How to Install Wood Panel Skirting on a Mobile Home

Hold a skirting fastener against the underside of one of the corners of the outer rim joist. Mark its location. Drill pilot holes into the rim joist in the location you marked. Secure the skirting fastener to the rim joist with the screws included with it.

Measure the distance between the rim joist and the ground. Cut a piece of 2-by-2-inch lumber to that length with a circular saw.

Slide the top of the wooden piece into the top fastener connection on the skirting fastener. Slide the bottom metal piece of the skirting fastener on the piece of wood with the stake pointing down. Pull the skirting fastener so that the top fastener with the wood attached is straight up and down, or plumb, using a carpenter’s level. Tighten the thumb screw that operates the skirting fastener to hold the wooden piece upright.

Lower the bottom metal piece of the skirting fastener on the wooden piece so the lower piece is at ground level. Tighten its thumb screw. Tamp the stake attached to the lower fastener into the ground with a hammer to secure the skirting fastener.

Continue adding skirting fasteners around the base of the house. Space the fasteners no more than 3 to 4 feet apart to provide the best support for the wood skirting.

Connect each vertical wooden upright with a horizontal piece of 2-by-2-inch lumber cut to fit above the bottom portion of the skirting fasteners and between each vertical piece. Drill pilot holes through the 2-by-2-inch lumber and into the end of the horizontal piece. Attach screws to secure the horizontal pieces.

Cut exterior grade plywood to fit the area between the outer floor rim joist and the ground using a circular saw. Attach the plywood to the wooden pieces of the skirting fasteners, the horizontal wooden pieces and the rim joist using screws long enough to penetrate the plywood and at least 1 inch into the 2-by-2-inch lumber or the joist. For best results, predrill all holes.

Dig a shallow trench 2 to 3 inches deep in front of the plywood. Add pea gravel to the trench to help water drain away from the skirting.

Attach wide-channel J-channel trim to the top of the plywood so that the J profile is upside down. Use roofing nails to secure the J-channel, but don’t nail them all the way in so the J-channel can expand and contract as the temperature changes. The J-channel serves as a slip joint to help keep the skirting from buckling.

Cut wood skirting pieces to fit between the J-channel and the ground using a circular saw. Since the ground is probably uneven, check the length often.

Spread construction adhesive on the back of a piece of wood skirting. Slide the top of the skirting halfway into the J-channel. Press the skirting into the construction adhesive. Fasten it in place on the plywood with fasteners recommended by the skirting manufacturer.

Continue placing the skirting along the base of the mobile home. Cut corner trim to fit over the outside corners, if desired. Attach it with screws.

Caulk along all seams and exposed screw holes with silicone caulk to seal water out of the skirting and its base.