What is House Skirting on a Manufactured Home?
The very first time I heard the word house skirting was in the 1970s. My parents bought a transition manufactured home while we built a large farmhouse. It was nearing the end of summer when my father said we needed to build skirting to keep the underside of our home from getting cold. I didn’t know that this would be something I would carry on in the future, becoming a manufacturer of the DURASKIRT™ manufactured home skirting products.
So, let me explain further what manufactured home skirting is and why you need it. Firstly, house skirting, also known as mobile home underpinning or skirting, is the material used to cover the bottom of a manufactured or mobile home. It extends from the bottom of the siding down to the ground or to the foundational slab.
What Does House Skirting Do?
Manufactured Home Skirting
Manufactured house skirting serves several important functions that contribute to both the aesthetic appeal and structural integrity of a home, especially for mobile and manufactured homes. Here’s what house skirting does:
1. Protection from the Elements
House skirting provides a protective barrier around the base of a home, shielding the undercarriage and foundation from harsh weather conditions such as rain, wind, and snow. This helps prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mold, mildew, and wood rot.
2. Pest Control
Skirting blocks access to the space beneath the house, preventing pests such as rodents, insects, and larger animals from nesting under the home. This reduces the chances of infestations and the potential damage they can cause to the structure or insulation.
3. Improved Energy Efficiency
Skirting helps insulate the home by enclosing the space beneath it, reducing drafts and heat loss in colder months. This can help maintain a consistent indoor temperature and lower heating and cooling costs.
4. Structural Stability
House skirting adds a layer of stability by minimizing airflow under the home, which can reduce the risk of the structure shifting or becoming unstable due to strong winds.
5. Aesthetic Appeal
Skirting improves the visual appearance of a home by covering up the unsightly underbelly and mechanical systems, giving the home a more finished and polished look.
6. Ventilation and Airflow
Properly installed skirting includes ventilation to allow air circulation beneath the home, preventing moisture buildup while still protecting against pests. This balance helps maintain a dry and stable environment under the home.
7. Storage
Skirting can also provide a concealed area for additional storage beneath the home. This is particularly beneficial in mobile and manufactured homes, where space may be limited.
Why Is House Skirting Important?
Before house skirting is added to a home, the bottom of a manufactured or mobile home is exposed and open. The underside is wrapped to prevent insulation from falling out and to help everything stay intact during transport of the home. However, this wrap is not tough enough to prevent rodents from finding their way to the underside of a home. Without house skirting, rodents enjoy a freeway of access to nesting and chewing.
Unfortunately, homes with no house skirting protection or improper house skirting are prone to damages that can quickly escalate in cost. Over time, rodents can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to a home. House skirting helps ensure that mice and rats will stay away and that the home will be much less prone to pest damage.
House Skirting Makes Your Home Look Good
House skirting also gives manufactured and mobile homes a more finished look, closer to that of a “stick-built” house. Adding mobile home underpinning to a mobile house can add a bit more visual appeal to the home. The skirting creates a more permanent look to a manufactured or mobile home.
All in all, house skirting is both a protective component to manufactured or mobile homes and also an aesthetic one. Most importantly, it creates a barrier for rodents and pests that would otherwise have easy access to the underside of a home, paving the way for home damage.
If you would like to learn more about house skirting, or mobile home underpinning, contact DURASKIRT™ at any time. We’ll be most happy to answer any questions you might have and share information about DURASKIRT™ house skirting. If you are interested in learning how to protect your home from rodent damage, we can help.
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