Tearing down low ceiling

[Irishgirl]

We have just purchased a 1994-5 14x80 Mobile home. We are completely renovating. There is cathedral ceilings in center area, rest of the ceilings are only as high as the wall, about 7'. Can we knock back the short ceilings and make the entire MH cathedrals ceilings? Or will this weaken the roof structure?
Thank you

[David Oxhandler]

The Trusses in the cathedral areas are scissor trusses... instead of the bottom cord being a straight rafter it forms a V so the ceiling gets that cathedral effect. Where you have flat ceilings you have a normal truss-rafter system.

You can not remove the rafter section unless you replace each truss with a new scissor truss. This is not a week end project, It will require some engineering and considerable experience.

[Jodi64]

I have a 16 x 70, AMERICAN mobile home. I want to take out an inner wall that divides the kitchen from the dinning area, it has cabinets on it and only goes part way across leaving a 35" short hallway. The ceiling is flat.

My question is do I have to brace the ceiling if I take out this wall?

[David Oxhandler]

I am not familiar with AMERICAN mobile homes. Is American the builder or the dealer??

If the ceiling is flat through out the home, then the walls that run paralleled to the 16 wide sides are most likely not load bearing, and as such, could be removed without any problems. If the home has some flat and some pitched ceilings there is a good chance that those walls support the transition from flat to pitched.

Removing the wall will leave some ugly scars and you will need to do some cosmetic refinishing. Download The Manual for Manufactured Home Repair & Upgrade. "The Manual" will answer almost every question on manufactured home repair that you can think of. Not only does this book show you how to repair and maintain your home, but also great methods for upgrading it. With "The Manual" next to your tool box you will be ready for any repairs or upgrades you would like to make.