Why Insulating Mobile Home Skirting Is Unnecessary
Is it a good house skirting ideato insulate the skirting? You may be surprised by the answer. Undeniably, mobile homes have been known in the past to be poorly insulated. That is why people have asked, “should I insulate my mobile home?” when starting their mobile home skirtinginstallation.
Today’s mobile homes, otherwise known as manufactured homes,are made with heating and cooling bills in mind. Most of these homes have great insulation, offering a sealed road barrier to give good interior comfort. Because of this, the skirting needs only provide thermal shielding.
Good Idea! Best Thermal Shielding Skirting Product
Mobile Home Skirting Installation
What skirting offers the best thermal shielding? Concrete or cementitious skirting products offer the best thermal shielding. Concrete offers both heat and cold transfer resistance, which makes it a great house skirting idea. It is also why lenders prefer concrete skirting over other skirting materials.
There’s Another Question to Ask Besides, “Should I Insulate My Mobile Home Skirting?”
Personally, the reason I do not insulate mobile home skirting is that the crawlspace needs to breathe. In fact, the underfloor can be a place where toxic gasses can seep from the ground. This includes radon gas, which is a big concern for many areas of the country. So, good ventilation for the mobile home skirting is a must, and insulating your skirting would hinder the ventilation.
So, What Is the Best Way to Keep Underfloor Drafts from Entering My Home?
This is a great question because, like me, you are probably irritated with cold, drafty floors. Over the years, we have found the best way to solve this problem is three-fold.
Creating a dry crawlspace or underfloor area.
The “Hidden Vent System” creating a dry crawlspace.
A fully closed underbelly with loads of insulation directly under your floor.
Finally, the DURASKIRT™ skirting system offers the best solution. Offering the best in the industry ventilation system, concrete thermal barrier, with a long-lasting material result. For more information, please call 360-419-9909.
Do These Alternatives to Mobile Home Skirting Fit You?
Perhaps mobile home skirting ideas (also known as underpinning) have crossed your mind lately, and it has you thinking about cheap mobile home skirting alternative products. So, what are some alternatives to mobile home skirting? In case you’re wondering, here are six alternatives to choose from, many are DIY mobile home skirting ideas if you want to do it yourself and save some money.
If you need an idea for around the bottom of a trailer or your manufactured home, here are some examples of inexpensive or cheap mobile home skirting. Although there are mobile home skirting priceswhich we explore further in another article.
Vinyl is a cheap mobile home skirting that will do a decent job, though it doesn’t look the best. Moreover, vinyl skirting, also known as trailer skirting is very inexpensive. Therefore, it’s fast and easy to replace which is great because you’ll need to replace it or fix it a number of times. Especially, over the lifetime of your mobile home.
You can find plenty of vinyl mobile home skirting on Craigslist. However, if you’re searching Craigslist mobile home skirting it’s best to call the supplier and get a sample. Moreover, ask what their warranty covers.
Alternative (2) Plywood
Plywood is a popular DIY mobile home skirting, although this alternative is not a long-lasting solution and it does tend to wick moisture. Likewise, moisture causes issues like warping and discoloration. More so, everyone knows that moisture is detrimental to your home. My recommendation is not to use plywood as a viable alternative.
Alternative (3) Straw or Hay Bales
Obviously, I cannot recommend this but when you’re in a pinch and winter is setting in, well… Yes, people have been known for using straw bales. As for alternatives for manufactured home skirting, this method attracts most rodents. So, please shy away from it.
Alternative (4) Brick or Block
Try this alternative to mobile home skirting! DURASKIRT™ concrete skirting panels and framing on a sloped lot. (Idea for around the bottom of a trailer).
Brick or block are commonly used alternatives, though this isn’t a DIY mobile home skirting option unless you are a skilled mason. This is a great method, providing the mason does their work properly. Many times, masons neglect to seal the top of the blocks or bricks to the home. Of course, this gap attracts tiny rodents. Because everyone knows keeping your home cozy in the winter and cool in the summer, eventually mice families discover this too. Of course, this will cause a huge problem.
Alternative (5) Fake Panels
This is a great, cheap mobile home skirting in terms of aesthetics. But given time and weather situations like heavy storms, this alternative can fail. Recently I had a customer call after a windstorm asking if our skirting will fly off their home like faux (fake) panels did. Surely, it’s always up to you to decide what’s best.
Alternatives to Mobile Home Skirting (6) Concrete
A proven method is concrete skirting which is naturally fire-resistant. We love this alternative to mobile home skirting best. Notably, DURASKIRT™ concrete skirting panels are outstanding and look like a custom-made foundation. Best of all, DURASKIRT™, skirting panels for mobile homes, allows you to pit set your manufactured home.
How you might ask? Owing to our engineering, research and development, and field testing for nearly 20 years our concrete skirting panels work great for pit settings. These concrete skirting panels are strong, durable, lightweight, can be used even on sloped lots, and will hold up and look great over time. Moreover, they are the best cold weather skirting product.
For more information about concrete fire-resistant skirting panels please visit Duraskirt.com or call 360-419-9909. We are based in Washington State, but can easily ship to most areas.
Maybe (7) Too – SDG™ Rigid Foam Insulation Covering
Also, it wouldn’t be fair not to mention DURASKIRT’s SDG™ Rigid Foam Insulation Covering. DURASKIRT™ has developed a product called SDG for protecting rigid foam insulation & ICF. Not to mention, protecting 2″ or 3″ of rigid foam on the exterior of basement foundation walls can be a challenging. So, what product are people using to protect the foam below grade to the mud sill? Details often call out “Protective board”? This is why DURASKIRT has developed a product called SDG. Most importantly, SDG keeps the site-built look that looks familiar and proven to last.
Recently, a customer called asking if DURASKIRT™ met the requirements for the MH ADVANTAGE program by Fannie Mae. Most assuredly, the answer is yes. However, we thought it’s better to explain this program in our blog for a better understanding. So, let’s begin!
Q: What is the MH Advantage Program? MH Advantage Program is an affordable financing option when financing to buy a manufactured home.
MH Advantage is a mortgage loan program by Fannie Mae designed specifically for c=consumers for the following:
Affordable MH financing.
Reach more borrowers.
Clear and simple process.
Can enjoy the financial perks of homeownership.
Q: What are the home requirements and the MH Advantage Program? In order to qualify for this program, the manufactured home must be built by a manufacturer who has entered into agreement with Fannie Mae. The home must have materials that are long-lasting, high quality, and fall under the structure requirements that have been confined to this document with sections of 2.1 to 8.5.
For this blog we are going to focus the long-lasting quality of Duraskirt, and on section 5.2., to define that our product meets the MH Advantage Program.
Q. Is Duraskirt a long-lasting product?
Duraskirt is ¾” thickness internally galvanized and reinforced concrete panels used for skirting manufacture and mobile homes.
Made for the exterior of your home in all climates.
Cutting edge concrete technology allows much higher strengths also extending durable life more than 60+ years beyond the average 40+ years most concrete is expected to resist surface breakdown. That’s more than 100+ years of expected surface durability. No other skirting product comes close.
Advantages
As a bonus, concrete is fireproof and nonflammable therefore, Duraskirt being concrete is designated “concrete” which is nonflammable for the purposes of the WUI Code. DURASKIRT has been used under the WUI code in California since the code’s adoption.
PENETRON™ Integrated Waterproofing Agent, new concrete technology resists chemical instruction by soil or gardening chemicals, chemical densifiers, entrained air (for freezing and thawing also enhanced with the waterproofing agent), chemical stability that resists warping, and very high 7 ½ sack cement to yard ratio (most foundations use a 5 sack mix).
Therefore, ground burial is not an issue.
As you can see from the points, Duraskirt meets the MH Advantage Program requirement by being a long-lasting product.
Q: Does Duraskirt meet any of the structure requirements for MH Advantage Program?
DURASKIRT falls under the MH Advantage Program requirement of section 5.2. 5.2: The MH Advantage financing program is eligible when a manufactured homes design accommodates a foundation that meets all the following criteria:
Has a masonry perimeter wall (concrete, concrete block and/or brick)
Is consistent with HUD’s Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing.
Has an engineered foundation certified by a registered architect or professional engineer.
DURASKIRT™ PRO Series is a concrete masonry perimeter wall once placed along the bottom of the home. Duraskirt is consistent with the HUD’s permanent foundation guidelines for manufactured housing, and certified by a registered architect.
Finally, you can see that DURASKIRT™ meets the MH ADVANTAGE program. Do not hesitate to contact us to place your order for your new home.
In 2024 Arizona State Skirting Options Now Include DURASKIRT™
For many Arizonians, poor mobile home skirting product options have plagued the manufactured home industry. So, the State of Arizona relented in passing regulations on what qualifies as manufactured home skirting. These regulations are rigorous.
Although, the regulations include the use of proprietary skirting products with installation instructions, as is DURASKIRT™. We still chose to qualify our product through engineers so that the public would be more aware of how great a product they’re choosing.
Still, we know first-hand, as we just finalized a seven-month obstacle course using two engineers to help clarify that which we already knew to be true. DURASKIRT™ is the best home skirting in Arizona. The highlights of our product are numerous.
Financing Reasons
Notably, when it comes to financing DURASKIRT™ quality is unmatched. For instance, Duraskirt™, mobile home skirting, qualifies for the MH Advantage Program if installed per our installation manual. Of course, a “Continuous Masonry Wall” can be constructed in varying ways with many choices of concrete or masonry materials. Best of all, Arizona State skirting options now include DURASKIRT™.
Moreover, the intent and purpose of MH Advantage Program is that their loans are backed up by long-lasting materials. Therefore, Duraskirt™, with Penetron™, tops the intent and purpose and outshines our competitors when it comes to long life.
Meets HUD Permanent Foundation Guide
Arizona State Engineer Report for Approving DURASKIRT™ Skirting Option:
Duraskirt ™ manufactured home perimeter skirt wall system was review for compliance with the current HUD handbook “Permanent Foundation Guild for Manufactured Housing” publication HUD[1]7584. It was found that the Duraskirt system meets all the requirements for foundation Type C.
These are systems that structurally support and anchor the home at the chassis, per section 100-2. Since perimeter walls may or not be used to structurally support or anchor the home, the Duraskirt ™ will meet HUD guidelines.
Furthermore, it is composed of rot resistant materials (concrete) and contains screened ventilation openings to meet the other requirements for Exterior perimeter foundations walls. The design and strength of the Duraskirt ™ system has generous safety factors for the applied loads of wind and seismic forces, plus the backfill loads against the skirting if installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Backfilling Report 11.9 Times Stronger Than Needed
The design and strength of the Duraskirt ™ system has generous safety factors for the applied loads of wind and seismic forces, plus the backfill loads against the skirting if installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations. The 30” tall panel was tested for a full backfill height in a jig that simulated normal installation conditions.
Moreover, it was backfilled with compacted medium sand to the top of the 30” tall panel, with no significant deformation of the panel, nor any viable damage or signs of stress or an overloaded condition. The sand has measured dry weight at 110 PCF, and an internal angle of friction of 30 deg. This corresponds to an active lateral pressure coefficient of 0.33, or an equivalent fluid pressure of 36.3 PCF.
In fact, these values were used to analyze the panel for lateral moment cap city. The panels are reinforced with a 1” x 1” grid of 16 gauge, 60K psi wire, placed off-center to the panel thickness with plastic standouts when the forms are filled with 4000 PSI concrete mix. Analysis indicates this configuration has a factored moment capacity of 8857 in-lbs. The installed loading requires a maximum lateral bending moment of 744 in-lbs.
Engineers Conclusion:
Therefore, it has a calculated factor of safety of 11.9. This is about eight times the min required. These panels are very durable and should not ever become overloaded when installed and used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Arizona State skirting option
We believe DURASKIRT™ is the answer for Arizona’s skirting problems.
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