Unlike a porch built in front of a non-mobile home porch, a mobile home porch is an independent structure that is not connected to the mobile home itself. This allows movement between the two, so as the mobile home shifts, the porch will not get damaged or cause damage to the outside of the home. To build a porch for a mobile home, you must first plan how large you want your porch to be, how elaborate you plan on building it, what materials you plan to use, and what kind of budget you are working with.
Perhaps the least expensive wood from which to build a mobile home porch is pine. While inexpensive, pine does tend to warp, which means you may have to do some bending when working with the posts and planks. Measure where you want your porch to go and buy the appropriate amount of lumber. The first step in building the porch is sinking the posts, which means you will need to purchase concrete for footings as well. The concrete should be poured beneath the frost line so it does not crack or shift when the ground freezes. The concrete may take several days to set, so be sure to allot time for this.Re-measure the distance between posts before sinking them in concrete to make sure they are in the correct position.
Check the posts as the concrete sets around them to make sure they are drying level. Once the concrete is dry and the posts are secured, it is time to frame the porch. This may mean framing stairs as well, as many mobile home doors are raised significantly off the ground. For temporary structures, concrete blocks may be used instead of poured footings, and the framing will be built around these blocks. Be sure to check local zoning codes to make sure your structure is being built properly; in some areas, the porch itself may need to be affixed to the mobile home, so be sure to research local codes carefully.
After the framing is complete, the decking planks can be screwed down. Space them a few centimeters apart to allow for drainage, and be sure to pre-drill holes for the screws to avoid splitting the planks. Once all planks are in place and your structure is complete, do not forget to stain or paint your mobile home porch to protect it from the elements.
