What Does Mobile Home Underpinning Mean?

What Does Mobile Home Underpinning Mean?

What Does Mobile Home Underpinning Mean?

Mobile home underpinning refers to the process of enclosing the space between the bottom of a mobile or manufactured home and the ground, typically using materials such as skirting or lattice.

Mobile home underpinning is a way to cover the bare area from the bottom of a mobile home to the ground.

Underpinning serves several purposes, including:

  • Aesthetic appeal: Underpinning can give a finished look to the underside of a mobile home and can help blend the home with the surrounding landscape.
  • Insulation: Underpinning can provide an extra layer of insulation for the home, helping to reduce heating and cooling costs.
  • Protection: Underpinning can help protect the home’s underside from damage caused by weather, pests, or other environmental factors.
  • Stability: Underpinning can provide additional stability to the home by preventing movement or shifting of the foundation.

There are several ways to underpin a mobile home.

The first method is to use vinyl skirting panels that come in rock, stone, and vinyl finishes.

The second method is to use concrete skirting around your house, which makes it look like a site-built home. DURASKIRT™ brand concrete skirting meets FHA standards and comes with DIY manufactured home skirting kits and mobile home skirting ideas.

The third method is to use simulated “rock” skirting, faux stone skirting, brick skirting, wood skirting, metal skirting, foam skirting or underpinning.

Underpinning strengthens the foundation of a mobile home. In most cases, underpinning is not necessary when using mobile home skirting.

However, if you choose something like cinder blocks for your skirting, it can be used as underpinning to make the mobile home sturdier than ever. Mobile Home Skirting Vinyl Underpinning Vented Panel White 16″ W x 35″ L (Pack of 10) is available on Amazon.com.

Mobile homes have come a long way. Older mobile homes have shabby foundations and even shabbier skirting.

The most important thing when choosing an underpinning or skirt for your mobile home is durability and ease of installation. Mobile Home Parts Depot offers durable vinyl trailer underpinning kits that are easy to install and attractive.

 

Mobile Home Underpinning Materials

Mobile home underpinning, or skirting, is a barrier used to protect the underside of the manufactured unit. There are many benefits to having skirting for your manufactured home.

It helps properly ventilate your home, reduces moisture underneath your home, and prevents damage like rusting or mildew. Skirting also protects your house from insects and animals, as well as harsh weather conditions.

There are a variety of skirting material and style options available. The most popular options include vinyl, metal or tin, concrete, brick, foam, plywood, and OSB.

Vinyl is the most popular option because it is affordable and versatile. It can come in an array of colors and textures to complement your home’s exterior.

Metal skirting is also becoming more attractive with new designs available.

When buying underpinning for your mobile home, you should consider the location and weather conditions in order to select the best material for your needs. You should also consider durability and value for money when making your decision.

Some vendors offer manufactured home skirting that you can install yourself. However, if you need help with installation, experts at a local store can offer advice on setting up.

Mobile Home Underpinning Installation

Mobile home underpinning installation is a DIY project that requires some preparation and the right materials. There are two types of mobile home skirting: vinyl and metal.

To install vinyl skirting, you need vinyl skirting, tin snips, wood stakes, hammer, tape measure, chalk line, ground spikes/nails.

To install metal skirting, you need J-Channel screws, plumb-bob and big nail or piece of rebar, mason’s string, green-treated 2x4s, wooden stakes every 4-6 feet.

To install vinyl skirting:

  1. Make sure your ground is level.
  2. Outline where you’re going to install the railing.
  3. Install the bottom rail.
  4. Set the top rail in place.

To install metal skirting:

  1. Install top track.
  2. Establish bottom of skirting location.
  3. Install bottom support.
  4. Prepare pea-rock base.

Mobile homes are not always perfectly square and may have imperfections that can make installing concrete board and other mobile home skirting tricky.

However, keeping the home’s lines as straight as possible greatly increases curb appeal and keeps your home looking good.

Mobile Home Underpinning DIY

Mobile home skirting, also known as underpinning, is essential to protect the underbelly of your home. Skirting helps conceal and protect the utility and structural components, and it lowers the amount of cold and heat that flows underneath — which means you’ll have more efficient heating and cooling. There are several DIY mobile home skirting alternatives to choose from if you want to do it yourself and save some money.

One alternative is plywood, but this option is not a long-lasting solution, and it tends to wick moisture.

Another alternative is brick or block, but this isn’t a DIY mobile home skirting option unless you are a skilled mason.

One way to maintain the attractive appearance of your manufactured home is to upgrade the exterior with customized DIY skirting.

You can use strips of wood like 1”x 4” to make rails around the perimeter as your skirt instead of using OSB or T-111 to provide a solid skin.

Wood is highly customizable, allowing you to use a lattice or picket-fence pattern for a unique, homey look. If they are made from treated lumber or naturally resistant wood such as cedar or redwood, they will last longer than untreated wood.

Although there are mobile home skirting prices which we explore further in another article, doing it yourself can save you money.

However, if you don’t have experience with construction projects like this one, it may be best to hire professionals who can ensure that everything is done correctly.

Cost Of Mobile Home Underpinning

The cost of mobile home underpinning or skirting installation varies depending on the material used, ground conditions, and size of the mobile home.

Vinyl skirting is the most common and economical option, costing around $900 for a standard 16 x 80-foot skirting package.

Insulated vinyl skirting is more expensive, costing between $1,440-$4,000 for a single-wide unit or $1,760-$4,480 for a double-wide.

Brick or concrete block underpinning is the most expensive but also the most durable option. It costs around $2,000 or more to skirt a mobile home with this material.

Some installers charge by the hour (around $60 to $125 per hour) while others charge a standard rate based on experience.

Skirting installation for an average single wide mobile home typically costs around $3,000 including labor and materials. Costs can increase if the mobile home is on a hill because the skirting would need to be custom cut to fit the slope.

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