snap on skirting??

Question

Does anybody have any nifty ideas how to or what to use to install hardware on trailer skirting so i can remove panels easily? Do not want to screw on. Have 2x4 frames and siding installed on them as my skirting? No cocky aswers plz.

Answer 1

There is actually a pretty good variety of skirting available right 'off the shelf' for mobile homes. The typical 'white vertical' style you see so often, does not have to be screwed to the trailer... it actually fits up inside the top piece of trim, and in a bottom channel, which can be laid on concrete (I like to glue this piece in place, with construction adhesive), landscaping timbers, or even right on the ground. Its better to put it up on landsape timbers, if your home is not on a full pad.... weedeaters do tend to crack most skirting...hehehe... so having it a few inches up off the ground helps. This type of skirting comes in vented or solid... keep in mind, you DO need to keep the crawlspace VENTED...this helps prevent moisture buildup, which will damage your home. If you do not have a vapor barrier under the home...put one under it! 6 mil plastic works just fine... you can get it in clear or black rolls, 10ft widths by various lengths, at very little cost. In actuality... this type of skirting really should NOT be screwed or nailed to the home... it is supposed to be able to slide up and down inside that top piece of trim (which snaps onto a metal rail, which IS nailed to the home) Ive seen a lot of homes with bowed skirting because a dealer's installer screwed this type of skirting to the home, and there was no room for expansion, or frost heave, lol.

Not only can you get the 'flexible vinyl' style, but there are a number of 'patterned' skirtings availabe too, which are more rigid. These are most often attached to the home, tho. There is also a cement panel system, which is attached to a timber framework mounted under your home... this makes the home appear to have a poured cement perimeter wall.

If you decide to go with an 'attached' system... leave AT LEAST 2 access openings... as someone who has crawled under mobile homes for a living, lol.... I recommend 3 minimum, one at either end, and one at the center of the home, on the back side. That way you wont have to crawl all the way from one end, to fix something at the other end, lol.

I recommend that you visit a mobile home dealership, and parts stores in your area to find specific brands and styles.

Now, if you already have the rigid, fixed style of skirting, and are looking for ways to create easy access... I would suggest that you make a few "door panels", at key locations. You can take a piece of your existing, rigid skirting, and attach it to a lumber framework, and mount this on some sturdy hinges, and use a gate latch to create an unobtrusive access to your crawl space. You can purchase metal brackets to create a complete, sturdy, square, gate, to be the backer for these access points. Rockler woodworker supply has such a kit available... you can cut your timber to size, to create any size gate you wish. You might even decide to put some actual wood in place of the skirting, to give it a different look.

Im providing the link to the pre-hinged gate bracket kit... but do take the time to browse their site, and look at some of the other hardware they have available... barn hinges, latches, etc... might give you some ideas on other ways to skirt your home.

Have Fun!

Answer 2

make an opening to access? is that what yu want?make a frame the size yu need and use j channel top and bottom to hold your panelstry to keep even to match rest of siding . you can snap panels out or slide behind one and another?mine was 6ft by 2 ft,big enuff to access plumbing and stuff under the modular.cost was reasonable too.