Properly taking care of a mobile home can mean years of inexpensive living. Any program of mobile home maintenance involves adding underpinning, also known as skirting. Skirting covers the space between the ground and the home, giving the manufactured home the look of a traditional home, one with a sturdy foundation. Installation can make sense for many homeowners, so consider the five benefits of adding mobile home skirting before making a decision.

Appearance

Mobile home skirting is an attractive way to hide the structural elements of a home. From aluminum to brick veneer to faux stone, skirting improves the curb appeal of your manufactured home instantly while giving it a sense of permanence. Also, skirting is available in a variety of styles and colors to suit any taste.

Protection

Easy to install, skirting provides durable and relatively maintenance-free protection. You won’t have to worry about children, animals and insects invading the crawl space underneath your mobile home. Plus, skirting can help keep pipes from freezing and protect insulation from moisture.

Savings

By providing extra insulation from the elements, mobile home skirting can prevent the loss of heated or cooled air from the home. This can save you money on energy bills year-round. Although policies vary across the country, certain types of skirting qualify for savings on insurance rates. Talk to your Texas mobile home insurance agent for more information.

Legal

Many mobile home communities and municipalities across the country, particularly in Texas, require skirting on prefabricated structures. Some government entities require professional skirting installation while others are fine with do-it-yourself kits. Check with authorities in your area to make sure you are following the law.

Storage

Creating a durable, weatherproof barrier between the home and the ground creates a crawl space ideal for storage. With properly installed and vented skirting, seasonal items such as outdoor holiday decorations, lawn tools and push toys now have a safe spot underneath the manufactured home.

Investment

Not only does skirting look good to you and your neighbors, it looks good to bankers. Most lenders require mobile home skirting for resale of a mobile home, refinancing a home loan and acquiring home equity loans.

From saving money to giving your home an instant facelift, the benefits of adding skirting to a manufactured home are clear. Before exploring your skirting options, don’t forget to talk to your Texas mobile home insurance agent about the impact of skirting on your policy.

Coming next month:

Find out which skirting options make the most sense for your manufactured home and budget.