Mobile home skirting is absolutely necessary. It hides the structural elements, adds a barrier to keep pipes from freezing, protects the home from wild animals, helps retain heat in the winter, and gives the mobile home a finished look.
Mobile home skirting can help maintain an average temperature beneath the home, too. Preventing cold winds, hot summer sun, and extreme temperatures from building under the mobile home can reduce your heating and cooling costs.
Mobile HomeĀ SkirtingĀ creates great storage space forĀ seasonal goods such asĀ holiday decor, mowers, and weed-eaters. Every mobile home should have skirting and in most parts of the country, itĀ is the law.Ā
There are several different kinds of materials you can use to skirt your home. Brick, stucco, tin (metal), cinder block, T1011, plywood, hardy board, faux rock, and vinyl are just a few.
Hereās a complete guide to help you choose the best option for your mobile home skirting:
Calculating How Much Skirting You Need
Regardless of what type of skirting you chose, you will need to figure out how much you need. Hereās how:
First, calculate the linear footage of your home.
Add together the length and width of all 4 sides of your home. In my case, it would be 58+58+12+12Ā since my home is 58ā² long by 12ā² wide.
If you have porches or additions, make sure to add that amountĀ to your final figure.Ā Only include the 3 visible sides since the side attached to the home has already been included.
Hereās an example:
That end amount will be how much, in feet, you will need to purchase of the boarding, channeling, and footing for the skirting to attach to or if itās vinyl siding, the back, top and ground tracks.
Next, figure the average height between the ground and the bottom of your home.
This will help you calculate how much material you will need to cover from the ground to the home.
Go to each corner of the home and measure from the ground to approximately 2ā³ above the bottom of the siding. Some companies say to just measure where you want your skirting to start at the bottom of the home. Adding extra to the calculation is a smart idea.
Once the 4 corners have been measured, go to the middle of the length of the home (the long sides) and measure. Youāll do this on both the front and backside of the home. Add all the measurements together and then divide by 6, the number of times you took the measurements. Thatās going to be your average height in inches.
Now that you know the linear footage and average height of your home, you can figure out what type of siding you want and get a good estimate of the total cost.
The supplier will help you determine how much you need to order as different materials come in different sizes. Hereās a little break down of the types you can choose from:
Mobile Home Skirting Options
Vinyl Skirting
Vinyl skirting is the most popular for a few reasons: it is easy to install, not hard on the wallet and very attractive. Most kits run about $600 and up for a basic sized single wide and will include all the pieces you need to completely skirt the entire home. There are 4 basic pieces needed for vinyl skirting:
- The panel itself which is sold in 12-foot lengths. This is to make it easy for homes that are sitting on an incline, you simply cut the panels at the right dimension you need for the area. You can start at 2ā² on one side and end up with 12ā³ on the other. Youāll need to use the average height method to order the correct amount of skirting.
- The ground track which is what is bolted into the ground with long rods. It is a U-shaped channel and the panel will fit down into it and keep is secured.
- The top back is what goes on the bottom of the home before the panels are set into place. It has a top J channel that the top front piece will fit into.
- The top front piece is the horizontal strip in front of the panel. It gives the entire system a more polished appearance and allows the skirting more security. Itās the last part you add.
Vinyl usually comes in 11ā8ā³ panels, although they call them 12ā² panels. You should buy all you need in one lot plus an extra panel or two. The dying process is not 100% accurate so there could be mismatching of the color even though you are ordering the same color.
Vinyl siding and skirting are very environmentally friendly, unfortunately, it is misunderstood by a lot of people. Most think vinyl comes from oil and the refining process, but that is incorrect. All vinyl productions start with two simple and abundant building blocks āchlorine from common salt and ethylene from natural gas. According to Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) software, vinyl siding out performs brick, stucco, and wood on how it affects the environment based on a combination of environmental criteria.
The disadvantages of vinyl are that it does not do well with weed eaters. There are guards you can add to remedy that though. Storms and high winds can also be an issue.
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Reil Rock Panels
The second most popular skirting option is the Reil Rock panels. They are made of sturdy plastic, have the look of stone and come in 3 colors. They come in 5-foot sections with 3 height options: 2ā6ā³, 3ā² and 4ā². Also, they are very easy to install because you simply use a U channel or J channel on the ground and screw the panel into a board attached to the home (some just attach directly to the homeĀ and some donāt even use the ground channel). There is a track you can put on top of the panel,Ā but itās not needed either. If your panel is just shy a couple of inches you can use the top track to cover the issue.
A 5-foot section costs about $30. While itās more expensive than vinyl itās sturdier and can handle a bit more.
To calculate for Reil Rock, simply convert your linear foot to inches by dividing by 12. Then use your average height calculation to get the correct panel height to buy. There is a lip on these panels that are about 2-3ā³ so keep that in mind.
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Faux Rock or Brick Panels
Most faux panels are made from a polyurethane and come in 46 Ā¼ā wide Ć 24ā³ high Ć 1 Ā¼ā thick panels. They look remarkably like real stone. You can frame the area to be skirted with 2Ć2 or 2Ć4ā²s and then screw the panels into the frame. You can also completely frame the area with plywood and screw onto that for a sturdier installation. They are light but sturdy, and they can withstand temperature fluctuations very well.
They are a bit expensive but cheaper than real stone and much easier to install. One panel runs around $100 (give or take depending on style).
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Concrete, Brick, and Cinder Block
If you want absolute permanence concrete, brick, or cinder blockĀ is probably yourĀ best choice.
Adding brick or cinder block to a home is a labor-intensive ordeal, but the advantages are worth it. Being practically indestructible is itās best advantage.
Concrete panels are easier to install but have similar indestructibility and longevity as brick and cinder block. There are companies that specialize in concrete skirting butĀ you can purchase precast concrete panels, too.
Thereās a little misunderstanding surrounding cinder block and brick skirting and āpermanent foundationsā for mobile and manufactured homes. FHA loans require that all manufactured homes be permanently installed but that has little to do with the skirting material. A manufactured home can be permanently installed and have vinyl skirting. Permanent installation is about the ties, not the skirting.
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Brick and cinder block are a bit expensive, the price will depend on the type you choose.
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Metal Skirting
Metal can be steel or tin. Both are great products that are affordable. Simple installation is an added advantage. A simple 2ā³x4ā³ frame with the panels attached by screws or nails (rust free only). You can also attach the top of the panel to your home via attached board (or straight to the frame) and then dig a channel in the ground and backfill the ditch. Itās quick and easy and the dirt canāt hurt it at all.
These days the designs for metal mobile home skirting are getting more attractive, too. The old cinder block or large brick stamped patternĀ has beenĀ the most popular designĀ but with a little research, you can find new patterns.
Metal mobile home skirtingĀ can beĀ easily painted. Metal can withstandĀ aĀ weed eater which is always a plus.
The price for metal skirting is around $10-15 per 5-foot panel.
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Foam Skirting
Foam skirting is sometimes called āInsulated Vinyl Skirtingā or āRigid Foamā. The claim is that they will reduce underside energy loss by up to 22%. You can get them in different colors and textures, like fine pebble or brick. This skirting can be used along with a kit or frame or as added insulation in front or behind other skirting solutions.
You can get complete framing solutions that act like frames but have channels to put the foams into. Most suppliers recommend this. The price of the panels is approximately $10-15 per foot. The installation kits depend on the linear foot needed. One company has an entire kit for about $650 (just for the installation kit, the panels are bought separately).
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Plywood, OSB, and T-111 Skirting
Wood has always been a well-known construction material. UsingĀ wood for skirting isnāt the best option unless itās treated. Itās susceptible to rot and insects otherwise. Hardiboard andĀ OSBĀ are very sturdy. OSB is cut with the trees grain and the engineered together to make a very strong product.
Wood products that are not waterproof are going to get swelling from moisture. Price depends on what you choseĀ and installation can be simple or complicated. Some people suggest that you use a sealer and caulk the ends of the boards before putting them up just as an added precaution against moisture. You can use planks and get the look of siding, too. Lots of potential with wood!
Other Skirting Options
- Metal roofing is a good choice. Itās relatively affordable for the size and itās water, rot and insect proof. if it can handle being on a roof, it can handle being used as skirting!
- Old barn tin has already stood the test of time and itās gorgeous. One of our featured homes has antique barn tin as a skirting, and it is gorgeous!
- Railroad ties work, Iāve seen it and it was a very nice look. I bet the installation was labor intense but the insulation qualities have to be great.
- Have you ever seen straw used? I have, it was in a campground with small trailers so it maybe would work well for a full-sized mobile home. Iām sure thereās some moisture issues as well as rot and insect but perhaps you could spray it with something? Iād research that very well before deciding.
- Soffet is cheap and can work well with the proper framing. It comes in different colors and is remarkably similar to vinyl.
- Corrugated fiberglass has been used for mobile home skirting for years. Thereās a nice white you can buy and with the proper framing, it would last for years. Not sure about the insulation value.
Regardless of what option you chose, you need to have access panels and vents in the skirting so keep that in mind.
That should get you started on mobile home skirting. Basically, if itās used in construction you can probably use it as mobile home skirting but you need to keep insulation qualities and installation ease in mind. Skies the limit
Itās always good to try to reuse a material thatās bound for the landfill and itās great for the budget. Look around and ask around, you never know what someone may have laying around that would work as great skirting for your mobile home.
Thanks so much for reading Mobile Home Livingās Ultimate Guide to Mobile Home Skirting!
Photo Sources
Faux Panels
Insulated Panels
Reil Rock
Hi Harry,
It sounds like it will be a wonderful design! I would use screws on the top bracing, and on the bottom, you may want to look into a metal channel so you can have a little less give between the vertical braces. Iād maybe seal the panels on the bottom just as an extra layer of protection from rot and ants.
Iād love to see photos! Best of luck!
Hi Trig,
We donāt sell anything, we just share a few places that we find online and appear to treat customers well. We are an affiliate of a mobile home supply store (but Iāve never even spoken to them personally, I just ordered a book from them and it was shipped fast and in good condition, so thatās really all the association I have with them).
I would call your local mobile home supply store and see what their prices are before you order. Shopping online can be cheaper but in most cases, the shipping charge will get you. Plus, returns and damages can be huge issues when buying online). If you donāt buy from your local retailer you can usually get a recommendation of installers.
Best of luck!
Good point on the contractors. So where would you recommend I find labor to install the skirting that I am considering buying from you? I am in New River, about 30 N of Phoenix.
Hi Billy,
You are absolutely right. We do go over the formula in the article titled 6 Mobile Home Maintenance Tips Every Owner Should Know but it really does need to be linked to more clearly and quoted to ensure that owners understand the dead air pockets in the corner and the ratio. Thanks for catching that!
One thing your article does not explain is that there is a standard (through HUD) regarding ventilation of a Manufactured Home! Regardless whether itās vinyl, wood, brick or foam core insulation, it must be vented properly.
Ā§ 3285.505 Crawlspace ventilation.
(a) A crawlspace with skirting must be provided with ventilation openings. The minimum net area of ventilation openings must not be less than one square foot (ft.2) for every 150 square feet (ft.2) of the homeās floor area. The total area of ventilation openings may be reduced to one square foot (ft.2) for every 1,500 square feet (ft.2) of the homeās floor area, where a uniform 6āmil polyethylene sheet material or other acceptable vapor retarder is installed, according to Ā§ 3285.204, on the ground surface beneath the entire floor area of the home. (b) Ventilation openings must be placed as high as practicable above the ground. (c) Ventilation openings must be located on at least two opposite sides to provide cross-ventilation. (d) Ventilation openings must be covered for their full height and width with a perforated corrosion and weather-resistant covering that is designed to prevent the entry of rodents. In areas subject to freezing, the coverings for the ventilation openings must also be of the adjustable type, permitting them to be in the open or closed position, depending on the climatic conditions. (e) Access opening(s) not less than 18 inches in width and 24 inches in height and not less than three square feet (ft.2) in area must be provided and must be located so that any utility connections located under the home are accessible. (f) Dryer vents and combustion air inlets must pass through the skirting to the outside. Any surface water runoff from the furnace, air conditioning, or water heater drains must be directed away from under the home or collected by other methods identified in Ā§ 3285.203.
Hi Tom,
You can use just about anything as long as it is framed well. In WV, we use old metal a lot for underpinning. The majority of the time, the frame was made of 1Ć1ā³ or 1Ć2ā³ with a vertical stud at every seam. I donāt recall how they handled the ground connection though I would say if the material is sturdy enough you wouldnāt need much.
Best of luck! I would love to see some pics of your process ā it may help other homeowners to share your project. Thanks!
This is my first time dealing with underpinning a mobile home, Can you use corrugated roofing for underpinning skirting? how do you frame to do that?
Hi I am looking put skirting on the bottom of my new modular home I have come up with a design to use 8 1/4ā³ Hardy plank siding in the vertical position 32ā³ high with 2ā³ bat ripped from hardy plank to cover the space between each board. I plan on making 2x4x8ā² treated panels with a 2Ć4 flat with a piece of 1/2ā³ treated plywood on each corner 1ā³ square and a 2Ć4 running diagonal from the top corner to he bottom corner for bracing. I plan to caulk and paint each panel as I put them down. Do you think this will work? Also what kind of nails should I use I have a framing nailer that can go up to a 3ā³ nail.
The top front piece of vinyl trim is not there merely for appearances. Itās there to hold the top of the skirting in place. Too many people think theyāre supposed to screw their skirting to their homes before snapping on the top piece. No, no, no! Your skirting will buckle if you do that. Instead, allow the skirting to āfloatā between the front and back pieces.
Visit any mobile home park, and youāll likely see lots of buckled vinyl skirting. Unfortunately, too many contractors are low-paid individuals with minimal training. They donāt know how to install skirting correctly. So do yourself a favor, and hire a contractor who actually knows what s/heās doing!
Hi Henry,
I do not but that sounds like a decent idea. Iād be worried about the R-Value in areas with rough winters ā the sunshine would help a lot but the thermal loss would likely neutralize it. I know you can go to Loweās and have the clear acrylic sheets cut to any size. You can use a sander to make it less translucent.
Best of luck! let me know how it goes!
Iāve been advised to consider replacing a few panels of our vinyl skirting with translucent panels to make the crawlspace less attractive to dark-loving pests like packrats and squirrels. Iāve been unable to locate a source. Do you know of one?
Hi Alana,
I found this: If the perimeter enclosure is non-load-bearing skirting comprised of lightweight material, the entire surface area of the skirting must be permanently attached to backing made of concrete, masonry, treated wood or a product with similar strength and durability.
The link below will take you to the HUDās Housing Handbooks page. Youāll want to download the 4000.1 books for FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook (there are two). https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh
Best of luck!
We are refinancing our home with a FHA loan. We are going to replace our vinyl skirting with hardie board. Do you know how we should install it to meet FHA guidelines?
Hi, Dee!
Try Mobile Home Partās Store at http://mobilehomepartsstore.com/category/SKP.html
And hereās a 10% off coupon code I received in my email the other day: Coupon Code: MHM2310
(Disclosure: I am an affiliate for them but I donāt know how to create a link so this is not an affiliate link).
They have a lot of good information on skirting but I havenāt had a chance to compare prices recently. They usually have the best prices but the shipping can get expensive on some items.
Hope that helps!
I was on a site recently and forgot to save it. It was a company that sold complete skirting kits for mobile homes. It included everything. Would you know of this site. I have searched and searched and cannot find it.
Hi Tim,
This is typical for areas with freezing weather, thatās why we only fasten the skirting panels to the tracking on the ground and not to the top trim. The panels are to stay loose on the top so it can move when the ground freezes and thaws. That trim piece on the top of the skirting (bottom of the home) is supposed to hold the panels in securely while still allowing the contraction in the cold and each panel should overlap the next by 2ā³ . The following PDF is the most informative skirting information I have came across online: http://www.jfw-melas.net/downloads/skirt-20.pdf
Hope that helps! Best of luck!
Hi. I live in a cold weather state and have problems with ground freeze that pushes up my skirting so much that it bends or pops out. Is there a different Front Cap Trim for Skirting wider than 4 inches that would allow the skirting to rise and fall. I have trimmed the panels as short that I can but they still bow very badly in extreme cold. I plan on replacing all my skirting this summer and would like to eliminate this problem every winter. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Tim
Hi Dimple,
Laws regarding parks completely depend on the state, county, and contract signed by the tenant. Sorry I canāt be more help.
Is it illegal for a mobil home park to force a tenant to take out the skirting if the mobil home belongs to the tenant and the tenant want to sell?
Hi Karen,
Typically, you would use a frame built from 2Ć2ās or 2Ć4ās (or even metal) to attach skirting to the home. Wood is usually cheaper and easier to work with. Creating a frame for your skirting is the same concept as building a wall, you create a frame to attach the Sheetrock and create structural strength. Some skirting, like vinyl, is bought as a complete system with their own framing but it doesnāt hurt to reinforce it, especially in high wind areas. Hereās a few images that may help: http://www.dmaskirting.com/index_files/metalmobilehomeskirtinginstallationinstructions.htm
Unfortunately, even the best frame wouldnāt be able to withstand a strong hurricane.
There are a couple of different options available for hurricane window protection. Thereās rolling shutters, colonial, panels, accordion, sliding, and the propped up Bahama shutters. Thereās even a new fabric. Google hurricane shutters or storm shutters and youāll find all the options. Hereās an article I found that may help: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/sfl-hc-shutterguide-htmlstory.html
Hereās our mobile home skirting guide: https://mobilehomeliving.org/mobile-home-skirting/
Best of luck!
How would you protect or anchor down your decorative skirting during a hurricane? We live on the coast and hurricanes are not unusual. I just wanted to see if anyone knows of how it could be done. Also does anyone know of plans for shutters that can be closed during a storm?
Hi Ben!
We skirted our home in tin that we bought from Loweās. They had the sheets stamped like brick but we went with the flat design. You may be able to get a better deal at a locally-owned mobile home supplier. Try Google searching your town with the words ābuy tin sheetsā (or sheet metal if thatās what you prefer ā tin should be a lot cheaper though).
Thanks so much!
HELLO MY NAME IS BEN AND I WOOD LIKE TO FIND OUT
WHO SALES THE STAMPED METAL SHEETS THAT LOOK LIKE
ROCK OR CINDER BLOCKS, I NEED SOME THING LESS
EXSPENSIVE I HAVE FIVE OF THESE 16 BY 80 I NEED TO SKIRT
Very nice site. I have a couple rentals looking at hardy Plank for skirting been told canāt go on ground ā any ideas for barrier between ground and bottom of plank. I was thinking some plastic on the ground and landscape timbers on the plastic. Figure worse case the timbers can be replaced fairly cheaply if need be. Any thoughts from you or your readers,
Hi Akili!
Hereās a couple of websites that ships anywhere in the US though I havenāt compared prices.
http://mobilehomeadvantage.com/sku.cfm/sub_cat_id/704/ID/183/
http://allhomesupply.com/rigid-foam-insulated-skirting
Hereās a site with more information about the rigid foam boards: http://styro.net/FoundationInsulationPanel.htm
Good luck!
Please let me know where I can find the rigid foam skirting. I live in Lugoff, S.C. and have contacted several local businesses with no luck.
Thanks so much.
Akili
Hi Sharon! I donāt have any photos of ties being used specifically for skirting but here are a few links that show them used in building. It would be a very labor intensive project but if you had the manpower to move them easily it would look great!
Hereās railroad ties being used as a wall structure: http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/building-with-railroad-ties-zmaz71mazsea.aspx
A home built of railroad ties: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3A1V7_av-historical-poi-railroad-tie-house
The cutest cabin ever with railroad ties path: http://customslipcoversbyshelley.blogspot.com/p/our-cabin.html
Good luck!
Do you have any photos of the rail ties skirting? Iām assuming that the tie would be sliced into 2-3 length pieces. How do the corners work?
Hi Alicia!
Iāll look into brick skirting and get an article written on it as quickly as possible. Iāve never dealt with brick so Iāll need to ask around for some good tips. Iāll get back to you as quickly as possible. Thanks!
I am looking into remodeling my mobile home. I want to add on to the front and give it a house look. I also want to include brick columns on the porch. Want information on how to do brick skirting also. I want a total remodel basically.