Architecture

Mobile Home Skirting: Benefits, Options, and 10 Ideas (Ultimate Guide)

Last Updated on January 20, 2022 by Kimberly Crawford

Many individuals want to reside in a mobile home but are hesitant to acquire one because of the undeserved stigma attached to them. However, if you can get this stigma out of your head, there are numerous mobile home skirting concepts that you can use to create living in your mobile home a pleasant experience.

While mobile homes aren’t typically linked with beauty, life in one isn’t necessarily bleak. In reality, for the price of an apartment, you can locate a large mobile home for you and your family where you may have animals and enjoy residing in your own house.

What is mobile home skirting?

The practice of covering the area beneath your mobile home to keep it from cold, animals, water, and snow is known as mobile home skirting.

Skirting safeguards plumbing work and prevents pipes or ducts from freezing in the winter. A properly constructed skirt will give storage space for goods that aren’t used on a regular basis.

When you’re not sure what kind of skirting you’ll need, you can always hire an expert to come out and inspect the situation and give you a quote. Experts will recommend the best product based on the kind of mobile home, price, weather, and the owner’s own interests.

Benefits of mobile home skirting

Mobile houses are designed to be self-contained, which allows them to be placed in almost any area.

Blocking and support are commonly used while establishing on location for durability. This leaves a gap between the base of the structure and the land, a region vulnerable to the elements’ wrath.

By properly skirting your mobile home, you effectively act as a barrier that surrounds the open space, protecting it from the damage that would otherwise occur in Mother Nature’s aftermath.

Skirting will preserve your plumbing from freezing, ensure that your home keeps the majority of its heat throughout the winter, and keep wild animals away from you and your family.

Types of mobile home skirting

1. Vinyl Skirting

This has been the most often utilized skirting material on the planet. Many people choose it since it is inexpensive, simple to install, and looks stunning. A kit costing less than a thousand dollars would be enough to construct skirting around most mobile homes.

If you’re going to use vinyl, make sure you get everything from the same retailer to avoid shade mismatching, which is a regular problem with vinyl even though you purchase the same exact hue.

Some of us who care about climate change will be pleased to learn that vinyl is an environmentally friendly skirting option. Chlorine and ethylene are the most fundamental raw ingredients used in the production of vinyl.

2. Faux Stone

Simulated rock skirting is not the same as faux stone skirting. The texture of faux stone skirting is likewise comparable to that of actual rock. Polyurethane panels with imitation stone skirting are used. As a result, it’s fairly long-lasting.

However, as you’ll see, it’s far more costly than the alternatives. However, if you’re planning to sell your house, it’s a great option because it increases the worth of your property, while vinyl can significantly decrease it.

3. Concrete

For mobile homes, it is one of the more durable skirting alternatives. It’s as well as one of the most long-lasting. It may give a mobile home a more permanent appearance, which is nearly always a positive thing.

Concrete skirting, which is often composed of cinder blocks, has the disadvantage of being labor-intensive. It will take quite a lengthy time to construct and will require the assistance of an expert, while other skirting may be installed by the homeowner.

4. Brick

Skirting made of recycled bricks is really appealing. If you really want the mobile home to pop out and be distinctive from the crowd, consider using repurposed bricks. Installing bricks, on the other hand, necessitates some effort and knowledge.

Concrete pavers are another great skirting option for individuals want to make their mobile home stick out.

While correct installation may necessitate some rigorous schooling, a successful installation will easily outlive almost all other skirting options. If you use used cinder blocks instead of new ones, you will save a lot of money.

7. Wood

Underneath the skirting, a panel is created. After you’ve gathered your components, secure the plank with wooden screws, allowing an excess beneath. Because the skirting will loop over it, the overhang protects it.

You’ll need a board in which they can do piping maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. The screen will be perfect for storing small tools.

The biggest downside of wood borders is that when immersed in water, the wood rots and decays. However, to protect against moisture or water exposure and increase longevity, a water-resistant substance can be used beneath the plywood.

8. Metal

Metal is widely accessible, and so most people seem to prefer to use it for their home’s skirting since it is durable.

It’s also reasonably priced, and installation is easier than with vinyl or wood. Metal also comes in a variety of skirting forms, including ribbed panels. The panels can be placed beneath and painted in the colors of one’s choice.

It can survive the impacts of wind and water since it is sturdy. Perforated panels, which have been popular in the past, are a good option if you want a gleaming look.

Ribbed steel panels come in a variety of colors, and certain providers normally offer a color fading warranty. Thick boards, on the other hand, can be used if greater strength is desired.

9. Foam

The majority of people who select foam do so because of the variety of colors and textures available. It can provide you with fantastic mobile home skirting designs that will make your property look stunning.

Many people also use it as an extra layer of insulation beneath and in front of conventional skirting materials.

A whole rigid foam kit costs less than $1000, much like vinyl. Because of its excellent insulating capabilities, rigid foam is very common in modern constructed homes. Foam sheets are also available in huge plywood-like panels, making them an ideal complement to your current mobile home skirting.

Types of mobile home foundations

1. Basement

Basements not only give structural strength, but they also provide additional dwelling and/or storage capacity to your house! This foundation is functional and comes with a number of benefits.

Here are some foundational characteristics concerning this basement:

Basements are more expensive to build because of the time and materials required.
Basements require longer time to develop and construct owing to the materials used and the structural architecture of the basement.
Can be employed in seismic locations because of its seismic compatibility.
Flood resistance is not suitable for usage in flood-prone locations.
Can be utilized in frosty environment
Provide more living space since your home should have enough capacity to expand
Wind loads are well resisted, and its foundation even provides a safe haven in heavy winds.

2. Crawlspace

A crawl space basis for a mobile home is typically constructed of an unearthed floor with poured concrete milers that will go into the ground to hold the place down.

The manufactured home structure is supported by foundations placed strategically for support points that are unique to each home and sit on a perimeter wall.

Here are some considerations for crawl spaces:

Crawl space foundations are cost-effective when compared to certain foundation technologies.
Construction time: this system is in the center of the installation time scale, but it is usually finished by the moment the home is on site.
Wind resistance isn’t great for hurricane-prone places, but it’s still useful in high-wind areas.
Seismic resistance is stable

3. Piers

The most common foundation system for mobile homes is the beam and pier system. Anchors are run into the ground along with the beam and pier foundation system to maintain your home in place and safeguard it from strong winds. Steel straps are fastened once the anchors are placed in the ground.

The anchors are connected to the primary I-beam on the steel frame of your home via the straps. Cross-members link those I-beams, giving the foundation more solidity. Outriggers are then soldered to the iron I-beams for further stability and strength.

4. Slabs

Instead of the home’s floor, a slab foundation works as a foundation for reinforcement under a prefabricated home.

Ground anchors are usually installed in the concrete slab, which allows it to rest above the ground. It is insulated all the way around, keeping the earth beneath it warm.

The following are some facts concerning slab foundations:

Among the most cost-effective methods
This foundation requires very little time.
In earthquake zones, it’s possible to utilize it.
It can be employed in flood-prone locations.
For sloping lots, this isn’t the best option.
A slab foundation could be employed provided the wind zone criteria for your site are verified.
It is possible to employ a heated slab foundation in locations where there is a lot of frost.

20 Best mobile home skirting ideas

1. Bricks and concrete

Ceramic cinder blocks are long-lasting, simple to handle with, and provide some insulation. Modern cinder blocks could be costly, however repurposed cinder blocks could be had for tenth of the price.

If any of the edges are broken, simply turn them inside out. Although cinder-block skirting takes a little longer to build than other options, the long-term benefits make it worthwhile.

Reclaimed bricks are another alternative for appealing skirting. “Cinder blocks” are available in both normal foundation construction blocks and ornamental wall blocks, also referred to as “beauty blocks.”

2. Metal

Reclaimed iron and tin are cost-effective solutions in mobile home skirting because they are durable and waterproof.

Metal skirting attaches simply to a hardwood 2 x 4″ frame using weatherproof nails or screws, and you might just be able to locate recycled metals which work well enough for mobile home skirting in addition to the new supplies made at home stores.

Numerous antique sheds and barns utilized anodized tin, which is a type of paint bonding that shows a patchwork which makes the canister appear bumpy, like an ancient brick wall—an appearance that can be very appealing. Ribbed, galvanized roofs likewise perform well for skirting.

3. Consider new ideas.

With so many various materials available for skirting a mobile home, possessing a drab outside is no longer acceptable.

There are several mobile home skirting concepts you may apply with the various skirting materials on the market, whether you want a budget solution or are willing to spend as much for durability.

Take your time, like you would with any other job, to arrive with the finest method that will provide you with the ideal skirting option for your house.

Before making a selection, compare the various materials, dealers, and installation companies. Inquire about your friends about their skirting options, and look up reviews of the many suppliers you’re considering contacting online.

4. Composite materials

These are possibly the most cost-effective skirting options available today. Composite materials are sold in sheets and come in a variety of thicknesses. The thickness determines the price, with 3/8 inch thickness being the lowest.

The disadvantage of employing composite materials with skirting is their high maintenance expenses. You’ll have to seal or paint it on a regular basis.

During the installation process, you will also need to add certain frames. These expenses might add up to a lot of money over time.

5. Pickets of cedar

Some people choose cedar pickets because of the wood’s ability to withstand the elements. Because most fences are made of cedar pickets, you may reuse the pickets for your constructed house skirting.

Fence pickets can be used for skirting for an additional extra layer to an established skirting material or used as a stand-alone skirting option.

Remember to do adequate backing and framing for additional stability if you’re doing the latter. Pickets are indeed the way to go for homeowners searching for a skirting design with a laid-back vibe.

Furthermore, you will discover they are easy to deal with and they will last a long time for you and your family.

6. Blocks of cinder

Cinder blocks are yet another great skirting option for individuals who want to make their mobile home stand out.

While correct installation may need some rigorous schooling, a high success rate installation will easily outlive so many other skirting products.

If you use used cinder blocks instead of new ones, you will save a lot of money.

It’s pretty easy to work with blocks or bricks, and the protection they provide is sufficient for most mobile houses.

If you believe this is the best option for your mobile home, contact a skirting installation expert. However, if you are skilled at DIY projects, you should plan aside a significant amount of time to complete this job.

7. Tin

Tin It is extremely waterproof and has a long life span. If you’ve ever looked closely at ancient barns or sheds, you’ve probably noticed that they were built of tin.

If the paint wore off, the metal would be annealed (paint bonding), giving it a rough appearance. Galvanized corrugated roofing tin is another option. This will provide your skirting a rustic appearance and will last for years.

8. Panels of sandstone from Reil

The appearance of these plastic panels is that of stones. They are quite simple to install and come in a variety of colors. Reil rock paneling is more costly than vinyl.

Those who prefer them to vinyl, however, stress out that they have been more durable. They also have a significant advantage in terms of durability.

9. Skirting that seems like it’s made of “rock”

Because it isn’t truly rocks, we call it “rock” skirting. It will not have the same roughness as rocks, however it does appear to be meant to look like rocks. They come in panels and are available in practically any neutral hue.

Brown and gray are the most prevalent hues. The imitation rock border is composed of plastic, not stone, regardless of how it seems. Instead of vinyl, this is the simplest approach to achieve a more natural look.

10. Stone that is not real

However, as you’ll see, it’s far more pricey than the alternatives. However, if you’re planning to sell your house, it’s a great option because it increases the worth of your property, while vinyl can greatly decrease it.

FAQs

How much does it cost to skirt a mobile home?

A normal sized single wide will cost between $500 to $900 to skirt, while a double wide will cost between $900 ato $1800. That comprises the $100-150 added to the projected cost to compensate for the access doors, vents, and construction that will be required.

What is the cheapest way to skirt a mobile home?

Vinyl is a low-cost mobile home skirting which will do the job but isn’t particularly attractive. Vinyl skirting, often known as trailer skirting, is also quite affordable.

As a result, it’s quick and simple to change, which is ideal because you’ll have to do it several times. Especially throughout the course of the mobile home’s lifespan.

On Craigslist, you may locate a lot more vinyl mobile home skirting. Whether you’re looking for Craigslist mobile home skirting, though, you should phone the provider and request a sample. Also, inquire about their warranty.

What can you use for skirting on a mobile home?

Moho skirting may be made out of a variety of various materials. Just a few examples are tin, stucco, brick, cinder block, plywood, T1011, tough board, imitation, vinyl, and rock. You may use almost any material, however the ones listed below are perhaps the most popular.

For a variety of reasons, vinyl skirting is by far the most popular pick among mobile home owners: it is simple to install, inexpensive, and appealing. Vinyl is also one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable materials on the planet. Ethylene is manufactured from natural gas while vinyl is created from common salt.

How long does it take to put skirting on a mobile home?

Once the materials have arrived and construction has begun, a competent handyman usually takes 1-2 days (4-20 hours) to complete most single or double wides. Depending on the material, times might vary dramatically.

Once the materials have arrived and construction has begun, typical single-wides or double-wides might take 2-4 days (8-30 hours) to install if you’re doing it personally for the first time. Similarly, depending on the material, timeframes might vary dramatically.

Should mobile home skirting be vented?

It certainly does. A prefabricated home’s crawl area has to be ventilated just as much as a site-built houses, and a deficiency of ventilation creates comparable issues in both: wood rot in the floor structure, deformed floorboards, and mildew development.

Skirting is required for two reasons: it keeps rats and other pest creatures out of the basement area, and it is required by mortgage lenders as a condition of loan approval. However, air movement thru the skirting is required to remove moisture that is continually rising from the soil beneath the house.

The conventional ventilation prescription is a square inch of circulation opening per square foot of residential floor space. It’s possible to have skirting featuring built-in air vents.

What is the cheapest way to underpin a mobile home?

Vinyl lattice is low-cost and waterproof, making it ideal in a mobile home skirting. The typical appearance of a grid is a diamond-shaped lattice formed by diagonally crossing strips, although more intriguing arrangements are possible. In hotter regions, lattice is a better choice for mobile home skirting since it is vented by design.

It comes in a variety of lengths and widths, making customizing as simple as gauging and slicing with a jigsaw. To keep the top edge in place, vinyl tracks are affixed to the underneath of the house.

Countersunk or tracks into the earth can be used to anchor the bottom edge. The border of a mobile home can be secured by attaching mesh sieve to the rear of the framework before installation.

Conclusion

Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to prefabricated house skirting; you could always think of a different strategy as long as it suits the financial sense that brings out the desired essence of your private space.

Allowing the weather to damage your mobile home is not a good idea. Consult a skirting expert about the options accessible to you all for a cooler, better-looking, and more inviting living space.

Do you have any skirting ideas or materials for mobile homes that we didn’t cover in this article? Let us know in the comments section. What recommendations would you provide to someone seeking for another best skirting concept for a mobile home that is visually appealing?