Manufactured Homebuyer's Guide to Skirting

One of the first things many people notice about a manufactured home is the skirting. This protective covering isn’t just about appearances and making a good first impression, although that’s certainly important. It’s also one of the hardest-working components underneath your home.

Skirting provides protection from weather, pests and debris. It can also improve your home’s comfort by improving ventilation, which impacts the temperature and humidity in your home. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at this important part of your home and discuss how to select the right skirting for your needs.

What Is Manufactured Home Skirting & Why Does It Matter?

Skirting is the material installed around the base of your manufactured home that encloses the space between the floor and the ground. It provides:

• Weather and wind protection: Improves energy efficiency and comfort by reducing drafts beneath the home.
• Animal and insect deterrence: Helps prevent pests from getting under your home, where they can damage insulation and other components.
• Improved curb appeal: Gives your home a finished appearance, increasing perceived value.

The Style & Substance of Skirting: Exploring Your Options

Today’s skirting options offer so much more than the basic coverings of years past. You can now choose from a variety of materials, styles and colors to customize your home’s appearance and make it feel truly yours.

Many skirting options, including those offered by Style Crest, include:

• Textured finishes: Vinyl panel, faux brick or faux stone finishes can blend naturally with your home’s style.
• Multiple color options: Choose a color that matches your home’s siding or accents it.

The skirting you select can act as a part of your home’s overall design story, not just a functional afterthought. It can have a big impact on its curb appeal. Matching the skirting color to your siding can create a seamless look, while coordinating it with your trim or roof can provide contrast. There is no right or wrong approach.

Quality skirting can help prevent or minimize problems down the road, and many modern options are highly durable and low maintenance. For example, Style Crest’s skirting products were designed to provide consistent fit and finish and long-term value, protecting your home and minimizing the need for replacements or repairs.

Great Design Starts From the Ground Up

The skirting material you choose works just as hard as the color and texture. Vinyl delivers a clean, low-maintenance finish, while steel or aluminum metal options stand strong against weather. Looking for the warmth of wood without the upkeep? Consider fiber cement or composite skirting. Dreaming of a more timeless option? Brick offers unmatched durability and a classic finish to the home. Whether you match or accent your skirting and siding is up to you.

How to Choose the Right Skirting for Your Home

With so many options to choose from, selecting the right skirting can be overwhelming. These steps can help you decide:

1. Evaluate Long-Term Durability

Consider the long-term costs and not just the upfront expense. Inexpensive skirting products can be appealing, but they may need to be replaced sooner, increasing your costs over time. They may also be prone to fading, cracking or warping, which could negatively affect your home’s appearance and foundational integrity. Quality skirting can actually be more affordable in the long run because it’s more durable and lasts longer.

2. Select a Color Scheme

Modern manufactured home skirting doesn’t require painting, which reduces the need for maintenance. Decide how you want your home to look before you start shopping. If you live in a manufactured home community, check the community standards to ensure the texture and color are approved.

3. Review the Installation Process

Skirting that is difficult to install could result in a higher setup fee or extend the time it takes to make your home move-in ready. When comparing your options, review the installation process to see if there are any steps that could cause delays or problems. An installation contractor can help you understand what to look for.

Don't Forget the Details: Completing Your Home's Exterior

Once the base of your home looks polished and protected, the next area visitors are likely to notice is the entryway. Quality steps and rails make it easy to enter your home and give it a finished look. Factory-built options like wood or fiberglass are durable and long-lasting. They can be quickly installed to get your home is move-in ready.

Consider adding some landscaping to tie everything together. Easy DIY projects that can improve curb appeal include:

• Adding flower boxes or hanging baskets
• Installing solar landscaping lights
• Planting grass or ground cover on bare areas
• Refreshing mulch in flower beds
• Making a step-stone or gravel walkway

Make It Yours

The skirting you select is a small investment with a big return. It can improve your home’s comfort, protect the undercarriage and provide a finished appearance that gives you pride of ownership. With so many options available, you can customize your home’s appearance and truly make it yours.

Style Crest offers a variety of durable, long-lasting skirting products in different colors and textures. Browse our skirting options to find the right fit for your home.