Many people are attracted to the lifestyle that can be provided by a mobile home. You’ll have a lot more flexibility, able to take it wherever you want. Though they might be pre-manufactured, you can still add a lot of features to make it feel like home. For example, I like to hang pictures on the walls. Today, a wall-mounted TV is considered a must. But, it’s important to make sure that you’re taking into account how much weight the wall can hold. If you don’t, you might have a serious issue on your hands, as the wall crumbles under the weight. This can be a big problem, often costing you thousands in repairs. To prevent this, let’s look at how much weight a mobile home wall can hold.
Do Mobile Homes Have Studs?
The way that your mobile home is constructed will often have a big impact on how much weight the walls can hold. In most cases, they will be built using a wood-framed system. In this case, a series of studs will be placed into the wall, to hold it up. This system has a few key advantages. First, it will allow the weight to be spread evenly across each of the studs. This will help your home deal with weather conditions, like snow and wind. Also, having studs will allow you to hang items on the wall, without having to worry about whether they will fall off. I’ll discuss this in more depth a little later.
There are a few types of stud systems, depending on the type of mobile home you have purchased. For example, you might have a 2 by 4-inch stud. In other cases, you might have a 2 by 6-inch stud or a 2 by 3-inch stud. This article goes into more depth about the type of stud systems that are available and how it affects your mobile home.
Are There Load Bearing Walls On A Mobile Home?
It’s also important to consider where the load-bearing points are in a mobile home. Doing anything around these areas could spell big trouble. Removing a structural beam, or putting too much weight on it, could lead to your entire mobile home collapsing under the weight. While this might seem dramatic, it’s a dangerously real risk if you tamper with load-bearing walls.
If you have a single-wide wall, you won’t need to worry about this. These are made from an interconnecting system. This means that there aren’t any load-bearing walls. However, if your mobile home is double-wide, it could be constructed by joining two single-wide homes together. In this case, there will be a marriage line, where the two single-wide homes were joined. This is load-bearing so you shouldn’t mess with it. If you aren’t sure where, or if, there are load-bearing walls it’s a good idea to talk to the manufacturer. Alternatively, you might want to consult any plans that came with the home. This might give you some valuable information, like where electrical lines are.
Attaching Lighter Objects
Now that we know a little more about how a mobile home is constructed, let’s look at how you can attach some of your lighter items to the wall. If you want to attach something low-weight, like a picture, you have a few options. First, you might want to use a removable hook. These come with an adhesive backing. You’ll remove this adhesive and stick it to the wall. Then, if you want to adjust the hook, you’ll be able to pull the strip on the back, releasing the grip and removing the hook.
If you want to hold something a little heavier, you’ll be able to use a drywall anchor. These are screws, which you’ll need to put into the wall. As the name suggests, you’ll be able to put these straight into the drywall, so you don’t need to find the studs. These will be able to hold moderately heavy items. Depending on the type of hook you’re using, you’ll be able to hold between 30 to 50 pounds. This article goes into more depth about drywall hooks and how you can use them.
Attaching Heavier Items
There will be times when you want to attach some heavier items to the wall. This can be things like a TV or a shelving unit. In this case, you’ll need to screw them into the studs. To find the studs, you’ll need to use a stud finder. This device is found in most hardware stores. Run the stud finder along the wall until it beeps. This means that you have located the stud, and you’ll be able to start attaching the item.
How much you’ll be able to attach to the stud will depend on a few factors. First, the type of studs you have in your home. Also, it might depend on the number of studs there are in the wall, which affects how the weight will be distributed. If possible, try to split the item across two studs. If not, use at least two or three studs. In most cases, this should be able to hold between 50 to 100 pounds. Knowing exactly how much weight you’ll be able to put on the stud wall can be difficult. If possible, check the plans. If you are still unsure, get in contact with a builder. Doing a little bit of research now could save you a lot of headaches in the long-run.
Conclusion
To make your mobile house into a home, you’ll want to hang some items on the wall. This could be anything from a picture, to a shelving unit, or TV mount. As long as it’s not too heavy, over 100 pounds, you shouldn’t have any trouble. The studs and drywall will be enough to hold it in place. If you want to attach something over 100 pounds, I’d recommend checking with a builder or calling in a professional to install it for you.
