NEWSLETTER
MANUFACTURED HOME REPAIR
Spring 2003

In this issue you will find:

* Adding on to your manufactured home
* Make your own shutters
* Win a 1/2" pex crimpers
* Howdy Neighbor! Exterior spruce-up tips
* A story from 'The Life of a Mobile Home Repair Man'
* Get Help with those spring repairs - Manufactured Home Repair Book!
* Picture of the Month
* Finding a mobile home repairman
* Tip of the Month

That mobile home that looked so large when you bought it has gotten a little cramped. You've been thinking that you need more space, and an addition seems like the perfect solution- much cheaper than buying a new unit, and no Moving Day to contend with. So where do you turn next? Start by clicking here.

Here's a way to have custom-sized shutters without spending much money.

Shutters would certainly spruce up your home- but there's a problem. A trip to any home improvement center turns up prices of $20 to $30 per shutter. Multiply that times two per window, multiply that result times the number of windows you have, and it's easy for shutters to become a very low priority in most budgets.

Fortunately, reader Dottie S. has come up with a way to have shutters that gives a great decorative effect at low cost. You'll need the following materials and tools:

White aluminum J-channel for vinyl siding
White plastic diamond privacy lattice
Screws
White appliance touch-up paint
Miter box and hacksaw
Circular saw or saber saw
Drill
Screwdriver

Begin by measuring the height of a window, from sill to the top of the frame. Cut two pieces of J-channel this length, mitered 45 degrees, with the miters going from the closed side of the J-channel to the open side (see illustration). These will become the sides of the shutter. Next, cut two more pieces of J-channel, each 10 or 12 inches long. These will become the top and bottom of the shutter; whether you choose 10 or 12 inches depends on how wide you want the shutters to be. Generally, the bigger the windows, the wider the shutter needs to be.

Next, cut a rectangle of lattice. This should be ½ inch shorter than the long pieces of J-channel you have cut, and ½ inch narrower than the short pieces. Either a circular or saber saw works fine here, and it doesn't matter if the cuts are a little wavy; they'll be covered in the next step.

Assembly is simple. Just slide the long pieces of J-channel onto the long sides of the rectangles, and the short pieces onto the short sides. You're now ready to install the shutter. Simply attach to the side of each window using screws, using at least two screws per each of the four sides. The final touch is using appliance touch-up paint to coat the screw heads, so that they blend in against the white J-channel. Appliance touch-up is durable paint that comes in a bottle with a brush in the cap, like nail polish, so it's very easy to use.

The best part of this project is the cost. A 12-foot length of J-channel is less than $3.50 in most home improvement stores, and diamond privacy lattice is under $25 for a 4' X 8' sheet that will make eight or ten shutters. How's that for making your money go further?

Here's your chance to win a 1/2" pex crimpers used for doing any type of plumbing work on your 1/2" pex waterlines. This particular crimpers is designed to work in tight places, very handy. To win, all you need to do is write and tell us why you should deserve to win it. You can either e-mail your submission to us, or post it on our forum.

Submissions should be received by May 15, 2003, at midnight. Participants must have submitted a profile of themselves on our forum page to be eligible for the crimpers. Once the essay has been submitted, it cannot be changed. The top submissions will then be posted and voted on by the visitors of this website. So come on, tell us why you should win this 1/2" crimper. You just might win!

How to show the world that your home really is your castle.

We've heard all the jokes about mobile homes. We've even done a little snickering of our own over the "Great Mobile Homes of Mississippi" website. And we'd never have a home looking like that, complete with a dead Camaro in the yard. But recently, there's been a movement to make mobiles look even better integrated with established neighborhoods, and it's paying big dividends for the MH community. Here are some ways to let your neighbors know that you're just as proud of your home as they are of theirs.

Landscaping: It's amazing what a few shrubs and trees will do for the look of your home, if you're on private land. In late Winter, inexpensive ones start appearing in home improvement centers and discount stores. If you're no landscape artist, go to a new stick-built subdivision and see where they plant things, then copy what you find there. Usually you'll find a tree or two in the front, two or so in the back, and some shrubs around the home itself. Ivy is great around mailbox posts and lamp posts; it makes landscaping look settled in a hurry. Don't forget to use pine straw or bark around plantings for a finishing touch, and to protect them. Be aware that shrubs need to be planted and spaced so that they don't interfere with access to the home's belly; be sure to allow room for them to get bigger.

Painting: Next time you paint, you can get some color ideas from the same place you got landscaping ideas: a new subdivision. New houses have exterior color schemes that have been professionally planned to appeal to fashion-conscious new-home buyers. You can have the benefit of that expertise for the price of a Sunday drive. Don't overlook the small touches, like front doors painted with accent colors like teal or hunter green, and two-toned shutters. One hint: skirting darker than the home's color makes the home look more settled onto the land.

Lighting: Some accent lighting along a front walkway makes a home more attractive and safer at night. You can use low-voltage versions that install just by pushing the light into the ground; the wiring just plugs into an external outlet. If you don't have an external outlet, and don't want to do any wiring at all, there are solar-powered lights. These charge during the day, then come on automatically at night, burning several hours. Another nice touch that does require wiring is a post-style lamp beside the driveway. New ones are available with a motion sensor that turns the lamp on automatically when you drive up. Honey, I'm home!

Front Porch: A front porch is within the reach of a weekend carpenter, and having an roof over the front door is good for more than just appearances' sake. If your home is older, that darn out-swinging front door lets in rain when you open it, right? A porch roof will keep everything dry, including you while you fumble for keys. See the article on additions for a front porch idea that will work with every mobile home, no matter whether it's on a foundation or just piers. While you're at it, a back porch wouldn't hurt anything, would it?

Walkways: It's not necessary to pour concrete nowadays to have a nice front walk to your porch; home improvement centers have many different patterns of reinforced concrete paving stones you can lay yourself. It's easier than putting down tiles inside your home; the paving stones don't have to be cemented down. Some patterns interlock, like a jigsaw puzzle, for stability. And there are different colors available; you don't have to settle for gray concrete.

Deck: Everybody wants a deck, for good reason. It creates outdoor living space, and makes a home look more finished. If your deck is painted or stained to coordinate with the color scheme of your home, it'll be a great enhancement to the look of your lot. If your budget won't let you build as much deck as you'd like, here's a tip: build one half the size you want this year, then double its size next year by building an identical unit next to it.

Fencing: A really great fence is a big help in creating eye appeal. It's easier than ever to have one; home improvement centers have many new types and models than are planned for DIY installation. Be sure to check local codes before putting up a fence; many localities limit them to the rear of a house, and some places control fence height and prohibit solid fences that can't be seen through. If there's no room in the budget for a good-looking fence, you're better off not having a fence at all than putting up something that looks home-made.

Outbuildings: Most mobile home owners need a shed; you have to put the lawnmower and other yard items somewhere. Some tactics that can keep yours from looking like an afterthought include siding that is the closest possible match to the home itself, painted the same color. If you're using a pre-fab shed, at least paint it to match the home. A shrub or two and maybe a little bit of ivy will help it blend in that much better. Don't forget to paint the shed's door the same color as the home's, if you used an accent color on it- looks really spiffy and well-coordinated.

Final Touches: Little things do mean a lot. Look for really nice house numbers, instead of just the usual ones from the hardware store. Put good self-adhesive numbers on the mailbox, evenly spaced, instead of leaving it bare. What about a bird house and a bird feeder? And is it possible to plant a couple of shrubs in front of where you keep your trash cans? For a final touch along driveways and walkways, plant an edging of liriope, a.k.a. monkey grass; it eliminates having to edge the lawn where it meets paving.

Face it. Unless you're Bill Gates, you have neighbors richer than you are. But having a home that reflects pride of ownership is something anyone can have. All it takes is determination and planning and some work on weekends. Whether you are in the newest triple-wide or an older single, you can have a place that says, I'm proud to be here; I'm in this neighborhood to stay. And even the richest among us respect that.

Sometimes bad things happen to the best of us. A couple weeks ago I was hired to fix a rotten floor underneath a toilet. Besides repairing the subfloor, the customer also wanted new vinyl flooring and new trim.

So I carried in my tools and went to work. I fixed the floor, layed new vinyl then installed a new toilet flange. Before attaching the toilet to the flange, I figured it would be easier to now cut and install the base trim along the wall behind the toilet.

I cut my trim pieces outside to keep the dust away. So I measured and cut several pieces and brought them into the house to nail up. I nailed up the first two pieces, then could not find the third piece. I went back outside to look. Nope, didn't see it there. Hmm, maybe it fell down through the toilet flange. I looked down the pipe, nope, not there. So I gave up and cut another piece, set the toilet and picked up a check from a very happy customer.

About a week later I got a call saying they were having trouble with the toilet backing up into the tub. Without even looking, I knew that piece of trim had slid down inside the drain pipe. So I came out and followed the drain pipe to a sharp corner. I took apart the pipe at that corner and there was my piece of trim. Next I replaced the wax seal underneath the toilet as they had blown it trying to plunge the toilet.

I told the customer all was now fixed. They asked what happened. About all I could say is, "Well, I found my missing piece of trim!"

Hot off the presses! This 125 page book is written by us at mobilehomerepair.com, the professionals who are out in the field every day repairing manufactured homes. The book shows actual pictures from projects we were hired to do.

Designed for homeowners as well as contractors, "The manual for manufactured/mobile home repair and upgrade" is packed full of useful repair techniques. But it's more than just doing repairs, it's also about upgrading and improving a manufactured home. For instance, not only will you learn how to stop a metal roof from leaking, you'll also discover an inexpensive way to replace it. Want to relevel your own home? This manual gives you step by step instructions. Need to replace your waterlines? Then you can't miss the information found here.

Even if you don't do your own repairs, this manual will give you invaluable knowledge of how a repair should be performed so when you do seek a contractor, you know the right questions to ask. Written by us, this manual should be required reading for every owner of a manufactured home.

Words just don't come to mind when looking at this picture. I need a caption to go with this picture. Help me out and send me your suggestions. E-mail me your caption to this picture. All interesting captions will be posted here and on the forum.




WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL MOBILE HOME REPAIRMAN
by Thomas Poore

For those of us who do not do our own repairs, having the number to our local MH repairman at our fingertips can sometimes be the difference between sitting for days with no water or a leaky roof, or having someone there quickly to solve the problem.

Waiting until you have an emergency to find someone is the absolute worst time to be searching for a mobile home repairman. First, you may not be able to find one who will be able to get to you quickly; and even worse, you may not find one at all.

So how do we do research to find a competent repairman? By using these steps:

1. Networking with your neighbors - Ask them who they use and trust.

2. Look in your yellow pages under Manufactured Homes/Service - Even before you have an emergency, call them, get to know them, go to their store if they have one. More on why I recommend doing this later. One note here, if you live in a small town, look in the yellow pages of the next larger town.

3. There are plumbers out there who do work on MH's. Find out who they are by calling around or doing the above.

4. I often see posts on our board stating that I can't find a repairman to do any work for me. Trust me, if there is a park in your area, there is someone repairing them. It may be that you will just have to take more time to find one, but they are out there. That's where asking your neighbors pays off.

Once you find someone you trust, its so very important to establish a relationship with them. Why you ask? Most MH repairman are very busy as the good ones are in high demand. When you have that emergency, you need someone fast. If they know you, know you pay on time, are friendly, they will remember you when you call. They will take your business over someone calling them cold over the phone. You are much more likely to get faster service when you need it. In an emergency, that makes all the difference in the world.

In conclusion, on a cold winter morning, when your pipes are froze you will thank yourself many times over for doing the work ahead of time to find that repairman that you now need so desperately.

THANK YOU EVERYONE
Lise and I thank everyone for the nice plaque we received from all you wonderful readers. The plaque was in appreciation for all our "help, assistance and friendship to the posters" at this website. We were very honored to receive this. Thank you!