Mobile Home Exterior Makeovers | Doors & Windows
Welcome back to our series on Mobile Home Exterior Makeovers! Today, we’re going to be taking a look at doors and windows. What can you do with your doors and windows to spice up the outside of your home? Let’s take a look at a few people who have added some new touches to their exterior.
All in a day’s work
We looked at some of Geneva’s renovations in our previous article about painting the outside of your mobile home. Today, we’re back to her again because she didn’t stop at painting the outside of her house. She went on to do renovations on her doors and windows, too. Let’s take a look at what she did for her home.
New storm doors
She and her husband replaced their front and back storm doors, but it wasn’t just that simple. Their mobile home’s doorways were about 4 inches shorter than regular doorways. That’s why, Geneva’s husband, Buzz, got to work cutting a few inches off. In no time at all, their doors were ready for installation!
Solar screens
Generally, if you’ve lived in Texas, or known anyone who does, you understand the concept of Texas heat. Scorching summers, and winters that don’t necessarily cool down. Which is why Geneva and Buzz came up with the perfect solution for their mobile home windows. Solar screens!
Buzz built a quick frame around each window and then used a kit and various supplies from their local big box store to install the solar screens. Geneva and Buzz said they noticed the difference right away.
First impressions
Dale and Elizabeth bought a brand new, Clayton, single-wide home. But it needed a few touches to make it theirs. One of the first things Elizabeth wanted to do was fix up their front door. Typically, the front door is the first things folks see before they see your face. So it makes sense that we want our doors to be attractive and striking.
First, Elizabeth painted the entire door, inside and out, with a red-ish colored paint. Then, she made a trip to her local hardware store to find house numbers. However, when she got home, she realized that the trim above the door was not wide enough for the numbers to go on. But Elizabeth didn’t worry. Her carpenter husband got it all figured out, without a problem.
Elizabeth and her husband were more than pleased with how it came out. And she admitted that the time and effort were definitely worth it!
Your turn
Now it’s time for you to show your renovation skills! Let’s look at a brief overview of what the folks in our stories did, so you’ll know what to do. Generally, there are plenty of different options when it comes to renovation doors and windows.
Doors
First things first, you have to decide what you want to do with your door. Do you want to buy a new one? Repaint the old one? Make your own custom door from scratch? Whatever you decide, you’ll want to make sure you think through things ahead of time. Subsequently, you won’t get stuck in the middle of a project not sure what to do next. Also, getting ideas on what kind of door to get is smart.
Generally, once you’ve decided whether you want to repaint or get a new door, it’s time to get to work. If you’re going to repaint, you’ll need to make sure you do it the right way. This may require sanding the door, removing decorative hardware, taping it off, etc.
If you decide to buy your own door, be sure you know what size door it is. Generally, you should be able to get a custom door fit to size. However, if you can’t, you can measure the length of your doorway, and cut your new door down to size yourself.
Windows
Now it’s time for windows. If you want, you can do something as simple as what Geneva and Buzz did: just put on new solar screens to keep out the heat. However, if you want brand new windows, you’d better start looking around to see what style you want. Generally, there are plenty of different options.
Hopefully, someone at a department store can probably help you find what would look best for your home. If you’re not sure about putting in your new windows by yourself, no problem. Generally, most home improvement stores will do it for you, but it may cost a little extra.
Shutters
It’s common knowledge that shutters will spice up your windows in no time. So if you already have shutters, consider repainting them to match your “new” front door. And if you don’t have any at all, get creative. Find some that coordinate with your door, but also add a pop to your house!
“A-door” your mobile home
In the end, the most important part of your renovations is making sure you love the outcome. Doing your research beforehand will definitely pay off in the long run. Take your time, and don’t make an impulse decision. After all, this isn’t just a haircut, it’s a bit more permanent. Happy renovations! In your spare time, be sure to check out our article on how to stay safe in a mobile home.