Installing Vinyl Skirting On A Mobile Home

Vinyl skirting can be the finishing touch to complete the appearance of a mobile home. Skirting is a vinyl accessory that hangs between the bottom edge of the mobile home and the ground below. Mobile homes are usually installed on a raised foundation, so vinyl skirting is a way to camouflage the foundation.

Vinyl expands and shrinks with changes in the weather. As a result, when installing vinyl skirting on a home or building it is important to allow a gap of approximately 1/32 inch between the head of the nail and the building. Although it is not necessary to measure each place where the skirting is attached to the building, check periodically during the installation to insure that the skirting easily slides between the nails and the building.

Materials Needed

•Hammer
•Wood Stakes
•Tin Snips
•Tape Measure
•Chalk Line
•Utility Knife
•Vinyl Skirting
•7 inch Ground Spikes/Nails
•Level

Step 1

Using the level, mark a place where each corner will meet the ground in a plumb line. Place a wood stake in the ground at each of these corners.

Snap a chalk line on the ground between the points.

Step 2

Place the back strip of the bottom rail on the chalk line. Attach the rail to the ground with ground spikes or nails.

First attach the ends and then the middle of the rail. If the rail is being attached to concrete, the masonry nails or spikes will be necessary.

Step 3

Starting at the highest point of the mobile home, begin to attach the back top rail ½ inch from the highest point.

Holding the bottom of the top rail flush with the bottom of the mobile home, nail the top back rail to the house, leaving a ½ inch at the corners and between any pieces. Continue to attach the rail around the entire mobile home.

Step 4

Determine the distance between the bottom edge of the back top rail and the ground, starting at the highest point of the mobile home. The ground slopes, measure every 16 inches or the width of the panels to ensure that you have the correct measurement. To allow for weather conditions, include 1 inch longer if you are located in a warm climate and 2 inches longer if you are located in a cold climate.

Cut a section of skirting panel 1 inch longer than this distance you just measured with the tin snips.

Insert the panel into the bottom rail and set it against the top rail. Continue this around the entire mobile home.

Step 5

Snap the top rail cover into the top back rail. This should cover the cut panels. Do not butt the ends of the top rail covers together in order to allow for expansion of the vinyl with temperature changes. To cover corners, cut a 1 inch V-knotch from the top of the top rail cover and bend the cover around the corner. Install the top rail cover around the entire mobile home.