Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips for New Homes

Feb 8, 2023

New Home Skirting

Newer manufactured homes might seem like the perfect candidate for easy mobile home skirting installation: they’re fresh, new, and haven’t been sitting in the elements for years. While they shouldn’t be left without house skirting, the installation process isn’t always easy and seamless, however. Even new homes are prone to imperfections, and when mobile home skirting installation comes into play, those imperfections become more obvious.

Here are three tips for installing house skirting on a newer mobile or manufactured home and making it look great.

1. Know that your mobile home probably isn’t squared or level. Mobile and manufactured homes are factory-made. And, although it often depends on the manufacturer, most mobile homes are not perfectly square or perfectly level. Recognizing this and planning for it will let you know what you are facing and allow you to prepare. So, just know that the area of the home you’ll be working with may not be perfectly square or level to the rest of the house or the ground beneath.

The good news is, the manufacturing of mobile homes has come a long way. In the last 30 years or so, advancements in robotics and technology have aided in how well homes are built in the factory. The quality truly is improving; homes are getting squarer and straighter. Not only that but manufactured homes are still significantly cheaper than stick-built homes, saving homeowners money.

2. Form your skirting material to your house, as it stands. This means acknowledging that homes may have imperfections (tip 1) and working your material around them as best you can. How well the skirting ends up looking on a home is partially dependent upon how well the home was constructed in the factory, but you can do a lot to make those imperfections look better by forming your materials well.

3. Make sure you have the right tools. Depending on the skirting you use, there will be specific tools you need for the installation. However, the tools the manufacturer indicates may not be all you need. Because you will need likely 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.

Keeping the above-mentioned tips in mind will be beneficial when working on a mobile home skirting installation project or even a shed skirting project. Sheds can be even more difficult to work with, but with a little patience and attention to detail, you can do it and make it look great.

Tips On Hiring A Tie-down Pro

In a recent blog article, we shed the light on hiring a tie-down pro. We recommend making certain your home is tied down properly before replacing and installing new skirting. Love & Peace of mind protects us. Read more here: https://duraskirt.com/tie-down-pros/

If you would like more information about house skirting, shed skirting, or how to perform a mobile home skirting installation project, get in touch with DURASKIRT™ at (360)419-9909. We can share more information about our house skirting product and help you with additional tips and installation inquiries. We have experience working with both older and newer manufactured homes and will be most happy to assist you.

Skirting Clearance for High-Wind Tie-Downs

Dec 20, 2022

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.

Photos showing High-Wind Tie-Downs.

Photos depicting Drip cap and hidden-venting.

You will need 2 1/2″ clearance from the face of Drip cap or behind belly-band (siding) to back of DURASKIRT™ CMU panels.

The Best Way to Prepare A Site for DURASKIRT™

Nov 23, 2022

What Is The Best Way To Prepare A Site for DURASKIRT™?

The reason for choosing a product such as DURASKIRT™ is when you want your manufactured home pit set. Thus, we’re frequently we’re asked by contractors what is the best way to prepare a site for DURASKIRT™ mobile home skirting. Ideally, for mobile home skirting installation, the home should be set up level on a gravel pad that extends outside the homes’ perimeter by a couple of inches.

Gravel Pad & Access

The home pad should be excavated allowing 18” to 24” around the perimeter to allow for workers. One more thing to consider is accessibility. Since the panels weigh approximately 68 lbs., it makes it easier to have clean, level access from the crates to the home.

Excavating for Blocking Height

Soils preparation.

There are a few things to consider when preparing a gravel pad. In fact, there are three main considerations before cutting for the pad. One consideration is the soil and its ability to support the home. The soil needs to be dug into native supportive soil and free of vegetation.

Next, once the site is excavated, the manufactured homes’ waste lines need to be measured so that they have plenty of fall towards the city sewers or septic tank. This can be obtained from the factory prior to shipment. The factory will supply an exact location on the plan and a dimension from floor or beam height.

Bottom of The Homes’ Joists to Gravel Pad Should Be 31”

Lastly, now that the sewer height is established with the necessary fall, you can adjust the level by bringing in gravel. The finished height from gravel to the bottom of the home’s joists should be 31”. This provides the optimum height for DURASKIRT™ mobile home skirting panels so that there will be no need to cut panels to height.

A Word on Factory Installed Belly Band

Factory-installed belly band that leaves a 2” distance from the bottom of the rim joist to the bottom of the belly band is optimal. Some of the brands that do this are Marlette and Fleetwood. This saves time and material when installing DURASKIRT™.

Although these are the optimal conditions for DURASKIRT™, they certainly do not stop us from being able to prepare all sites. We’ve installed DURASKIRT™ on slopes and extreme height variations where we extend the framework under the home. This style is called a stepped foundation look and we will be covering this in another article with photos.

You can also find more information about how to install DURASKIRT™ on our Mobile Home Skirting Installation video page.

For more information about DURASKIRT™ mobile home skirting, call us, today, at 360-419-9909. You can also request information by completing the form at the bottom of this page (in the footer).

How to Install Mobile Home Skirting When Your House Isn’t Straight

Mar 24, 2022

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 are still prone to 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 House Isn’t Straight

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.

Related Articles:

Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips for New Homes

Make Manufactured Home Look Like a House

Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips for Older Homes

DURASKIRT™ Installation

Nov 4, 2013

Regarding DURASKIRT™ Installation.

Q: How much time does DURASKIRT™ take to install?

Answer:

We have people asking us this question all the time. The simple answer is to calculate the time to install one panel at a time then multiply it by the number of panels needed for your home. Once you know this you can simply do the math. The average home takes approximately 60 panels. So let’s assume 5 minutes each multiply by 60 panels then divide by 60 minutes per hour = 5 hours.

Now do not be frustrated if it takes you more time. We have people that can install a home in less than three hours which is flat out moving. Don’t be shamed because most homeowners average twice this rate and it can take even longer if the site is not prepped properly.

Remember the five Ps?

Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. If you have never heard of the five P’s well, it’s about time you learned and take it to heart. I want to continue by emphasizing the following before we go into preparation because I feel it very important to get this concept down first, that is, install times.

Again, How long does DURASKIRT™ installation take?

Really it depends on your home. Usually, it can take 3 – 8 hours to remove existing skirting from your home. Then you need to inspect and see if you have and rot where you need to attach the new …skirting and if so you must replace these areas with new wood. When this is all finished, DURASKIRT™ installation can take between 3 to 7 minutes per panel to install depending on your skill level and the home site. So one person can install DURASKIRT™ in one 9 hour day or up to 3 seven-hour days. Two people can install DURASKIRT™ in 4 1/2 hours or up to 10 1/2 hours.

1″ to a 1 1/2″ gap from the top of the skirting panel to give good ventilation.

We have more detailed information this Blog Link

Helpful Hint: Another use for your shovel.

They need a tape measure built into the handle.

Grade the site first by measuring and placing a 31″ mark on your shovel or a stick. A shovel handle works best because it is already in your hand. A properly prepared site is graded so that the skirting panels have a 31″ gap to the ground from the rim-joist. When the panels go in they need at least a 1″ gap but can go as much as 1 -1/2″ gap. This photo helps explain:

Other Related Links:

Installation Videos

A Silvercrest MO7 With Concrete Skirting

Q. Can I reuse the skirting if I move my home?

mobile home skirting installation

Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips for New Homes

New Home Skirting