Are you a mobile homeowner looking for the best flooring options to stay within your budget? We want to share our thoughts on engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, and solid hardwood cabin grade floors. Why are these great choices for mobile homes? These are quality flooring options that look great and can save you money. Manufactured home owners have a ton of flooring options to choose from. Deciding on one can be daunting. We'll help talk you through all the best flooring options for mobile homes. Now you can choose what works best for your budget and lifestyle.
Table of Contents:
- Engineered Hardwood: The Best Choice for Real Wood Feel & Stability
- Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): The Top Waterproof & DIY-Friendly Option
- Cabin Grade Hardwood: An Affordable Solid Wood Solution
- FAQs in Relation to Best Flooring for Mobile Homes
- Conclusion
Engineered Hardwood: The Best Choice for Real Wood Feel & Stability
Engineered hardwood is a great choice for mobile homes. It offers both an affordable price tag along with moisture resistance. It's also easy to install with its loose lay or floating installation method. There's no need for glue, special tools, or nails. DIYers looking to save the most on their new flooring project will find engineered hardwood the best choice. Pocketing the professional installer fee helps keep the total cost down. The construction of engineered hardwood consists of multiple layers of wood in a cross-grain pattern. This process creates a more stable floor. These layered hardwood planks are more resistant to humidity changes than solid wood floors. The top layer is made from real hardwood, giving you the exact same visuals and texture as solid hardwood. The durability of engineered floors along with a smaller price tag helps keep engineered a winner over solid hardwood.
The Wood Core
When choosing an engineered hardwood product, be sure to look at how many layers are in each plank. The layers can be a sign of quality. Look for 4 or 5 core layers because this can help predict how well your floor can withstand moisture fluctuations and foot traffic over time. Shopping manufactured home flooring should have the "long haul" in mind. Choose flooring with more layers and thicker plank constructions in general. An engineered wood floor installation is very easy as mentioned above. All you need to do is lock the tongue and groove planks together and lay them on the subfloor. No special tools, glue, flooring nails, or equipment are needed like other types of flooring require (such as carpet or solid hardwood). Engineered hardwood offers homeowners a great way to get beautiful looking floors at an affordable price. Don't settle for a compromise in quality or performance. Engineered hardwood prevents warping or cupping caused by moisture changes. Moisture changes can come from on-frame mobile homes or undercarriage moisture changes. Engineered flooring will also look exactly like solid hardwood flooring. This is because it has a solid wood top on every plank. It will have the same texture as solid hardwood but with increased stability and durability. Luxury vinyl plank is the second best mobile home floor as it provides a more durable alternative to traditional hardwoods. LVP offers waterproof and scratch-resistant properties while still looking amazing.
The Top Layer Of Wood
The veneer on the top of an engineered hardwood floor will play a large part in the performance of your new flooring. Be sure to choose a wood with a high Janka score like Red Oak, White Oak or Hickory. The higher the Janka score, the harder the wood. And harder wood is less likely to dent.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): The Top Waterproof & DIY-Friendly Option
Luxury Vinyl Plank or LVP is an affordable and stylish flooring option that can bring a modern look to any home. LVP is a great choice for rooms where moisture contact is inevitable. Luxury vinyl plank is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and as easy to clean. It has visuals that imitate porcelain tile flooring, solid wood floors, or even stone tile. Installation is as easy as engineered hardwood. LVP clicks together like tongue and groove but its lighter. You can loose lay or float these floors without adhesives or flooring nails involved. If you're not afraid of some work, you can easily install them yourself. No need to hire a flooring installer for lvp. This will save you time and money. Luxury vinyl plank is great in living rooms, kitchen floors, laundry rooms, and young children's rooms. Any room where you expect contact with liquids to happen since it is waterproof. In our local flooring stores, we try to find you the most accident-proof flooring. Installing flooring that can't stand the test of time doesn't make sense for most people.
Pricing Considerations
Luxury vinyl plank can be an inexpensive choice when on the hunt for new flooring. Compare lvp to floors like 1st Quality hardwood or stone tile flooring and you'll find the price difference is staggering. A durable carpet or linoleum flooring may be cheaper per square foot, but not when it's finished if you aren't installing it. Get flooring installer quotes before you choose a different flooring type. Keep in mind that LVP requires very little maintenance once installed. Sweep it, vacuum it regularly, and mop occasionally with warm water and mild soap. There aren't many flooring options that can take a beating with minimal upkeep. You can see how luxury vinyl plank is a flooring type that homeowners love. Luxury Vinyl Plank can be a cheap and resilient flooring option and is considered one of the best flooring for mobile homes. Solid Hardwood Cabin Grade offers the look of 1st Quality hardwood without the high price tag. This gives homeowners another cost-effective alternative when shopping for hardwood floors.
Cabin Grade Hardwood: An Affordable Rustic Wood Solution
Solid cabin grade hardwood is a great choice for those looking to save money on flooring without sacrificing quality. It's a great option for mobile homes on the hunt for an authentic rustic look and feel at an affordable price. Cabin grade solid hardwood has shorter board lengths and more natural defects than 1st quality hardwood. This won't be as noticeable in mobile homes due to their room shapes. You can also refinish solid cabin grade if want to redo the interior design of your home down the line. When it comes to durability, cabin grade solid hardwood stands up well against wear and tear. A cabin grade hickory for example, offers natural strength against scratches and scuffs. Installation is relatively simple, DIYers will need to watch a tutorial. You'll need to rent a flooring nailer to install but it will be worth it to save on a professional installation. Cabin grade solid wood also comes in a variety of colors and styles that are sure to fit any décor scheme. Whether you’re going for classic oak or something more modern like maple or cherry, there’s something out there that will suit your needs perfectly. Shopping for cabin grade solid wood is similar to 1st Quality. Shop by wood species, board width, and color. You can find the perfect one at an affordable cost through our online store.
Understanding the Unique Challenges of Mobile Home Flooring
Before choosing a floor, it's crucial to understand why mobile and manufactured homes have unique needs. Unlike site-built homes, they often contend with several specific challenges that cause us to help you move towards the best flooring choice.
- Subfloor Composition: Many mobile homes use particle board or OSB subfloors, which are highly susceptible to swelling and damage from moisture. This makes waterproof or highly water-resistant flooring essential.
- Structural Flex: Manufactured homes are designed to have more natural flex than traditional homes. Rigid, brittle flooring like ceramic tile can easily crack under this movement. You need flooring with some give.
- Weight Limitations: The structure is engineered to support a specific weight. Heavy flooring options like thick stone or ceramic tile can add unnecessary stress to the home's frame and foundation piers.
- Moisture from Below: The space beneath a mobile home (the undercarriage) can be a source of significant moisture and humidity fluctuations. A good vapor barrier and moisture-resistant flooring are non-negotiable to prevent mold and subfloor rot.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
Luxury Vinyl Plank is a top contender because it directly solves the biggest mobile home challenge: moisture. Its 100% waterproof core is perfect for protecting vulnerable particle board subfloors from both topical spills and humidity rising from the undercarriage.
Engineered Hardwood
The cross-ply construction of engineered hardwood makes it far more stable than solid wood, so it handles the structural flex of a manufactured home without buckling or gapping over time. It gives you an authentic wood look without the risks of solid wood.
Flooring Options to Reconsider for a Mobile Home
Telling you what not to buy is just as important as telling you what to buy. Based on our experience, we recommend avoiding these options for most mobile home applications:
- Ceramic or Porcelain Tile: While waterproof, tile is heavy, rigid, and cold. Its inflexibility often leads to cracked tiles and crumbling grout lines as the home settles and flexes.
- First-Quality Solid Hardwood: Standard solid hardwood is expensive and highly reactive to the humidity changes common in mobile homes, which can lead to permanent warping, cupping, and gapping.
- Peel-and-Stick Tile: While very cheap, these tiles often fail in environments with temperature fluctuations. This causes the adhesive to weaken, leading to peeling corners and unsightly gaps.
Mobile Home Flooring Comparison Chart
| Flooring Type | Best For... | DIY-Friendliness | Moisture Handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) | Durability & Waterproofing | ★★★★★ (Easiest) | Excellent |
| Engineered Hardwood | Authentic Wood Look | ★★★★☆ (Easy) | Good |
| Cabin Grade Hardwood | Rustic Charm on a Budget | ★★★☆☆ (Moderate) | Poor (Nail-down) |
| Carpet | Warmth & Comfort | ★★☆☆☆ (Difficult) | Poor |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an underlayment for my mobile home floor?
Answer: Yes, absolutely. For LVP or engineered wood, an underlayment with a built-in vapor barrier is highly recommended. It serves as a crucial line of defense against moisture from the undercarriage, adds sound dampening, and provides a thermal break to make your floors feel warmer.
Can I install new flooring directly over the old linoleum in my mobile home?
Answer: In many cases, yes, provided the old floor is flat, secure, and is only a single layer. This can save significant time and money on tear-out. However, you must first carefully inspect the subfloor for any soft spots or signs of water damage, especially around toilets, sinks, and dishwashers.
In short:
Solid Hardwood Cabin Grade has an authentic rustic look. It is durable, cost-effective, and simple to install. It is ideal for budget-conscious DIYers who want beautiful floors today.
Carpet is a Great Choice
Carpet has been a customer favorite for mobile homes for many years. Inexpensive and warm, carpet has some advantages that hard surface options cannot match. One downside of using carpet is the expensive labor costs, unless you are savvy enough to install your own.
FAQs in Relation to Best Flooring for Mobile Homes
What is the best type of flooring for a mobile home?
The best type of flooring for a mobile home is engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank. Vinyl plank offers the most durable, cost-effective, and easy installation. Vinyl plank performs well where moisture or humidity levels change often. Engineered hardwood brings a lower cost, moisture resistant wood floor. Along with the look and feel of traditional solid hardwood. What you decide is best is something that fits your budget and style.
What is the standard flooring in a mobile home?
The most common flooring used in mobile homes is carpet. Carpet is a low cost flooring option that is somewhat disposable after every 4-6 years. Carpet is hard to keep dirt and germs from seeping deep into the fabric. This causes hard surface flooring to be more popular than good quality carpet. Sheet vinyl, linoleum flooring, and ceramic tiles are in manufactured homes these days.
What kind of flooring can you put in a manufactured home?
A manufactured home's preferred flooring type varies on the homeowner's needs and preferences. The common flooring types in a manufactured home are as follows:
- Engineered hardwood
- Solid hardwood
- Luxury Vinyl plank or Luxury Vinyl Tile
- Carpet
- Sheet vinyl
- Linoleum
A mobile home with a good subfloor can have these flooring types installed. Solid cabin grade hardwood has a classic look but you will need more tools and knowledge for installation.
What is the cheapest flooring for a mobile home?
The cheapest flooring for mobile homes by the square foot is a vinyl plank or solid cabin grade hardwood. Vinyl plank flooring is a cost-effective and durable solution that installs quickly and easily. Waterproof luxury vinyl plank has scratch-resistant qualities that make it great for mobile homes. Cabin grade solid wood floors bring the romantic real wood look and performance with an inexpensive price tag. These two quality flooring options are the cheapest mobile home floors we recommend.
Conclusion
When selecting the best flooring options for mobile homes, there is a lot of flooring to choose from. Engineered hardwood is a cheaper, easy to install, and a moisture resistant option we recommend. Luxury vinyl plank offers beautiful waterproof flooring that is great for children and pets at low costs. Solid hardwood cabin grade can give your home a rustic look and feel with similar price points. No matter which floor you choose, you’ll be sure to find an option that fits both your budget and style. This guide has hopefully helped you find the best flooring for mobile homes. The best flooring solutions and prices for mobile homes are in stock at Really Cheap Floors. Our quality floors are affordable and durable making them perfect for your home!
