How to Add a Master Bedroom to a Mobile Home
Do you think just because you live in a mobile home you can't have the master bedroom you want, think again because some areas will allow you to add floor space to a stationary mobile home on a permanent foundation. If your mobile home is a double-wide, it will be easier to plan the space. However, a master bedroom can be built onto the back side of a single-wide mobile home if local building codes permit. Check with authorities in your area to see what construction is permissible and restrictions that apply.
Step 1
Build a complete or partial cinder block foundation to accommodate the master bedroom. Dig down to solid ground to pour a concrete footing around the perimeter of the space. Have brick masons install a cinder block foundation 4 to 6 feet in height. Leave a crawlspace door to work inside the crawlspace. Install under the floor of the new room plumbing for a bathroom in the master suite and some electric wiring.
Step 2
Enlist carpenters to lay a solid framework around the foundation. Create the complete framework including roof area. Carpenters will need to install wall studs every 18 inches around the perimeter of the new bedroom. Decide where windows will be placed. Cover the entire exterior of the new space with exterior grade masonry. Install windows and caulk. Paint appropriate areas on the exterior of the new space.
Step 3
Cover the roof with plywood and install asphalt shingles. Install guttering and downspouts with splash blocks to carry rain away from the new addition. Cut through the side of the mobile home exterior to build a doorway into the suite. Finish both sides of the entryway to harmonize with the decor.
Step 4
Frame all interior walls and a bathroom area in the master suite. Run plumbing drains and pipes for the bath. Install insulation in all interior walls. Build in the ceiling with drywall over ceiling joists. Place plenty of fiberglass roll insulation in the ceiling area. Run electrical wiring for light fixtures and outlets. Install paneling or drywall on the walls.
Step 5
Lay wooden flooring, tile or carpet in the master suite. Place a bathroom vanity and tub. Lay flooring in the bath area. Install baseboard material and trim in all areas of the suite. Hook up light fixtures and electrical outlets.
References
Warnings
- Keep in mind that spending money for an addition to a mobile home might not be recoverable. In the future, the mobile home might have to be moved. Spend money on a master suite only if you will stay in the mobile home for seven years or more. Only you can decide if it's worth the expense in practical terms of your lifestyle. Or, you might recoup your expenses for the master suite if you sell the home in the future.
Writer Bio
Judi Light Hopson is a national columnist for McClatchy Newspapers. She is founder of Hopson Global Education and Training and co-author of the college textbook, Burnout to Balance: EMS Stress. She holds a degree in psychology from East Tennessee State University, and has been a professional writer for 25 years.
Photo Credits
- Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
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