What is the difference between mobile homes and mini homes?

Single-Section Manufactured Homes (Mini Homes) are modern and stylish residential homes that are built to meet (or exceed) the CSA Z-240 National Canadian Building Code. Standard specs for today’s mini homes include engineered roof trusses with an R-50 insulation value, 2X6″ exterior walls, 16″ OC, 2X10″ floor joists, and 8ft ceilings.  All walls and ceilings are primed and painted gyproc, with no baton stripping or paneling to be found. Today’s new mini homes can qualify for a 25yr mortgage, as lenders know that the value will be there after a 25 yr amortization period.

Older generation Mobile Homes, in comparison, were manufactured to a lesser standard, usually including 2 x 8 floor joists, 2 x 4 exterior walls, lower ceilings, interior paneling and rolled or flat roofs, and could not qualify for a mortgage. 

Mobile Homes were also built on a steel frame with wheels, axles and a hitch, which was used to haul the home, whereas today’s mini homes are constructed solely from kiln-dried lumber framing and are transported on a hydraulic float, providing a more durable construction standard and far greater energy-efficiency.