Skirting for Manufactured Homes Made to Look Site-Built
Considering community desires today, manufactured homes must be able to fit into residential neighborhoods. In order to accomplish this, the home essentially needs to look site-built. This is where concrete mobile home skirting is useful.
Most often, site-built homes have a poured-in-place perimeter foundation, stem wall, and footing. Calling this a perimeter foundation for a manufactured home is wrong. Just because it can support the weight of the home on the perimeter does not mean it is a foundation. In some ways, this can be detrimental as it is subject to weather and moisture, not to mention it gets in the way of properly securing the tie-downs. The better system is to support the structure under the home, tucked away from nature’s elements.
Manufactured homes are supported away from the perimeter of the home. This is a great design but leaves a distinctive space beneath the manufactured home. So, how do you take a great design still find a way to skirt match site-built structures? Well, there are a couple of methods to accomplish this.
The stem-wall foundation. The first method is pouring a stem-wall foundation, although entirely unnecessary, around the perimeter. This methodology is costly in requiring a manufactured home to be lifted over and set inside the wall. Although, sometimes the wall can be poured under the home after the setup. Obviously, many contractors loathe doing this for customers.
Concrete mobile home skirting kits. Installing concrete mobile home skirting kits can give an appearance similar to a poured stem-wall foundation. However, Concrete mobile home skirting installation can be done without removing the manufactured home, thus making it much simpler.
DURASKIRT™ Mobile Home Skirting Kits
Consequently, the most popular method is using concrete skirting for manufactured homes like DURASKIRT™. The system consisting of concrete boards or panels set up around the perimeter is a genus. This system serves the following purposes:
Guarding the underfloor with concrete.
Site-built look.
Meets FHA & VA loan requirements.
A long-lasting skirting solution.
Best for matching residential neighborhoods.
Two more reasons for choosing DURASKIRT™ concrete skirting for manufactured homes are simple installation and great customer support.
Okay, Let’s Set The Distance for The Front Edge of High-Wind Tie-Downs
CLICK TO ENLARGE
High-Wind or Hurricane Tie-Downs can pose a problem with skirting your manufactured home. That’s due to the extra strapping that is fastened to the front of your homes’ rim-joist or floor framing. Since, pictures are worth a thousand words we have a drawing and photos in order to aide you in understanding what you need to do. Furthermore, for those that prefer we explain step by step please follow these directions.
Chose a skirting material but in this case we will be explaining the use of DURASKIRT™.
After the home setup and before adding High-Wind Tie-Downs install 2″ x 2″ drip metal around the bottom of your home. (Photos shown below).
Now install the High-Wind Tie-Downs, also shown in the photos, although carefully considering the tie-down materials must be set at least 2 1/2″ behind belly-band trim or backside of drip cap metal (photos below).
If using drip metal the L-shaped bracket securing the tie-down to exterior rim-joist (framing) will need to be bolted through drip metal into floor framing. This is shown in detail drawing.
Now that you followed these steps begin using the DURASKIRT™ manual for a successful installation.
Manufactured Home Skirting Kits, Follow These Do’s and Don’ts When Purchasing!
If you own a manufactured home, you’re likely required by local law to put skirting on it. However, before you simply reach for the first mobile home skirting kits you can find, take advantage of these dos and don’ts. They’ll help you make a good choice and give you more bang for your buck!
— DO purchase direct from DURASKIRT™ – Not Home Depot or Lowes
We have always sold our skirting and underpinning kits directly to the public. So when searching for DURASKIRT Lowes call us 360-419-9909!
— DO pay close attention to how it’s made
All manufactured home skirting kits are not created equal. Some are made with vinyl while others are made with aluminum or concrete. There are brands that have special vents to even out airflow. While others have a finish that’s designed to look like stacked stones. Still, more boast of being the best cold weather skirting product.
Bottom line — there’s a variety of options out there, so do some homework! For example, learn about the durability of different materials (concrete skirting, vinyl, and aluminum) and additional expenses which may come up over time if the skirting material doesn’t hold up (rodent infestations, etc.) We think you’ll find concrete skirting is more effective and durable than vinyl or aluminum and will save you money in the end. Also, understand how air circulates inside your crawl space, and thus, why a special vent would be important. The more informed you are, the better-finished product you can purchase!
— DO buy your manufactured home skirting kits from a company that’s happy to help!
Some manufactured home skirting kit manufacturers only care about making money. Once they’ve sold you a kit, they could care less if you struggle to install it. Others intentionally make the instructions difficult to comprehend so that you give up and hire them (or their buddies) to install everything for you.
You can do better than that!
A good manufacturer will be happy to help with your skirting even after your purchase has gone through. Specifically, they’ll have an instruction manual that’s written in plain English, and they’ll post videos and other tips right on their website. Sure, they’ll offer their own installation services, but they’ll also make it relatively easy for you to do the installation work yourself, instead of trying to get you to spend more money!
— DON’T take winter for granted
If you live in a place that gets a lot of snow and ice, you’re going to need a manufactured home skirting kits that can keep up with weather changes, extreme temperatures, and moisture. Because of the way it’s constructed, it isn’t good to let a bunch of snow and ice pile up against ANY type of skirting, but some kits are better prepared to deal with nature’s wrath than others.
Before you buy anything, talk to the manufacturer about how their skirting is going to withstand winter. If you don’t like the answer, look for another kit!
— DON’T forget about your other structures
Yes, it’s called “mobile home skirting“, but these kits can also be used to finish off your deck, above-ground pool, or hot tub. Skirting is alsowhat to put around the bottom of a shed or the storage building you’ve got sitting in the backyard. So, before you put away the calculator, add up the space these structures take up. Odds are some mobile home skirting will make them look AND perform better!
Perhaps you have seen a neighbor, family member or friend buy vent plugs to plug their homes vents. Most of the time the excuse is “it will save me the heating bill.” Right? So, it made good sense but still, “why mobile home skirting should be vented.”
Here are a few justifications for good underfloor ventilation:
Vents prevent the buildup of moisture. Everyone knows moisture causes mold and mildew and is harmful to your health.
Saves energy. Venting the crawlspace keeps insulation dry. Moist insulation transfers both heat and cold more easily. Obviously, this can cause higher energy bills. Hence, vents make good sense.
Ventilation clears gases rising from the soil. Gases such as radon and methane coming up from the soils can cause serious health consequences. Building codes require 6 mil poly to stop moisture and ventilation to keep gasses clear.
Venting a crawlspace rids odors. Soil odors can be strong so venting can help by exchanging air. The best venting is “The Hidden Vent System” because of the continuous venting with no dead air between vents.
As you can see whether continuously or by mechanical means venting your crawlspace is a must. Not only does it protect your investment, but it is investing into yours and your family’s health. So, do not cover your vents.
Long-Term Effects from Un-ventilated Crawlspace
Moreover, there are long-term consequences to covering vents. We have seen homes destroyed in some cases due to their covering for long periods of time. Additionally, people forget they covered their vents leaving them in several seasons. Obviously, this can be bad.
With DURASKIRT™ and the “Hidden Vent System” there is no need to ask why mobile home skirting should be vented. Our information is backed by many years of experience and good reasons.
Periodically Inspect Your Vents
Finally, keep your underfloor venting free flowing and clear. We recommend inspecting your venting annually and cleaning it if necessary. Generally, a leaf blower can clear grass, leaves and spider webs.
We hope this information has helped you and we look forward to serving you. For more information please call DURASKIRT, LLC 360-419-9909 or email us at richardimus@duraskirt.com.
If you have determined it’s time to replace skirting on your mobile home then it’s time to explore your options. So, what do you use for mobile home skirting? There are many materials you can choose for skirting you home. For this article we chose DURASKIRT™ brand mobile home skirting for obvious reasons.
To replace skirting on a mobile home begin by planning materials, sketching drawings and adding dimensions so you can make a material list.
Order new skirting materials, preferably DURASKIRT™, making sure you have a place cleared for their arrival. (Getting prepared for DURASKIRT™).
Assuming this project is replacing old materials, you can start off by taking down existing skirting.
Removal, Inspection & Restoring for Preparing to Replace Skirting on A Mobile Home
Termite damage in mobile home caused from wood skirting attracting termites.
After removing aged skirting, you need to inspect the homes’ rim-joist for rot replacing the rotten or termite eaten members if necessary.
Next begin to inspect the under-crawlspace blocking, tie-downs, belly wrap, piping, and vapor barrier for water or rodent damage. Moreover, this step is very important to replace skirting on a mobile home.
Also, looking underneath the vapor barrier begin inspecting the soils for settling filling and compacting low areas. Obviously installing a new skirting is easier on level earth.
Replace Skirting on A Mobile Home – Installing “ON Gravel or Dirt”
Start with leveling the grade around the home with a shovel making sure to the soils are firm. If uncertain about soils ability to support skirting I recommend using a compactor.
Now that the soils are level where you’re going to be installing new skirting it’s time to proceed.
Begin by placing panels at corners of the home using the larger brackets and venting for the long sides and the short brackets on the ends.
It’s important to keep panels plumb as you go and adding the venting before proceeding to the next skirting panel.
When all panels are set it’s time to for caulking and concealing the joints.
It’s best to caulk from the bottom of the panels upward scraping the excess with a used caulking tube. After scraping use the joint concealing powder over the fresh caulking.
Alternatively, Installing New Skirting “On Top of Concrete”
The only difference installing DURASKIRT™ panels on concrete is that you will need to cut them to height first.
When you replace skirting on a mobile home start measuring the panels making sure to leave a 1” gap between the top of the panel and the rim-joist.
We hope this was helpful and informative. Please call DURASKIRT or email us if you need further guidance 360-419-9909 or email richardimus@duraskirt.com.
If you’re considering buying a manufactured home, it’s probably crossing your mind to make manufactured home look like a house. Right? That’s exactly why DURASKIRT™ began. Because no other skirting or underpinning makes a manufactured home look like a house like DURASKIRT™.
At DURASKIRT we have managed to create a very durable long-lasting product giving homeowners a real foundation look. Moreover, the quality of our product is unmatched in the manufactured home industry. Indeed, DURASKIRT, LLC is a premium USA skirting manufacturer.
Overcoming challenges to make manufactured home look like a house
Making a manufactured home look like a house sounds simple. Right? Not so, because of the costs. Okay then you say, “what costs are you talking about. Please explain. Right?” When we began the process of developing DURASKIRT™ there were companies pouring footings and stem-wall facades.
Stem wall foundation (non-supporting façade)
This method requires rolling or crane setting the mobile home over the facade. Ridiculous and expensive right? Moreover, people were willing to pay the price because this method accomplishes the look they were after. However, many began thinking of more economical ways to do this.
Treated Plywood Skirting Method
One method that was tried and failed was painting treated plywood a grayish concrete color. Though, the finished product looked okay it soon was needing painting and eventually replacing. Likewise, the treated plywood in due course rots when back-filling.
Hardie skirting
When Hardie panels hit the market the mobile home industry jumped at the chance to use this product for skirting. Additionally, contractors were quick to paint this concrete color too to make a manufactured look like a house. But, like any other papier-mâché products this material hates ground moisture.
Ground moisture quickly taking its course within a few years this product began deteriorating. Besides, witnessing our customers replacing Hardie skirting with holes is sad. Also, this product was never designed for ground contact although one ingredient was cement.
Buy the right skirting products
Firstly,Mobile home skirting, products need to survive the environment of ground contact. Likewise, looking for ground contact skirting products are very few but worth it. Ultimately, DURASKIRT™ is an intelligent skirting choice for preventive maintenance.
For more information call DURASKIRT, LLC 360-419-9909.
There is more than the cement board and well frame. You will need to know the materials and tools before beginning. As you will see assembling the DURASKIRT™ cement board well is easy. Begin by gathering your supplies and tools as shown below.
Materials Needed for Making The Cement Board Well
Begin by placing a cut cement board and DURASKIRT™ well frame.
Well sides being cut after measuring. Notice the 2″ slope.
Cement Board Well Installation
Begin the cement board well by placing a panel on each side of the desired underfloor opening using the Access Well Frame between them to determine the opening width (approx. 34 ½”). Next, lay down two DURASKIRT™ panels with their backs together, white mark to white mark. Now layout and mark with the pencil the desired height and width (may vary 24 1/8”) leaving ¾” short for well front and giving the top a 2” slope. Finally, cut the two sides of the well making sure to leave the fabric at the bottom edge.
Following the above procedure, carry the cement board pieces to the opening and place them on each side of the well-frame. Using the frame, you can set and level both pieces with white marks inward, fabric outward, and using the frame to hold them in place. Make sure to leave a gap between
After finishing the cement board well sides and front leaving a gap for the lid to slide underneath the siding.
the top of the well-frame and the bottom of the siding. Now measure the outside width (35 ½”) for the front well panel so it spans over the side panels for support.
Cement Board Sides & Lid
The next step for building the cement board well is to cut the lid placing the white markdown. The lid will be 37” x 25 ½” (Cut the fabric edge off). Also, it’s important to choose a panel that is free from chips. Moreover, install it under the front edge of the Access Well Frame where you left a gap. When finished the lid should fit firmly underneath the belly band orprecast concrete siding.
For more information call DURASKIRT, LLC 360-419-9909.
If you are wanting to pit set your manufactured home you need an exterior house skirting product like DURASKIRT™. Besides, being an exterior product make certain they can be back-filled. Additionally, this makes the product more valuable especially if you plan to pit set your home.
DURASKIRT™ concrete skirting panels for mobile homes is a wonderful product. Great for pit set homes.
So, what is pit setting a mobile home or trailer house?
Pit setting is when you excavate the soils burying the blocking height into the ground. Likewise, this method is preferred so that decks or walkways to enter your home have an easier access. Too, as we grow older less steps or ramps are more desirable.
Therefore, finding an exterior house skirting with the ability to pit set it is vital. This takes some reading of the fine print, so I recommend taking your time. Moreover, when you do find a skirting product for back-filling it’s time for planning.
Planning Pit Setting Your Manufactured Home Using Exterior House Skirting?
Now that you understand what pit setting is, you need to understand the components. Also, the functions of each component of your manufactured homes’ foundation. More still, there are four major components that make for a very secure manufactured home.
Components for Preventing Earthquake or Heavy Wind Damage
The Floor Fame: Your manufactured home comes with a flooring system that is secured to a steel structure. This structure is engineered to support the home and occupants and receive
Solid Blocking: Cement or concrete blocks are the best support for manufactured homes. They provide great support when following the manufacturers specifications.
Individual Concrete Panel Skirting: The best exterior house skirting for resisting damages from earthquakes is a concrete panel skirting system. This allows for maximum movement without damaging the home or skirting. More so, the flexibility of having individual panels and a system like PSC’s is the best.
For this reason, I recommend DURASKIRT™ concrete panel skirting. In addition, this system also works for pit setting your home. Finally, it is a great exterior house skirting.
Rock Skirting Products – Place The Backer Board & Wait Awhile or Not
Mobile home rock skirting products are not always easy to locate. And they’re not always what they’re cracked up to be. But you’ll need a great backer board for your skirting to place your rocks over and DURASKIRT™ is it.
Moreover, DURASKIRT™ is a concrete panel skirting system that’s sold in mobile home skirting kits. Additionally, the kits include panels, attachment hardware, ventilation and joint concealing products.
The following are 3 reasons to choose rock skirting products like DURASKIRT™:
1) Ventilation
Use DURASKIRT™ as the ultimate mobile home rock skirting products to back up your rock veneers.
Uniquely, it’s hidden under the edge of the home and at the top of the skirting. Moreover, the air flows through under the house making sure that there is no build-up of dampness or any musty air trapped under the floorboards of you home. Consequently, it provides your family with a healthier air quality in your home.
2) Versatile
It’s a great asset if you are planning to do any significant landscaping around your home. Also, it can be used as a backdrop for gardens around the home or even to help hide some of the less attractive components of the home. Of course, you will find that you can easily change the design of the exterior of your home in color or siding. Especially, using rock skirting products such as DURASKIRT™ for a backer board.
3) Affordable
Indeed, the concrete panels are an exceptionally a great value because of the reasonable cost. Too, considering the labor is substantially less due to quick installations. My advice, check out the skirting videos. Because they can verify the ease on which this product can be installed on any manufactured or mobile home.
Indeed, with the ventilation, versatility and most importantly the affordability that DURASKIRT™ concrete skirting provides to any building type, it’s worth the investment. Absolutely, this is one of the best backer boards for rock skirting products.
So, if you’re looking for rock skirting products remember installing the best concrete backer board is vital. More so, you can install DURASKIRT™ panels and wait a few years to put off the extra cost of rock skirting. Either way you win with DURASKIRT™.
Call us at 360-419-9909, our attentive staff is available Monday (9-5) through Friday (9-7) to answer all your questions and make every effort to ensure you are 100% satisfied.
Is DURASKIRT™ the only engineered skirting for manufactured homes?
Compare DURASKIRT™ engineered skirting with other mobile home skirting choices like, Hardie, Hardie Backer, Cement Board, DUROCK, Treated Plywood. Moreover, read about the differences, misconceptions, and notions about skirting products.
Intelligently Engineered Skirting for Manufactured Homes
DURASKIRT™ engineered skirting for manufactured homes, mobile homes, sheds, decks, park models and more.
Have you spent any time considering skirting products for manufactured homes or mobile homes? If you have, you will know that not all products will perform well outside of their original intended use.
For example, we have seen a few products fail miserably when using the as skirting. Indeed, plywood, Hardie siding, Hardie backer and DUROCK tile backer are some to name a few. More so, skirting is located where moisture, sun and extreme weather conditions are existing. Thus, you need a product designed specifically to handle these extremes.
Hardie or cement board skirting, when used as siding is a great product. Used as skirting exposed to under floor moisture, it begins to warp inward and eventually pulls from the nails and screws. Following the dry summers, it gets brittle then begins to fall away leaving the home vulnerable to rodents and the elements.
DUROCK, on the other hand, is a great product when used properly as an interior tile backer. But when DUROCK is used as mobile home skirting it eventually crumbles to pieces in a rather short period of time. The reason is simple, the netting is not UV resistant thus it rots away quickly. To add to its demise the cement used is not air en-trained for freezing and thawing weather conditions, so it crumbles.
Plywood is another material that is frequently used. Some refer to plywood skirting as “poison plywood.” Treated plywood is another material that was and is widely used as skirting and has proven to not last. In many cases we see rotten rim-joists that is caused by trapping moisture where it connects directly to the home. We also find the plywood eventually rots when back filled with soil.
Before you consider a skirting product please consider these questions:
Is the intended use of this product meant for skirting?
As a consumer what should I be looking for in a skirting material?
Is the product engineered for manufactured homes or mobile home skirting? If engineered skirting, does it meet the HUD Permanent Foundation Code?
Does this skirting product have a proven history for skirting manufactured homes or mobile homes?
Is the product warranted for skirting use?
What are my expectations from the skirting and does the skirting literature cover them?
Making An Informed Choice
Believe me when I say, “which skirting material you use can have detrimental effects.” For this reason, I am writing to inform consumers of problems we’re encountering. More so, for helping new customers quests for making a more informed skirting choice. Because their efforts and money they will be investing money into their homes future.
Since 2000 when I envisioned a concrete skirting for manufactured homes we were one of many thousands of contractors routinely grabbed products from the cheapest sources. Trained like rats we were constructing these materials to fit the manufactured home. Likewise, we routinely did this because it’s how everyone else did it. Nevertheless, this was acceptable to almost every building jurisdiction and thus sold by sales personnel at the dealerships.
Many home dealerships had a series of skirting products showcased for visual aides to offer their customers along with a set of fixed costs for each. Granted, these sales professionals generally had no clue of the products benefits or long-term use. Many of these products had skirting manuals or warranties. Furthermore, after offering DURASKIRT™ engineered skirting publicly we became aware of these other products that were failing and the reasons why.
Over the past thirteen plus years since the first DURASKIRT™ panels were making their way onto manufactured homes we have learned much about our industry and its needs. The product has improved but the purpose remains clear as the day we began. To bring an affordable durable manufactured home skirting product to last the life span of the home itself.
DURASKIRT™ is intelligently engineered unlike many other products.
What I mean by intelligently engineered becomes very apparent as you dissect the way it’s made. We start by using steel molds that are coated with a renewable resource, corn oil. We then use a galvanized welded wire that is set purposely to the back of each panel to take a frontal force. The panels are marked to indicate the back of the panels.
The concrete mix is designed for exterior adverse weather conditions with en-trained air, super plasticizes, and shrinkage reducer to prevent warping high cement ratio that is considered a waterproof concrete mix. The concrete mix also has fiber reinforcement added to prevent cracking.
Another addition and first is the use of Geo-tech fabric for holding the panels in place for back-filling. The use of a Hidden-Vent is also a breakthrough for manufactured home skirting. As you can see we have been hard at work developing a superior product for our industry.
What is also a first is a concrete skirting product that is packaged for the DIY consumer.
DURASKIRT™ panels weigh less than 65 lbs. each and can be installed by the average consumer. This saves tons of money. Whether your project is large or small DURASKIRT™ is suited to meet most home sets. The panels are 30” x 37” x ¾” and can be ordered with the fabric on either end. This allows DURASKIRT™ engineered skirting to be used on homes that is set an extra block high. Being ¾” thick the panels fit easily on homes that are not foundation ready. This saves money because some factories charge more for ordering your home foundation ready. One other added benefit is that non-foundation ready homes experience less drywall damage during shipping saving the dealership and home manufacturers repair costs.
DURASKIRT™ has an easy to follow manual and installation videos that make it the most popular DIY skirting in the industry. Our goal is to set the industry standard for excellence in manufactured home products.
How do I order DURASKIRT™?
DURASKIRT™ is priced by the height of skirting and lineal foot of the perimeter of the home. Measure your home and call for pricing. Use the Pre-Order form to make it clearer what you need. A customer service agent can help you fill out the sheet and either fax, mail or email us a copy. Phone numbers are listed on the website as are emails.
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