No Roof Insulation in a Mobile Home? Your Options, Ranked

The Short Answer

A manufactured home’s roof cavity can be insulated, but the Department of Energy calls blowing insulation into it a job for a trained professional with proper equipment. Before paying for it, check whether you qualify for free weatherization. If you live somewhere hot, a radiant barrier or a cool roof coating cuts the summer heat you can do yourself.

1. Check for Free Weatherization First

The federal Weatherization Assistance Program reduces energy costs for low-income households, with the work done by local agencies. If you qualify, it is the cheapest way to get the roof done properly; your state weatherization agency can tell you whether your home is eligible.

DOE points to NREL experiments on pre-1976 manufactured homes where retrofit measures resulted in a 31% reduction in heating fuel usage. Ask your utility as well; many run their own weatherization programs.

2. Insulation Blown Into the Roof Cavity

DOE lists three ways installers add roof insulation to a manufactured home: drilling and tube blowing from the inside, drilling and tube blowing from the top, and rolling back the roof and blowing into the open cavity. It notes that roof trusses complicate the job, and that some installers prefer a roof cap instead.

That is why this is not a weekend DIY project: the cavity is closed, with no attic to crawl into. Get quotes from installers who work on manufactured homes specifically.

3. Hot Climates: A Radiant Barrier

A radiant barrier reflects the sun’s heat coming through the roof. DOE says radiant barriers are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates, and that some studies show they can reduce cooling costs 5% to 10% in a warm, sunny climate.

Two limits to know: radiant barriers don’t reduce heat conduction the way insulation does, so they don’t fix a cold winter ceiling; and in cool climates DOE says more thermal insulation is usually the more cost-effective choice.

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Products are chosen on published specifications; we do not test them in-house (how we choose).

Reflectix Double Reflective Insulation

A reflective bubble barrier; it reflects radiant heat but is not a substitute for insulation.

Check price on Amazon

4. Hot Climates: A Cool Roof Coating

A cool roof reflects more sunlight and absorbs less heat. DOE says a reflective roof could stay more than 50°F cooler than a conventional one under the same conditions, and that cool roofs achieve the greatest cooling savings in hot climates.

Check two things first. DOE warns that cool roofs can incur a winter heating penalty and can increase costs in colder climates. And the roof has to suit a coating: DOE lists coating an existing roof as an option if the type of roof is suitable for coating; follow the coating maker’s instructions for your roof material.

Gardner Sta-Kool 7-Year Elastomeric Roof Coating (5 gal)

A white acrylic elastomeric coating rated 85% reflective; check the label for compatible roof types and coverage.

Check price on Amazon

5. Don’t Forget the Floor

Cold floors in a manufactured home usually come from below, not above. DOE’s list of improvements includes adding insulation to the belly, installing a belly wrap and installing insulated skirting; its job aid for insulating a manufactured home belly shows how weatherization crews do it.

Small fixes help too: weatherstripping on doors and shrink film on windows. See door weatherstripping and how to insulate windows cheaply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I insulate a mobile home roof myself?

DOE describes blowing insulation into a manufactured home’s roof cavity as a job for a trained professional with proper equipment. What you can do yourself is a radiant barrier or a cool roof coating in hot climates, plus weatherstripping and window film.

Does a radiant barrier replace roof insulation?

No. DOE says radiant barriers reduce radiant heat but not heat conduction, and in cool climates more thermal insulation is usually more cost-effective.

Is a white roof coating worth it on a mobile home?

In hot climates, often. DOE says cool roofs save the most cooling in hot climates but can add a winter heating penalty in cold ones, and the roof must be suitable for coating.

Can I get mobile home insulation for free?

Possibly. The federal Weatherization Assistance Program reduces energy costs for low-income households through local agencies. Ask your state weatherization agency whether you qualify.

Related Guides

• Attic insulation and your bill — for site-built homes
• Door weatherstripping — stop drafts
• Energy rebates by state — weatherization and utility programs

Sources

• DOE: energy-efficient manufactured homes
• DOE: radiant barriers
• DOE: cool roofs
• DOE job aid: insulate a manufactured home belly (PDF)
• DOE: Weatherization Assistance Program