The skirting around a mobile home helps provide a wall of protection and prevents an invasion of rodents, pets and people from going underneath your home. Mobile home skirting stops the wind from blowing debris under your home and it helps to insulate your home and water lines when the weather turns cold and freezing. You can choose from several different types, colors and styles of skirting so you can select the best match for your mobile home.
Vinyl Skirting
Vinyl skirting is durable, resistant to scratches and dents. The sheets come in a variety of colors, and textures, so you are bound to find one that you like and will look great around your house. You can choose between solid panels and vented panels. Vinyl skirting is easy to maintain and simple to clean. If the vinyl skirting is really dirty, then all you need is a bucket of hot soapy water and a soft bristled brush. Scrub the dirt and dust away, and then rinse the residue off with a water hose. One of the good things about using vinyl skirting is that it doesn’t rust or corrode. The panels come in sheets that are 16 inches wide and about 12 feet long. The panels cut down to the size you need with a pair of sharp tin snips. Vinyl skirting works better in colder climates because collects less condensation than some other materials, and is flexible when the wind blows. In areas where frost-heaving is a problem, it can flex and then return to its original shape better than some other materials.
Steel Skirting
Steel skirting works well if you live in an area that has a lot of wind. It does not do well in areas where the ground heaves due to freezing and thawing temperatures because it is more rigid and not as flexible. Years ago, steel skirting was limited to galvanized steel, and was prone to rusting and sometimes it tarnished and became dull in color. Over time, steel skirting has become more rust resistant and it you can choose from a variety of different colors and shapes. You can even choose to have the steel skirting look as though it has a stone front.
Wood Skirting
Wood skirting provides protection, and you can choose from styles ranging from solid panels to a lattice design. Depending on your woodworking skills, you can make your own, or purchase lattice already made. The lattice panels are usually two feet tall by eight feet in length. Wood can act as a wick and soak up water and moisture. So, if you choose to go with wood siding, remember you will need to protect it against the wet elements by painting and providing a barrier between the wood and the ground. The advantage of having, or building, a solid wood skirting is that it is more energy efficient. Lattice is a nice alternative to use if you live in areas where the weather never freezes, or your pipes could freeze and break. Lattice is semi-open panels that allow air to circulate underneath. Lattice also comes in plastic panels that are 4 feet tall by 8 feet long. They come in several colors and never need painting. They are resistant to mildew, moisture and dry rot,
Simulated Brick
Simulated brick is made from heavy-duty resins. In appearance, it looks like hand-laid brick and it comes in varying shades of gray, tan, red or brown. The panels measure around 44 inches long and 18 inches high and are easier to install than laying down real brick. Brick skirting works well with almost any home and makes your home look like a real house on a raised foundation and not a mobile home that came in on wheels and axels. You can choose from a variety of colored bricks from brown, red to white.
Cinder Blocks or Bricks
By building a wall out of the smaller cinder blocks or bricks, you will have a permanent skirting foundation for your mobile home. The advantage of using real cinder blocks or bricks is that they can provide your home with more stability. High winds wont’ easily tear away a cinder block or brick skirting. Another advantage is that high winds have a harder time in going underneath the mobile home and flipping the house over. There is little upkeep on installing this kind of skirting. The drawback is that building the skirting wall out of cinder block or brick is labor-intensive, but when you are finished, it will last for many years.
