5 Mobile Home Exterior Door Secrets You Need to Know

Believe it or not, your mobile home exterior door is one of the most crucial aspects when maintaining your mobile home. It’s the frontline of security against the elements, yet is among the first things people see when they come to visit. So, make sure your mobile home front door checks all the right boxes for security, style, and value. 

Here, we’ll go over the secrets you need to know about mobile home exterior doors so that you can welcome guests with confidence and have a door that truly pops out.

Of course, we can’t get into this subject without talking about the importance of a mobile home storm door for your facade. Often, they’ll have glass and screen panels. In some cases, the glass panels can be removed in place of mesh screening during the warmer summer season. 

A storm door protects your home from moisture, wind, bugs, and other outdoor elements. And, they give you a large window to view outside if you want to let in some extra light. 

One key thing all mobile home storm doors must have is a “wind chain.” This is a short length of chain and spring mounted at the top of the storm door that acts as a buffer against high winds. If your storm door flies open unexpectedly as you open it, a wind chain can catch it in place before it damages the door frame or other parts of your storm door.  

Mobile home exterior doors don’t just protect your home from unwanted visitors. They also protect from the elements, no matter the season. 

A properly installed exterior door should protect against unwanted moisture from rainfall. If you notice wet spots near gaps in your front door or storm door, you may need to seal those gaps. 

Like we mentioned earlier, your storm door should help in protecting against rain or high winds, But, you may have gaps or cracks in your door frame that open the door for further damage (pun intended). 

In extreme cases, you may need to have your door and/or frame reinstalled if there’s enough weather damage. Thankfully, a professional contractor can come out to get the work done, sometimes in a day or less. 

It’s often said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. However, in the case of mobile homes, the front door can actually leave an impression on the rest of the home’s value. 

In fact, the color of your mobile home front door can have a direct impact on the value of the home. 

A recent analysis from Homes and Gardens showed that the best color for a front door to add value is black. However, if black isn’t your thing, brighter tones that match the facade of your home can add to its value, too. 

If you live in a manufactured home community, make sure that you have permission from your park manager to make cosmetic changes to the exterior of your home. It’s also a good idea to check with your park guidelines to see if there’s a policy on outdoor painting. 

Many manufactured homeowners in 2022 have added patios and decks to the outside of their mobile home. Besides making for a great outdoor entertainment space, they’re a great way to add value to your home while making it stand out. 

If you’re thinking about adding a patio, deck, or back porch to your mobile home, consider your need for an exterior door. Whether it’s a sliding glass door or French doors if you have the space, you should budget for an additional exterior door during a mobile home project along those lines.

Regardless of which kind of door you choose, having a strong mobile home exterior door near your new patio will be essential to having an outdoor entertainment space that wows your family and friends. 

Your mobile home screen door and exterior door should keep your home secure when you lock up at night. Thankfully, there are a few great ways to do that: 

Change your locks. If you’ve just moved into a mobile home, or just want to feel more secure, then changing your mobile home door locks is a good way to go. This is generally an easy project to DIY (do-it-yourself), and many door knobs come with detailed instructions on changing them out. If you rent your home or live in a land-lease community, check with your management before changing your locks to make sure you have permission.

Strengthen your screws, if possible. If you take out the screws on your doorframe or trim plate, you may notice that they’re usually an inch or less in length. 

Many contractors will recommend you use longer screws, typically around two inches, to reinforce the door’s hardware in case of sudden impact. 

If you live in a community, check to make sure you’re allowed to change out the hardware.

Install a “smart” doorbell. Okay, so this isn’t technically a tip for your door, but rather your front facade. Installing a smart doorbell has many security benefits for your mobile home. 

For one, you’ll often have a live feed of your front porch on demand at any time. This is great if you need to know when a package was delivered, who’s ringing your doorbell so early in the morning, or if you’re worried about a potential intruder. 

You can even program some smart doorbell models to send you alerts whenever someone is at your front door. This is a great way to keep an eye on your mobile home in the digital age. 

Most smart doorbell systems start at around $100, with other premium models including other features such as technician support and installation.

We’ve covered a lot of tips and tricks for your mobile home exterior door. But, where can you find all of the parts you need for your door project? 

The best place you can visit is MHVillage’s Parts & Supplies page. Here, you can browse for just about any part, supply, or tool you need to complete your mobile home remodel project, and that goes for your mobile home exterior doors, too! 

Whether it’s the door itself you need, the hardware, or a new door lock, our Parts & Supplies page has you covered.