Underpinning a doublewide..Need help/suggestions

[Unclebuck257]

Bird,

I checked out that site and even gave them a call for some additional info. Very nice folks and very willing to take all the time needed to go over various things. They'll ship anywhere from their place in Alabama too. Thanks for that info!!

jinman,

Jim, I went over to Lowe's yesterday and I think they have changed what they carry for this, from when you were in there last. At this point they only have the cheap vinyl underpinning that breaks and blows easily, or now they carry the Hardiboard panels that they say are being used more and more for underpinning. That Hardiboard is good, strong, stuff and in fact, the woodgrain Hardipanels are what the siding on the house is now. I'll check out Home Depot too, but I don't think they have much fdor this sort of thing.

I'll have to do some measuring, money figuring, talk to Momma, and go from there. Thanks again to all for the replies and the help!!

 

[BobReeves]

Think someone has already said this but if the vinyl is installed properly it will hold up to anything except a direct attack from your weed eater. I installed our skirting when we moved the house last year and this past weekend we had sustained 60 MPH winds. We are out in the open on a slight hill with nothing to slow the wind down. Not one problem with the skirting, Lost the TV antenna, a tree and curled a couple tin sheets on my shop roof but the skirting wasn't effected.

A round pin with a flat top called a "wind rod" and using all the screws that come in the kit is the key. Wind rods are an accessory that lock the skirting to the top rail. Always run at least one screw per panel into the bottom rail, I used two.

 

[Bird]

Bob, I'd never seen or heard of the wind rods; had to google that and find out how they worked. So I learned something. And of course everyone with any mobile home experience has seen what weedeaters do to vinyl skirting. The mobile home park we recently moved from found a simple solution to that problem. When they install one and install the vinyl skirting, as you know there is an inner and outer top rail, and then the track for the bottom end of the panels. Just use an outer top railing to insert into the bottom track. That makes the top and bottom look alike, and the weedeater won't damage that. And you won't need nearly as many, if any, screws either.

 

[ToadHill]

I used 1/4" cement board and it has lasted over 20 years. I put down a treated wood base with a groove in it and slid the cement board under the siding and into the groove. It was also easy to slide out a piece if I needed to get under the trailer for something.

 

[Lucky1]

I own several mobi;e home parks, the newest thing in my areas is to build a frame work and cover it with cement board. A thin coxting of cement is then applied /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gifver it, looks just like a concrete foundation.

 

[Unclebuck257]

Lucky1,

I've recently seen a couple doublewides around here apparently done like that too. Looks sharp!! Thanks for the reply!!

 

[smrobinson30]

I own several mobi;e home parks, the newest thing in my areas is to build a frame work and cover it with cement board. A thin coxting of cement is then applied /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gifver it, looks just like a concrete foundation.

Great suggestion,but what did you use for framework?

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

We have the rental next to us. It has the vinyl stuff and yep I've mess it up with the weedeater. About 3 years ago I replaced quite a few panels and need to do it again. I'm thinking of something heavier after reading this. The cement board would be nice, but I'm thinking it might be hard for me to cut. Have to ask hubby, the vinyl is real easy to cut, slip the old out, and pop the new one in. I like to keep it looking nice. Some good information, thanks.

 

[Pete Judd]

When I put in ours, I pored a full slab out to the edges, and did the skirting with cinder blocks. I then back filled around the house. I know that it was not cheap, but my inlaws have a triple wide on my property, with the plastic and every one that has weed eatered to it has torn it apart. I took pavers and went around the place 2 feet out and 8 inches up from the ground and then use round up to keep the stuff down.

Hope this helps.

 

[Kays Supply]

When we did my son's skirting, we put landscape timbers about 2' out all the way around his skirt. We then put mulch in. That way no string trimmer problem. You might be able to add a row to attach the skirting to and use the mulch some how to help as an anchor. With that much rock freeze lift probably isn't a factor, but here it is. Be sure and leave slack in the top flap for it, if it is a concern.