Mobile homes can be great residential places.
Most people are changing their attitude towards mobile homes. Honestly. You can live a comfortable life in a mobile home.
There are many structures to set up and replace in a mobile home. Among them are mobile home porch steps.
So, When Should You Replace Your Mobile Home Porch Steps?
Mobile home porch steps can be replaced primarily when they are damaged. There are many reasons and causes of mobile home porch steps damage.
We will explain it in this article. We have also added other tips on how to choose ideal materials for a replacement and much more. Read on.
Three Instances When Mobile Home Porch Steps Should Be Replaced
Many occasions will make you want to replace mobile home porch steps. Below are some of these instances:
1. Damage
Your mobile home porch steps can be exposed to damage why heavy objects are placed on them.
Or rather, when things fall on them accidentally.
Massive damage can occur and force you to carry out a replacement altogether.
2. When it Gets Old
An old porch step structure is noticed by the formation of cracks.
If it is made of wood, it may start rotting due to constant exposure to moisture.
Cracks can make it collapse any minute. This is when you will want to replace them.
3. The Need for an Upgrade
Building and construction world is making huge strides every single day. New styles are coming up. It is important to catch up with these trends and live a worthwhile life.
Which Are the Best Materials For replacing Mobile Home Porch Steps?
The type of material affects the durability of your porch step.
It is, therefore, very important to choose an ideal material for your porch steps. You want something that will take you through a couple of tears.
Replacement of mobile home porch steps is not usually an easy task.
It demands a good input of time finances and energy.
That is all the reason you should do it with a lot of attention and commitment.
In this section, we walk you through some of the best materials you can use to make your mobile home porch steps.
We will cover fiberglass, wood, metal, and concrete.
1. Wood
Mobile homes are usually designed to be lightweight.
As a result, lightweight materials are preferred for every facet of its construction.
Wood is one of the best materials where weight is an issue to counter.
It is also cheap and offers a lot of conveniences. Wood is one of the most popular building materials for mobile homes.
That is not enough though. Wood selection is a step you should handle with ultimate care.
Make sure that the choice of wood you select for mobile home porch replacement is ideal.
There are several options to choose from. Ideally. It would be a good idea to go for hardwoods such as mahogany.
It has to be formidable enough to resist the effects of nature. It should also be able to withstand the effects of mechanical work that can inflict wear and tear on its surfaces.
Even though wood is easy to work with, it is susceptible to destruction by insects and termites. It can also rot due to exposure to moisture and water damage.
When choosing wood for mobile home replacement, consider weight, waterproofing, durability, and staining ease.
There are three typical choices of lumber for this job:
- Composite Wood
- Treated Wood
- Cedar
2. Fiberglass
Fiberglass is yet another smart choice for mobile home porch steps.
It is hailed for its affordability, durability, and lightweight features.
The making of fiberglass porch steps involves the framing in wood and then forming fiberglass around it.
One advantage of fiberglass material over wood is the fact that it is highly weather resistant.
So, elements of weather like wind, water, and the sun is not an issue at all.
It can last for many years with little maintenance.
You should not worry about getting these materials for your construction project.
These days, they are available and can be ordered online. Deliveries are often made right to your doorstep.
3. Metal
Metal is lightweight. It is, therefore, a favorite material for designing and replacing mobile home porch steps. Metal is highly durable.
One problem with metal, however, is that it can be destroyed by rust. The choice of material for designing metal porch steps is, therefore, very crucial.
Metal materials can be ordered online and consequently delivered to your doorsteps. They are preferred for temporal use. Affordability is key.
4. Concrete Materials
One of the most popular porch steps building materials, concrete is a formidable material that most mobile homeowners prefer for construction purposes.
It is highly durable and can last for up to a century.
One downside of concrete is that it is heavy.
Mobile home construction is usually done to achieve less weight of the structure.
Concrete would add up a lot of weight to the building. Also, it is relatively expensive.
How To Replace Mobile Home Porch Steps?
After considering the ideal type of material, it is time to get things spinning.
Mobile home porch steps replacement is not a complicated task as most people often think.
With the right materials and tools at your disposal, you can complete a decent job within a very short time.
An ideal guide is also indispensable and that is why we have created this section for you to keep reading.
What You Require to Replace a Mobile Home Porch Step
● Measuring Tape
●Safety Glasses
●Stringers
●Bolts
●Lumber
● Screws
● Carpenter’s Square
●Galvanized Nails
●Hammer
Additional tools and materials may be required. But these are the most basic requirements to get started and going.
Replacement Steps
Replacement steps are dictated by the type of materials you bought for the job. Here is a guide that will help you master the art and accomplish satisfying results.
1. Remove the Old Porch Step
You need to scrub off the old porch step. Depending on the extent of damage and wear it has faced over the years, you may choose to leave some parts that are still ambient enough.
But if there is a need to remove everything so you can replace it from the scratch, then you should not hesitate.
Metal, wood, and fiberglass can be unscrewed with ease.
Concrete porch steps prove a little complicated to remove. You will require heavy-duty tools to wreak it into pieces and carry them away.
2. Take Precise Measurements of the Old Porch Step
Measure the length of the porch step you intend to replace.
You should be very precise to ensure that you end up with regular looks.
3. Measure the Material You Intent to Use
Be it wood or metal, you should measure an exact material size that will fit the porch step.
This helps you to avoid wastage of materials. With appropriate measurements, you also stand q chance to accomplish accurate and satisfying results.
4. Installation of New Material
After taking the measurements, it is time to put the new materials in place and see how your new mobile home porch step will look like.
So, fasten the precisely cut materials in place. Use your hammer to drive nails through wood.
A screwdriver, on the other hand, is used to drive the screws firmly into the material. The same method applies to fiberglass.
Concrete, however. Requires a special application method. You will need a professional to execute concrete mixing and application.
5. Assess the Porch Step for Flaws and Errors
It is important to identify and correct flaws and errors as soon as they show up.
Once you are done fitting in the materials on your porch step, there are chances of landing into one problem or two.
6. Painting
You may or may not want to carry out the painting.
Painting helps to seal out spots and errors on the structure. It also helps to crown the building with a great color theme.
Wrapping Up
A replacement of mobile home porch steps is a step ahead in improving the integrity of your mobile home.
It makes your home looks tidy, organized, and neat.
Additionally, it helps to prevent unprecedented injuries and maintain formidable support.
Hopefully, this article has equipped you with resourceful information about mobile home porch replacement.
