Read more in the article:
- Genesis of the mobile home
- Structure of a year-round mobile home
- Insulation of the mobile home
- Thermoinsulation of the mobile home using polyurethane foam
- Advantages of the 'property'
Genesis of the mobile home
Only by mistake does the mobile home (in Polish: "domek holenderski" which is equivalent to "Dutch bungalow") bear such name. The term probably originates from mobile homes, which used to house Polish workers in the Netherlands. In fact, all over Europe such houses are mobile homes; actually their history began in Great Britain. Where did the idea to build such houses come from? The answer is "out of necessity".
The first Dutch, or rather English, house was built in 1946 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and there it evolved in terms of design and use.
It all started with the English' love of small plots of land and pleasure gardens away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The massive purchase of holiday plots in the countryside by the British resulted in demand for small summerhouses, which, however, with time ceased to provide adequate comfort.
As a result, the first British caravans began to be built, in which people could sleep, eat, wash and rest, in other words basically live in relatively decent conditions, even for several weeks. Over time, British caravans allowed people to stay away from their main residence all year round, becoming something similar to a luxurious holiday home, cottage or additional holiday property. This solution became very popular also in France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, as well as in the United States. The idea of the mobile home came to Poland at the end of the 1990s; at the very beginning it did not arouse much interest.
Structure of a year-round mobile home
Mobile homes are temporary structures with no permanent anchorage to the ground. Usually, their entire structure rests on wheels and concrete blocks, which are primarily responsible for structural stability. Such an object can also be permanently fixed to the ground by foundations. Nowadays, the market offers seasonal and year-round mobile homes, as well as new and used structures. It all depends on the budget, expectations and individual needs of the user.
A mobile home is usually based on a steel frame with wheels. The walls and roof are constructed using lightweight frame technology, which has additional thermal insulation (see: "Insulation system in a mobile home").
The external walls of such homes are usually made of PVC or sheet metal siding panels, but the most impressive are mobile homes finished with wooden planks. Their interiors are usually finished with linoleum, lightweight panels or wood, depending on individual preferences. They are also equipped with electricity, gas and plumbing systems along with a ready-to-use bathroom and an ergonomic kitchenette.
A standard year-round mobile home is 2.5-4 m wide and 7-13 m long, providing a floor space of 25 to 50 m2. Unlike modular structures, the mobile home has minimal partition cross-sections, making its interiors appear less permanent and provisional.
Insulation of the mobile home
A year-round house is a slightly heavier structure than a strictly summer house, because it usually has an additional layer of thermal insulation, protecting the interior against excessive heat loss. Owing to this insulation, appropriate temperature inside the house can be increased and maintained during the winter period.
Not only is thermal insulation useful in winter, but also during the hot summer time. Properly insulated all-year-round houses heat up much less than objects without such protection, so on a hot day the interior of the house remains cool, providing pleasant refreshment.
Thermoinsulation of the mobile home using polyurethane foam
The greatest loss of heat is caused by poorly planned and inadequate insulation of the walls, roof and floor. High quality insulation materials and their skilful application significantly improve the energy efficiency of any building, including a mobile home.
PUR foam can be used for insulating a mobile home; its liquid form creates a uniform insulation layer, eliminates air bridges, ensures very good tightness of the insulated surface, and does not lose its properties with time. It also effectively protects the house against heat loss in winter, and protects it against excessive solar radiation in summer.
Insulation of a mobile home with PUR foam allows for thermal insulation of several elements at the same time, starting from foundations, ending with roof elements. This method is also very quick and does not require any additional preparation of the ground or any special-purpose protection in this respect. Due to its low weight, polyurethane foam does not burden the house structure, it is a chemically neutral material, it does not cause allergic reactions, and it does not constitute an favourably environment for the development of fungi and other harmful microorganisms.
When choosing additional insulation for the mobile home, regardless of whether the insulation material is expanded polystyrene, mineral wool or PUR foam, it is worth consulting specialists in this field and entrusting them with completion of this type of works. You should also not forget about insulating the house from the outside by making e.g. water insulation from closed-cell polyurethane foam.
Advantages of the 'property'
Mobile home is now an excellent alternative not only for recreational or holiday homes, but sometimes also for wooden or brick buildings, mainly due to their affordable price. In addition, the mobility of such a solution allows you to freely move it, as well as transport it from place to place.
Advantages of mobile homes:
- low cost of purchase, erection and operation
- fully equipped and functional
- ready to move in immediately
- all systems included
- quick implementation
- easy settlement on the plot
- solid stabilisation with simple foundations or blocks
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