Why Exterior Paint Colors for Manufactured Homes Matter
The exterior paint colors for manufactured homes play a crucial role beyond just sheltering the structure from the elements. They are the first impression your home makes, influencing everything from its apparent size and style to its integration within the neighborhood. Selecting the right palette is an investment in your home’s future and your own enjoyment of it.
Painting the exterior is a powerful way to boost curb appeal. A home with a fresh, attractive paint job looks well-maintained and inviting. This is particularly important if you’re considering selling in the future, as strong curb appeal can significantly increase interest and potentially the resale value of your manufactured home. It signals to potential buyers that the home has been cared for.
Beyond aesthetics and value, the right exterior paint colors for manufactured homes contribute to their longevity. Quality exterior paint provides a protective layer against weather, UV rays, and moisture, helping to prevent damage to the siding and underlying structure. It’s a vital part of home maintenance that keeps your cherished investment looking its best for years to come.
Key Factors When Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
Selecting the perfect exterior paint colors for manufactured homes involves more than just picking shades you like. Several practical factors should influence your decision to ensure the best outcome for your specific property. Considering these elements will help you narrow down the vast array of options to find a palette that is both beautiful and functional.
Consider Your Location and Environment
The climate and natural surroundings significantly impact how colors appear and perform. In sunny climates, darker colors absorb more heat, potentially making your home warmer and causing colors to fade faster over time. Lighter colors reflect sunlight and heat, which can be more energy-efficient in hot regions.
Think about the landscape around your manufactured home. Do you want the home to blend in with lush greenery or a desert backdrop, or do you prefer it to stand out? Colors inspired by your natural environment – earthy tones, sky blues, or forest greens – can create a harmonious look. Also, be mindful of any community guidelines or HOA rules regarding exterior colors.
Architectural Style and Home Age
The style and age of your manufactured home can offer clues for appropriate color choices. While manufactured homes come in various styles, from traditional to modern, some palettes naturally complement certain looks. An older manufactured home might benefit from colors that modernize its appearance, while a newer one might be suited to trendier or bolder choices.
Classic, timeless colors often work well for most styles and ages, offering a sense of stability and charm. However, don’t be afraid to use color to define your home’s character. A pop of unexpected color on the front door, for example, can add personality without committing to a bold main color.
Existing Elements: Roof, Trim, and Skirting
Your home isn’t a blank canvas; it has existing elements with fixed colors that need to be considered. The roof color is perhaps the most dominant fixed element and should coordinate or complement your chosen paint colors. Common roof colors like grey, black, brown, or red asphalt shingles pair well with specific color palettes.
Pay close attention to the color of your trim (window frames, door frames, corner boards), doors, and notably, the skirting around the base of your manufactured home. The skirting is a significant visual component and should harmonize with the main body color and trim. A contrasting trim color can make architectural details pop, while a coordinating color creates a softer, more cohesive look.
Popular and Effective Color Palettes
Exploring different color schemes is perhaps the most exciting part of choosing exterior paint colors for manufactured homes. While personal preference is key, certain palettes are consistently popular for their ability to enhance curb appeal, create different moods, and work well with the typical architecture of manufactured homes. Let’s look at some options.
Classic Neutral Palettes
Neutral colors are a go-to choice for many manufactured homeowners, and for good reason. They are timeless, versatile, and appeal to a broad audience, making them an excellent choice if future resale is a consideration. Neutrals like whites, greys, beiges, and greiges (a mix of grey and beige) provide a clean, sophisticated backdrop that allows landscaping and architectural details to shine.
A popular neutral scheme might involve a warm beige or taupe body color, crisp white trim, and a muted accent color like deep green or charcoal grey on the door. Alternatively, a cool grey body with white trim and a navy blue or black door offers a modern, sleek appearance. Neutral palettes are also forgiving and tend to age gracefully.
Making a Bold Statement
For those who want their manufactured home to truly stand out, bold colors can be incredibly effective. While a fully vibrant home might not be for everyone, strategically used bold shades can add immense personality and charm. This is where understanding the difference between body, trim, and accent colors becomes crucial.
Dark and Dramatic Colors
Dark colors such as deep navy blue, charcoal grey, forest green, or even black body colors are gaining popularity for manufactured homes. They can make a home feel grounded, modern, and sophisticated. Dark colors work particularly well with crisp white or light grey trim for high contrast, or with natural wood accents.
However, be mindful of the climate; dark colors absorb heat. Also, consider the scale of your home – very dark colors can sometimes make smaller homes feel smaller unless balanced with lighter trim and surroundings. Paired with the right landscaping and skirting, dark colors offer a dramatic and stylish transformation.
Vibrant and Expressive Colors
Bright, vibrant colors like cheerful yellows, bold reds, or striking teals can infuse a manufactured home with personality and energy. These colors are often best used strategically, perhaps as an accent color on the front door, shutters, or other architectural features, while keeping the main body color more subdued.
Using a vibrant color as the main body color requires careful consideration of your neighborhood and personal style. A cheerful yellow home with white trim and a red door, for instance, makes a strong, friendly statement. When using vibrant colors, ensure they complement the surrounding landscape and aren’t overly jarring.
Harmonious Combinations: Body, Trim, and Accent
The magic of exterior paint colors for manufactured homes often lies in the combination of colors used for the different components of the house. A widely accepted rule of thumb for creating a balanced exterior scheme is the 60-30-10 rule:
- 60% Body Color: This is the dominant color used on the main walls of the house.
- 30% Trim Color: This is used on trim boards, window frames, door frames, and sometimes the skirting. It should contrast or complement the body color.
- 10% Accent Color: This is your splash of personality, used on the front door, shutters, or other small architectural details.
Applying this rule helps create visual interest and balance. For example, a home might have a light grey body (60%), white trim (30%), and a bright red door (10%). Or, a dark blue body (60%), light grey trim and skirting (30%), and a vibrant yellow door (10%). Experimenting with different applications of this rule allows for countless unique and harmonious combinations.
Tips for Success and Avoiding Common Mistakes
Choosing the exterior paint colors for manufactured homes is a significant undertaking, and a little planning goes a long way. Here are some essential tips to ensure your painting project is a success and you achieve the look you envision. Avoid common pitfalls by approaching the process thoughtfully.
The single most important tip is to get paint samples. Colors look dramatically different on a small chip in a store compared to a large area on your home’s exterior under natural light. Paint large sample patches (at least 2ft x 2ft) on different sides of your house, including areas that are sunny and shady. Observe how the colors change throughout the day under varying light conditions before making your final decision.
Consider the paint finish or sheen. Flatter finishes tend to hide imperfections better but can be harder to clean. Higher sheens like satin or semi-gloss are more durable and easier to wash but can highlight uneven surfaces. For most manufactured home siding, a low-sheen exterior paint like satin or eggshell is a good balance of durability and ability to conceal minor flaws.
Don’t underestimate the importance of preparation. A successful paint job relies heavily on proper prep work. This includes thoroughly cleaning the exterior surfaces to remove dirt, mildew, and peeling paint. Repair any damaged siding or trim and prime surfaces, especially if you are changing from a dark color to a light color or dealing with bare spots. Proper prep ensures better adhesion and a longer-lasting finish.
Remember the trim and the front door. The trim defines the lines of your home, and the door is a focal point. Choosing distinct colors for these can significantly enhance the overall appeal. The front door is an excellent place to use a bold or vibrant color if you’re hesitant to commit to a bright main color.
The skirting of your manufactured home is arguably as important as the siding itself when considering the overall exterior look. Whether you have metal, vinyl, or faux stone skirting, its color needs to flow with the main painting scheme. Painting metal or vinyl skirting the same trim color is a common, clean approach. If you have faux stone or brick, ensure your paint colors complement those existing tones. Ignoring the skirting can make even a perfectly painted home look disjointed.
Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider consulting with a color professional or utilizing online visualization tools offered by paint companies. These tools often allow you to upload a photo of your home and virtually test different exterior paint colors for manufactured homes. Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes or technological assistance can help you see possibilities you hadn’t considered.
Conclusion
Selecting the ideal exterior paint colors for manufactured homes is a powerful way to personalize your property, significantly boost its curb appeal, and protect your investment. It’s a process that requires careful consideration of your home’s specific characteristics – its location, style, and existing elements – as well as your personal taste.
By understanding the impact of different palettes, from classic neutrals that offer timeless elegance to bold statements that inject personality, you can make informed choices. Remember the importance of harmonious combinations using body, trim, and accent colors, and always, always test your colors with large samples on your home before committing.
A beautifully painted manufactured home stands as a testament to pride of ownership. It’s more than just a new look; it’s a refreshed identity and enhanced protection. Take the time to explore your options, use the tips provided, and embark on the journey to transforming your manufactured home with the perfect exterior paint colors that you’ll love for years to come.