Building skirting on your manufactured home can be a challenge. More so, if your lot is out of level. You can see from these photos we have overcome this with DURASKIRT™ CMU panels. More still, mobile and manufactured home production has come a long way – homes are straighter, constructed faster, and their price tag is still significantly cheaper than that of a stick-built home. There are many positive aspects to manufactured homes; however, no home is perfect.
Even factory-built mobile homes can have imperfections which can result in the house not being perfectly square and having the absolutely correct angles. While this may not affect the overall structure of the home, it can make installing concrete board and other mobile home skirting a bit tricky. However, we’ve got some tips about how to install mobile home skirting when your house isn’t straight that will allow you to save money, prevent frustration, and have a good looking home when you’re done.
4 Tips For Installing Skirting When Your Lot Is Not Level
- Take Your Time – When your house isn’t straight, you’ll have to devote a bit more time and attention to the installation of the concrete board or other house skirting. You could, simply, install it quickly, following the lines of the house as best you can, but what could result is a crooked-looking DIY job. Your home’s appearance is important and this is one area that is worth taking the time to get right or every time you pull up to your home, you’ll be disappointed.
- Make Sure You Have the Right Tools – Depending on the skirting you use, there will be specific tools you need for the installation. However, because you will need to make adjustments to your skirting to form it to the imperfections of your house, you will need the tools to properly measure, note imperfections, and cut or form the skirting.
- Level the Ground – Check the soil, gravel, or dirt around the perimeter of the home to ensure that it’s level. You’ll want the home skirting to fit evenly all the way around the home, so make sure the earth is level, first. One way to quickly do this is to measure 31 inches on your shovel and mark it with a piece of tape. Then go around the perimeter of the home. You can easily measure and see where some soil may need to be dug away or leveled better.
- Find Balance Between the Skirting and the Siding – In order to get the job done well, you will probably have to do a little work on the siding of the house just above the house skirting as well as feather in the skirting to the home to try and make it as straight as possible. Completing the job in the best way means finding a happy medium between the siding and the skirting. Using some judgement and finesse, the job can be done well. Try to split the difference and make sure your lines are straight and smooth.
The same principle applies when you’re considering what to put around bottom of shed buildings or other outdoor buildings that may need some house skirting. If the building isn’t quite straight or square, level the ground, work the house skirting around slowly, and make sure to use the proper tools.
House skirting is an important component for manufactured and mobile homes, but it’s also a visual component. Keeping the home’s lines as straight as possible greatly increases curb appeal and keeps your home’s appearance neat and attractive. It will be worth the extra time to complete the job well.
For more information about cement board or what to put around bottom of shed buildings or homes, get in touch with DURASKIRT™ at (360)419-9909. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and get you started on your house skirting project.
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Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips for New Homes
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