When you're looking to invest in an affordable, versatile home, mobile homes are a great option. Unlike stick-built homes, mobile homes are manufactured in a controlled factory environment and then delivered to your property by a tractor trailer. Most mobile homes are placed on a block foundation, which exposes a gap between the underside of the home and the ground. With the right ventilation, skirting not only improves the aesthetics of the home but also provides some insulating benefit to protect the pipes under the structure. Here's a look at some options to consider for affordable skirting.

Tin Sheeting

Tin is a durable, weatherproof material that makes an affordable skirting choice for mobile homes. When you opt for recycled tin, you'll find that many of the older metal structures used anodized tin, which is tin that's treated with bonded paint. As the paint layer wears off, the tin is left with a textured finish. As an alternative, you can also use galvanized roofing as a form of mobile home skirting. Galvanized roofing is grey, long-lasting and often appears antiqued. For a unique look, this may be a great investment.

Composite Boards

Composite boards are one of the most cost-effective options for mobile home skirting. You can buy particle board and similar products by the sheet in a variety of thicknesses. Since it's sold by the sheet, the versatility to cut it to fit means less waste. The thicker the board you choose, the more insulating benefit you'll get from the material.

In exchange for its affordability, composite skirting is high maintenance. You'll have to seal it or paint it before you put it in place, and you may need to reapply the sealant or paint every year or two. When you install composite skirting, you'll also need to have some framing material behind it, which may require more financial and time investment to construct the frame to secure the board to.

Pickets

Picket fences are typically created from cedar or other weather-resistant types of wood. If you're looking for a creative look to your skirting, use recycled pickets. It's a great addition to cover a particle board skirt or even to stand alone as skirting with a supportive frame. If you want to add a homey, country feel to the outside of your mobile home, pickets are a subtle way to do that.

Bricks or Cinder Blocks

Cinder blocks have been around for years because they are durable and offer some insulating benefit. Although new cinder blocks can be costly, recycled ones are often more affordable. Because of their size and weight, cinder blocks can be a bit more labor-intensive than other materials. Another long-lasting choice for your mobile home skirting is recycled bricks. The bricks create a warm look along the bottom of the mobile home, but they also require a bit more time to install properly.

Rigid Foam

Rigid foam is often used as an insulator in standard stick-built homes. Rigid foam material is sold in sheets like particle board. You can use rigid foam to serve as a support structure for other types of skirting, or you can use it as a stand-alone material for mobile home skirting. It isn't as durable as some of the other options, but it is cost-effective and can even be painted. If you're looking for a skirting option that offers more insulating benefit to help you avoid broken pipes, rigid foam material is a great way to go.

As you can see, there are many options for mobile home skirting beyond the traditional vinyl sheets that you can buy from the manufacturer. If you want to give your new mobile home a personal touch, consider one of these choices for skirting and visit a local hardware store that carries mobile home supplies.