Skirting is the panel of material between the bottom of a home and the ground. It is usually found on mobile homes and not standard ones.
It serves three main purposes. The first one is to minimize the disturbance caused by wind. It also reduces the amount of moisture underneath the house. Lastly, it gives the house a finished look.
There are different types of skirting panels, so you can choose one depending on your particular use case. Each panel has its own positives and negatives, so choosing the panel that suits your home and not just your aesthetic needs are necessary.
Vinyl is definitely the most popular choice, so you have a wide price range to choose from. Then there are simulated rock, faux stone, concrete, brick, metal, and foam skirting boards.
In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of skirting boards and the factors to consider when choosing the best skirting for mobile homes.
Let’s get to it!
5 Mobile Home Skirting Ideas
Here are the 5 most popular skirting materials. They have a wide price range, making it easy to choose your budget, depending on how much you want to invest in this renovation project for your mobile home. They also have their own pros and cons, so make sure you choose your skirting material wisely.
Metal Skirting
Metal skirtings are unique and come in different materials, like steel and aluminum. There are two kinds of designs metal skirtings come in – flat and imprinted with varying prints on them.
Because of its varying material and prints, metal skirtings come in a price range between $500 and $2000. So, depending on how much you want to invest in your skirting project, you can determine what design and material of metal you want to use.
Most metal skirting also comes in panels and can be installed with predrilled holes in them. This makes them easy to install.
Vinyl Skirting
Vinyl is one of the most popularly used materials for skirting. Vinyl skirting panels come in different textures and thicknesses, so the price range is wide and varied. Depending on your budget, you could choose a vinyl skirting between $300 and $1300.
If you live in a cold state or are preparing for winter, you could invest in insulated vinyl skirting for warmth. Insulated vinyl skirting costs more due to double layering, but it is worth the investment.
Also read: Important Considerations When Choosing Glue Down Vinyl Plank Flooring
Wood Skirting
Wood skirting is the most versatile one of them all since it is completely customizable. You have to build it by yourself.
Its price completely varies since it depends on the kind of wood you’re using, like oak, pine, plywood, etc. It also depends on whether you’re covering the entire side or just one lattice.
Brick Skirting
Brick skirting can be quite complicated and expensive. You can use either real bricks or faux bricks. Both are equally expensive, but they differ in installation.
Price-wise, you’re looking at a range of anywhere from $700 to $2500. Sometimes, faux bricks can be slightly cheaper than real bricks but there isn’t much of a difference.
Real bricks are extremely difficult to install, however. Faux bricks are easier to handle and build, making them the better choice. But if you want to invest in the real deal, you’d better be prepared for the installation process.
Faux Stone Skirting
The difference between faux stone and simulated rock skirting is that the former is closer in texture to real stone. These panels are made of polyurethane and are very durable.
However, they’re quite expensive, with a price range between $1000 and $2800. If you’re looking to sell your mobile home, setting it up with faux stone skirting helps raise its value more than vinyl skirting does.
It also gives your mobile home a nice finish.
Other Types of Skirting
The ones mentioned above are the popular kinds of skirting found on most mobile homes. There are also several other types that are used, with their own textures and designs. Let’s see what they are.
Concrete/Stucco Skirting
Concrete skirting is one of the most durable types of skirting styles out there. They are permanent and make your home also feel more permanent due to their thick material.
Its only downside is that it is very labor-intensive to install. So, while other types of skirting can be done DIY, concrete skirting will definitely need a professional to handle it.
Cinder Block and Brick Skirting
This skirting style gives your mobile home a permanent look. Using real cinder blocks and bricks adds style to your exterior. Some resin and vinyl skirting styles give the impression of brick skirting, but using the real thing gives your mobile home a good finish.
Fiber Cement Skirting
Fiber cement is a siding material, but it can be used for skirting your mobile home as well. Depending on the manufacturer you choose, some give you a warranty as long as you use them as per the guidelines.
Lattice Skirting
Lattice comes in two materials – wood and vinyl. This kind of skirting style assures that there will be adequate air circulation in your mobile home. Wood lattice skirting is susceptible to rot and mildew, although it is the more inexpensive and easily installable version. Vinyl lattice skirting, on the other hand, comes in a lot of colors and patterns.
Mobile Home Skirting Styles and Designs
Now that you’ve decided which type of skirting material you want for your mobile home, let’s get to the styles and designs.
Modern Skirting Designs
Modern skirting designs are generally minimalistic. The perfect modern skirting board balances minimalistic designs and some aesthetic patterns that aren’t too bold or overpowering. Grooves are in trend right now, so you might want to look into them if you want your mobile home to appear contemporary and stylish.
Since modern designs are all about minimalism, when choosing the color of your skirting, make sure you don’t choose one that is too bright. White is the ideal choice in this situation, but you could go for pale, or muted colors if you don’t prefer white. Gray is also a popular option.
Traditional Skirting Designs
Traditional skirting designs add a little grandeur and sophistication to your mobile home than other skirting designs do. They tend to be a little taller than modern skirting panels, and the patterns are more intricate and detailed.
Moreover, traditional skirting panels can also be customized per the customer’s requirements.
Skirting Color and Texture Options
This is where you get to have fun with your skirting. You can choose the color and texture of your mobile home’s skirting depending on the rest of the home’s design. But, if you want some help finding out what are the colors in trend right now, we’ve got you covered.
Grey skirting boards add a touch of elegance to your home and, as an added bonus, you won’t have to worry about cleaning as much as it helps hide dust stains!
Another good option is to make sure the color matches the rest of your mobile home. Choosing a contrasting color gives your home a pop of color that can brighten it up and even give it a cleaner finish.
As for texture, that will depend on the material you use for your skirting, and other decisions like modern or traditional designs.
Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Skirting For Mobile Home
Before you zero in on what kind of skirting you want for your mobile home, there are several factors to consider, like material, climate, installation, maintenance and aesthetics.
Material
Material is the first thing to take into consideration when skirting your mobile home. While some may be aesthetically pleasing, others have a more practical use, like allowing for better airflow.
Your material will also determine your budget for the entire renovation project. Some materials like brick and faux brick can be really expensive, while others like vinyl and metal are cheaper. Moreover, some are easier to install while others will require professional handling.
Also read: The Different Types of Flooring Materials: Explained
Climate
Where you live also plays a huge role in what kind of skirting you should get for your mobile home.
Vinyl is a pretty versatile material with a wide price range, making it ideal for various use cases. If you live in a fairly warm climate, investing in vinyl lattice skirting would be the best option for you since it allows for good air circulation. If you live in a cold part of the country, insulated vinyl is the way to go.
Wood lattice skirting is also good for airflow, but if you stay in a humid area, you could be prone to rot and mildew.
Faux rocks is the best material for rainy areas since it holds well against water.
Installation
Most skirting boards are easy to install and can be done as a DIY project. Vinyl and metal come with predrilled holes in them, making installation a breeze.
Concrete/stucco, on the other hand, needs a professional to handle it since it is a tough material.
Maintenance
Almost all skirting board materials are easy to maintain after installation. As long as you get the appropriate material for the city you live in.
If you have wood skirting, you should regularly make sure there aren’t any signs of mildew or rot.
Concrete/stucco skirting boards have to be professionally installed so that maintenance is kept to a minimum. Otherwise, you will end up having to redo them.
Aesthetics
Before choosing a skirting style for your mobile home, you want to make sure that it fits your aesthetic. Make sure to choose colors that compliment the rest of your home and your personal style. Moreover, if you’re adding textures and patterns, ensure that it does not clash with any other designs on your home.
Conclusion
Skirting is an important part of mobile homes as they minimize the disturbance caused by wind and also reduces the amount of moisture beneath your home. Additionally, it gives a nice aesthetic finish to your mobile home.
There are several types of skirting, with vinyl being the most popular and cheap, with a wide range of textures and patterns. These can then be installed on your home in a modern or traditional style.
Before installing your skirting design, however, make sure you factor in important things like the climate, maintenance, material, etc, to help your installation process a breeze.
We hope you have a fun time installing skirting boards on your mobile home!
