreds of variations and ideas are available as you begin to search for the right option for you. At the end of the search you will be faced with one of the these options:
- Purchase Pre-Made Mobile Home Steps A popular option for those who lack the tools, know how, ambition, physical ability or time to build their own stairs. In many cases purchasing pre-made mobile home steps can often be a way to save money when you incorporate the time and/or trial and error involved in most installations.
- Build Your Own Mobile Home Steps For those that prefer to get their hands dirty and dont mind a challenge, you can choose to build your own. Your building material choices are only limited by your access to equipment and experience. This is a popular option if you have an excess of time but a limited budget. Especially if you choose to build your mobile home stairs from wood.
You May Like: How To Mix 24d For Lawns
Install The Risers And Treads
User your power miter saw to trim the raisers to the correct length .
Fasten the risers one by one to the stringers with deck screws
Once the risers have been installed, the next job would be to fasten all the treads with 3 deck screws.
It is recommended that you leave 1/8 ¼ space between two treads all the way up.
Also, note that the 4 x 4 posts often used to provide support for the handrail tend to be bolted onto the stringers before you install the treads.
Mobile Home Porch Design Ideas
When it comes to mobile home porches, the design ideas are truly endless, and they can be as simple or as complicated as a homeowner chooses. Heres a look at some popular porch designs:
Gable roof porch design:
These are simpler types of porch designs, which consist of a deck area outside of the front door and a gable roof, which is characterized by a roof with two sloping sides and gable at the end of each side
Flat roof porches:
If your mobile home has a flat roof, then a flat roof porch would likely be the best option for you. Flat roof porches are also ideal for mobile home units that dont have extensive roof clearances.
Porch/deck combination:
Another type of porch design is one that includes a gable roof porch and an adjacent deck. The deck portion would likely extend right off the porch itself.
Screened porch:
For those that want to extend the available living space of their mobile homes, a screened in porch is likely the answer. Whats nice about screened in porches is that such screens can also be added to an existing porch.
Freestanding porch:
If your mobile home is placed on a larger lot, a freestanding porch could be an attractive option. Freestanding porches are either a flat roof or gable roof porches that simply exist within the lot. In other words, they arent built adjacent to the mobile home.
Read Also: Pergola Roofs That Open And Close
How Much Will It Cost
A good question indeed. We would be lying if we told you exactly what your mobile home porch would cost to build. It depends mostly on the size of the porch, at what prices you can get the materials, and how much of the labor you will be taking on yourself. Another significant factor is whether you will buy a prefabricated kit or build it from the ground up yourself.
Your porch will consist mostly of wood which is readily available and not too expensive. You should be able to get a close enough quote if you go to your local hardware store with the dimensions of your porch. A kit should cost you between $15-$30 per square foot while hiring a contractor could run up to $10,000. Just buying the materials and doing it yourself should cost around $2,000-$5,000 depending on what kind of porch you build.
Pressure Treated Wooden Steps With Metal Framing
The steps are pine and have been treated so that they can handle the seasons and have the strength to support you as you go in and out of your home. Holding the steps in place is a cross-braced metal frame. This step style comes in various sizes so it is an economical choice whether it is a big or small help needed. The pressure treated wooden steps come with a hand rail, so there is no need to purchase them separately.
Read Also: How Tall Does A Lavender Patio Tree Grow
How To Build A Four
The nature of mobile homes is such that a porch and steps are a common home addition. This is not a difficult task and the do-it-yourself home owner can do this with just a little bit of wood working knowledge. Follow the steps below to know how to build a porch on a mobile home.
The nature of mobile homes is such that a porch and steps are a common home addition. This is not a difficult task and the do-it-yourself home owner can do this with just a little bit of wood working knowledge. Follow the steps below to know how to build a porch on a mobile home.
Roofing Considerations For A New Porch
The roof of your new porch will impact your home significantly. Youll have to consider the rise and run of the roof and how it will be incorporated into the roof on the home. Most professionals suggest that porch roofs have a minimum 3/12 pitch, meaning the roof rises 3 for every 1 foot of length. This provides adequate rain and snow runoff.
Turning a Deck into a Porch Weight Support Differences
If you have a deck that you want to turn into a covered porch youll have to consider a few things. Ideally, the best scenario would have been building the roof when you built the deck because there are footing and weight considerations to take into account.
While its a great project, youll have to ensure that your deck can handle the added weight of the roof. Porches must support 80 lbs per square foot. Decks only need to support 55 lbs.
Heres what Decks.com had to say:
Read Also: How To Build A Pergola On Your Deck
Mobile Home Steps Vs Stairs
Although you may often see them utilized interchangeably, steps and stairs are technically different structures. Use the term steps when referring to mobile home entrances with three or fewer risers. Use the term stairs when pointing to four or more risers. To make it easier to remember, steps are generally smaller than stairs.
Wait Are They Mobile Home Steps Or Stairs
There is a difference between steps and stairs but we usually use one word to describe both.
Technically, steps have three or less risers and stairs have four or more. Of course, youll need to know what a riser is to understand this difference. Below are the basic terms used when talking about steps or stairs:
Recommended Reading: Propane Fire Pit Patio Set
Professionally Made Mobile Home Steps Promote Safety
If you have children or elderly family members and friends, this probably concerns you. But the idea of spending a ton of money on a few steps concerns you as well. Fortunately, when you deal with the right company, a small job like building a set of mobile home steps can be completed quickly and rather inexpensively.
That is why you may consider having a professional build a set of safe and sturdy mobile home steps. And decks which move you in and out of your manufactured home are even safer than a simple series of steps. If you need handicapped access provided, an inclined ramp made of sturdy decking material might be the way to go.
Not to mention the fact that a deck, whether attached to or separate from your living area, can deliver multiple outdoor living and entertaining options. Think about it. When you get a decking contractor quote you on building a set of mobile home steps, what will it hurt to ask how much a deck would cost you? You are under no obligation, and your total investment might be more attractive than you can imagine.
Gable Roof Porch Design
A gable roof design is when two sides slope downward to the walls while the other walls extend from the eaves to the ridge peak. You can expect to pay from $2,200 to $13,500 or more for just a gable porch roof.
The height, pitch, materials, and square footage also affect prices. Gable roofs need additional framing support to resist high winds, but they provide superior drainage for rain, ice, and snow.
Recommended Reading: How To Lay Patio Pavers On Dirt
Gain Easy Access To Your Home With Manufactured Home Prefab Porch Steps
Steps for a side, back or front entrance to your manufactured home are an important necessity which you cannot afford to ignore. These manufactured home prefab porch steps are usually available in four basic types: these are fiberglass, concrete, metal and wood. They come in handy for any building which has a raised entrance and requires an easy and safe access for anyone who is going or coming in the home.
Wooden
Portable wooden stairs are the easiest and cheapest solution. They are quite portable because they are very easy to lift. They are usually not as deep or wide as steps made from other materials. Most if not all of them are usually treated with a relatively light coating of weather sealer. To get the best out of the steps, many people opt to add another coat of water sealer. It is also advisable to set the base on a concrete or plastic base so as to enhance its longevity.
Concrete
Portable concrete prefab porch steps on the other hand are quite heavy and also quite long lasting, in fact a simple two stepper will require at least three people to lift whereas the larger steps are usually moved using a forklift. It is worth noting that it is usually quite difficult to keep concrete steps quite uniform because the edges will chip, wear and tear in certain areas over a period of time.
Fiberglass
Metal