Every mobile home owner wants their home to look nice, and skirting is an important component in the overall look. It’s visible from every direction, so the color and design of the skirting should compliment the home itself, but no matter what kind of skirting you choose, you must apply some enclosure to your mobile home. It’s not only for looks, and in most places it’s against the law not to have it.
Aside from enhancing the overall look, skirting works in other ways.
Site-built homes (we like to call them foundation homes) sit firmly on a concrete slab, but the floor of a mobile home is elevated off the ground, resting on a chassis with wheels, which means anything that moves (wind and animals) can get under there. Not good!
Cold winds can freeze the water pipes. Skirting blocks the wind, and keeps the chill factor down, or eliminates it entirely.
Animals (not just varmints, but pets too) will seek shelter under a home, looking for shade, or warmth, or just a hiding place. Animals have teeth and claws and they are quite capable of tearing up the underbelly membrane and even the ducting and wires, so don’t give them a chance. Skirting, when installed properly, will create a wall to keep them out. For the tiniest critters that crawl through the smallest spaces we suggest a pest deterrent, and we sell that as well.
Skirting can also keep a home from settling. I’ve seen it too many times when I was a field contractor where skirting channel would be installed over uneven ground. Theoretically, the ground channel should rest firmly on the ground every inch of the way, not only to block out animal invaders, but also divert flowing water. It’s even worse for homes that rest on a slope. Any amount of water under a home could potentially erode the soil under one or more foundation columns (you know, the cinder block stacks). Some of those columns are directly under doorways and windows. If water erosion makes those columns sink even a fraction of an inch, it could make doors and windows harder to work correctly. Have you ever tried to open a stuck window? Ideally, skirting should be buried or installed atop a grounded barrier wall, but most don’t take the time and effort to do it correctly. Settling is a common problem with mobile homes, and most of the time erosion is the culprit.
Finally, skirting keeps out moisture, It’s not the only solution, but vented skirting goes a long way to keep moisture in check. Check out this article on how to battle moisture under the home.
Just remember that skirting is enclosure. When installed, it should look nice and straight, but it should also be sturdy and strong, able to withstand wind, water, and destructive animals.
