15 Inexpensive Deck Skirting Ideas

Want to enhance the aesthetics of your existing deck? Doing that doesn&#;t have to be expensive to the point where you&#;ll need to spend thousands, and that&#;s where inexpensive deck skirting ideas come into play.

By covering the open area beneath your deck, skirting provides a clean, cohesive look apart from offering protection from pests and the daily weather and elements&#;all without requiring a hefty sum of money.

In this article, we&#;ll explore 15 budget-friendly deck skirting ideas so you can achieve your aesthetic goals and transform your outdoor space into something extraordinary! 

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Why Should You Have a Deck Skirt?

There are a myriad of reasons why you should have a deck skirt, here are some of the reasons why you&#;ll find a deck skirt definitely useful: 

Unsightly Areas 

If the area beneath your deck is an open space, it can affect the overall look of your yard and make it look messy. The exposed beams and structural pieces, such as screws and fasteners can create clutter.

Fortunately, a deck skirt can easily conceal these, transforming your deck&#;s messy look into a cleaner and more cohesive appearance. 

Pest Control and Prevention

A deck skirt also helps prevent the entrance of pests into your home through the underside of your deck. By blocking their access to the deck, you can reduce the risk of large insects entering, which also reduces the chances of infestations.

With deck skirts, you can also prevent damage to your decks, especially when you have a wooden deck that is susceptible to termite infestation. 

Safety and Risk Reduction

Skirting can also help minimize the safety risks that an open space in your deck could pose. If you have toddlers and pets, skirts are really helpful to protect them from getting tripped or stuck between the open space and the deck.

When you opt for skirting, you add an extra layer of safety to your outdoor space. 

Enhanced Aesthetics 

Aside from function, skirting can elevate the messy look of your deck into something more cohesive and stylish. By opting for a skirting that complements your existing deck&#;s design, you can create a good balance between the two, resulting in better aesthetics. 

Increased Property Value

Investing in deck skirting can also increase your home&#;s value, which is beneficial if you&#;re planning to sell your property sooner or later. A well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing deck, along with its skirting can significantly boost curb appeal&#;making it attractive to potential buyers. 

Materials Used in Deck Skirting 

Inexpensive deck skirting ideas will not be complete without exploring various material options. Skirting material options include metal, composite, vinyl, or wood, with each material possessing different benefits.

As a note of advice, you can choose the material depending on the overall look you want to achieve, the durability you want, and whether you want a low-maintenance or high-maintenance material. 

15 Inexpensive Deck Skirt Ideas 

When it comes to improving your deck, you don&#;t have to spend too much to achieve a stylish and functional look. Here are 15 cheap deck skirt ideas to choose from:

Composite or WPC

Composite products, known commercially as wood plastic composite (WPC) are a great option if you need a budget-friendly deck skirting. These are known to mimic the look and feel of traditional wood but with added durability and less maintenance.

Here at Oakio, we offer a full range of composite products that are both cost-effective, long-lasting, and visually appealing. Our decking products are made with sustainability, durability, and aesthetics in mind, giving you a great deck skirting option. 

Wooden 

Using wooden skirting is also a good classic option for your skirting needs. Woods, like treated lumber or cedar, can effectively conceal the underside of your deck without needing a complex installation. They can be stained and painted to suit your existing exterior design. 

They can also be installed in simple panels, but if you need a more sophisticated design, you can opt to install them with intricate patterns. 

Wood Lattice 

Wood lattice panels are a great classic deck skirting idea. Though they can conceal the open space beneath your deck, they can still allow for ample ventilation&#;making your deck&#;s floor cool even with warm weather.

They can also be painted or stained to your preferences, just like traditional wood. They&#;re also easy to install and you can add one to your deck directly. 

Plants and Shrubs

Using plants and shrubs around the edge and base of your deck can also be an effective option. The plants and shrubs provide a visual barrier to cover the open space and provide a nature-inspired, welcoming look.

Opting for low-maintenance plants and shrubs is a good way to keep things tidy and beautiful. 

Stone and Brick 

If you need a more classic or traditional look but you don&#;t want wood, you can opt for a stone or a brick. Though this may seem pricey, you can use faux stone panels or brick panels to keep your budget intact without sacrificing the looks.

This option provides a sturdy but attractive skirt that works well to enhance your deck&#;s look. 

Fence 

In case you really have a tight budget and don&#;t have a lot of time to do the project, you can use a simple fence panel as your deck skirting. Wooden, vinyl, or even composite fences can be cut to match your deck&#;s base and act as the skirting.

This modern deck skirting idea is pretty cheap and doesn&#;t require complex installation. 

Synthetic Stone Wall Panels 

Synthetic stone panels are also an affordable option and a good alternative to real stone. These panels come in different colors, textures, and patterns which mimics the real look of natural stone without the hefty price tag.

These panels are also lightweight and easy to install, unlike real natural stones that are heavy and require a specialized installation process. 

Pallet Deck

You can also opt to repurpose old pallets to create a cost-effective deck skirt. Since they&#;re easy to disassemble and reassemble, you can fit them around to the base of your deck without much effort.

This DIY option is notoriously cheap, but not cheap enough to not make your deck look beautiful and cohesive.  

Black Vinyl Lattice 

These panels offer a modern look for your deck skirting. Since they are made of vinyl, they are durable, only need minimal maintenance, and can easily be cut to fit any size. The black aesthetics of the material can also provide a good contrast or balance to your existing deck design. 

Metal Lattice 

Metal lattice panels are also a good budget-friendly and durable deck skirting idea. Aesthetics-wise, these panels come in various designs and finishes, but you can also repaint them to match the color of your deck.

Being a metal panel, it&#;s resistant to weather and pest intrusion, making it a good choice when longevity is needed. 

Narrow Board 

You can also use narrow boards that you can choose to arrange either vertically or horizontally to create a deck skirt. This idea allows you a great deal of customization options, so you can experiment with different types of wood finishes or paint.

This is a cost-effective solution that offers both a modern touch and a straightforward appearance.

Trellis 

A trellis can also be used as deck skirting by installing it at the base of your deck. Though it has an open design, using a trellis should be supplemented by another idea to make sure the open space beneath your deck is fully concealed.

You can use some plants and shrubs together with a trellis to create a decorative and functional look. 

Bamboo Screening

Bamboo screening offers a budget and eco-friendly skirting solution. It adds a sense of warmth and a tropical touch while simultaneously providing a visual barrier to conceal the underneath of your deck.

Bamboo is also known for its durability, meaning you can use it for years to come. 

Fabric Panels 

You can also use fabric panels to use as skirting as they offer good versatility. You can choose weather-resistant fabrics to ensure longevity. They can be hung from a frame, but we suggest attaching them directly to the deck to secure it from heavy winds.

You can also choose to replace them with a different fabric of your choice since they&#;re easy to install and uninstall. 

Synthetic Rock (Polyurethane Foam)

Polyurethane foam disguised as synthetic rock panels can also mimic the look of natural rock without paying a few hundred dollars. These lightweight panels are easy to install and can be painted over&#;giving you design versatility.

They are also durable and look visually attractive, which is perfect for your skirting needs. 

How Much Does Deck Skirting Cost?

The cost of deck skirting varies depending on several factors involved. These factors are the choice of materials used, the size of the deck, the complexity of the design, and even labor costs if you opt for a professional installation.

Basic materials can cost as low as $1 to $5 per square foot of your deck, while more durable and visually appealing materials such as composites and synthetic stones can cost about $10 to $30 per square foot. 

As always, we recommend reviewing your budget and seeing if you accommodate the costs that entail some of the inexpensive deck skirting ideas. If not, you can opt for cheaper materials and do the installation yourself if you have the experience to do so. 

Deck Skirting Maintenance 

Maintaining your deck skirting ensures a long lifespan and a consistent appearance. Though your choice of skirting might differ from the actual material of your deck, cleaning both is essential to keep them looking clean and pristine.

You can use a mild detergent and water for minor dirt and stains, but should you encounter tough stains, we recommend using a soft brush or a pressure washer on its lowest setting.

Aside from cleaning, maintaining the deck skirting by inspecting for wear and tear and repairing any issues ASAP can help keep it strong and beautiful for years to come.

Build Your Deck Skirt with Oakio

Ready to start your deck skirt project? Go with Oakio, a leading innovator in composite wood manufacturing. We offer premium-quality products designed to make your deck look aesthetic, elegant, and comfortable.

Our wide range of decking products combines the beauty of true wood and the durability of modern plastic technology, ensuring your composite skirting can stand the test of time. Let&#;s start your composite deck skirt project today!

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mobile home wood skirting and shutters - Via Ashley Beseda

faux stone skirting - Via Pinterest

gray mobile home skirting - Via Manitoba Screw Piles

What Is The Purpose Of Trailer Skirting

Types Of Mobile Home Skirting

Mobile Home Skirting Options That Look AmazingBuy Now

A mobile home without skirting just doesn&#;t look finished or high-end. So skirting for a mobile home is just as important as siding, or even more so considering the safety features of mobile home skirting.

Skirting is the panel or wall of material that touches the ground at the bottom of a home. Mobile homes always have skirting, unlike other homes. This is why there are so many great options for mobile home skirting. 

What Is The Purpose Of Trailer Skirting?

The purpose of trailer skirting is defined as &#;reducing aerodynamic drag caused by air turbulence.&#; To put that in layman&#;s terms, it reduces the amount of disturbance from the wind.

But that&#;s not the only purpose. There are two more primary purposes of trailer skirting products. The first one is to reduce the amount of moisture that is allowed underneath the house and the other is to simply make the trailer look more finished.

Types Of Mobile Home Skirting Panels

Like siding, there are many different types of mobile home skirting products. Each type comes at a different price and with its own pros and cons. The more expensive types are usually sturdier while the flimsier types are cheaper. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website types of skirting boards.

They also each look quite different. You can completely change your exterior design style just by changing your mobile home skirting.

Unlike solid homes, mobile homes always need skirting panels and not just vinyl siding and crawl space.

Type of SkirtingPrice Rangekey CharacteristicsVinyl$360-$1,300Most popular type, available in various thicknesses and textures. Price may double for insulated versions in colder climates.Simulated "Rock"$680-$1,400Mimics the look of rocks, available in neutral colors, made from plastic. A cost-effective option for a natural appearance.Faux Stone$1,000-$2,800Textured like real stone, made from durable polyurethane. Higher cost, but can enhance home value.Concrete$680-$1,500Durable and permanent option, often made with cinder blocks. Labor-intensive installation, usually done by professionals.Brick$700-$2,500Can be created with blocks or faux brick panels. Real brick is more expensive and challenging to install. Faux brick can be costlier than real bricks, but installation is different.WoodVariesCustomizable option, often built according to individual preferences. Price varies based on the type of wood and design choices.Metal$500-$2,000Unique option with a range of prices depending on the type of metal. Flat or imprinted metal panels available, installation similar to vinyl with predrilled holes.Foam$1,000-$3,000Energy-efficient option, comes in small panels designed for insulation. Higher cost due to energy efficiency and smaller panel size.

Vinyl

Image found on pinterest

Price: $360-$1,300 

Vinyl skirting is the most popular type of mobile home skirting. As you can see, the price range is quite large because there are so many different types of vinyl skirting. In fact, vinyl skirting panels come in different thicknesses and textures.

If you add insulating skirting for colder climates or winter months, you can expect to pay at least twice as much as you would for single-layer vinyl skirting. So, if you normally paid $, you&#;d then pay $ for insulated vinyl skirting.

Simulated &#;Rock&#; 

Price: $680-$1,400

We say &#;rock&#; skirting because it isn&#;t really rocks. It isn&#;t the same texture as rocks, but it does look like it was made to replicate rocks. These mobile home skirting panels are available in almost any neutral color.

The more popular colors are gray and brown. Despite the way they look, the simulated rock skirting is made from plastic, not stone. This is the cheapest way to get a more natural look instead of vinyl. 

Faux Stone

Image from Pinterest.

Price: $1,000-$2,800

Faux stone skirting is different than simulated rock skirting. Faux stone skirting panels have a similar texture to real stone. The panels with faux stone skirting are made from polyurethane. This makes it quite durable.

But as you can see, it&#;s quite a bit more expensive than other options. But if you&#;re selling your manufactured home, it&#;s a wonderful choice because it raises the value of your home whereas vinyl skirting can actually lower it.

Concrete

Price: $680-$1,500

This is one of the most durable skirting options for mobile homes. It is also one of the most permanent. It can really make a mobile home feel more permanent, which is almost always a good thing.

The downside is that concrete skirting panels, usually made with cinder blocks, are also almost always labor-intensive. It will take a long time to install on your manufactured home and will need to be done by a professional whereas another type of skirting has easy installation and can be done DIY. 

Brick Skirting

Price: $700-$

You can create brick skirting just like concrete skirting with blocks. But another option that is much cheaper is to get faux brick skirting panels which are more akin to faux stone skirting. It all depends on your priorities.

Brick is more expensive than cinder blocks but faux brick can actually be just as expensive as real bricks. The installation is different, however, with real brick skirting being much more difficult to install.

Wood Skirting

Pinterest image source.

Price: Varies

The thing about wood skirting is that you can completely customize it. Wood skirting isn&#;t generally something you buy as wood skirting. It&#;s usually something you customize and build to meet your own needs. 

The price of this type of skirting is so hard to pin down because it largely depends on the type of wood that you use. Whether it&#;s oak or pine, OBS or plywood, covering the whole side or simply in a lattice. All of this matters. 

Metal

Price: $500-$

Talk about unique! Depending on the type of metal you use, metal skirting panels can be quite cheap or quite expensive. You can get flat metal skirting or you can get imprinted metal skirting with amazing designs in it.

Most metal skirting comes in panels and installs just like vinyl skirting with predrilled holes in them. This makes it easy to install because the only difficult part is drilling the holes in metal materials. 

Foam 

Price: $-$

Foam skirting panels are one of the most energy-efficient types of mobile home skirting. It may not look the best in everyone&#;s eyes, but it does work surprisingly well in insulating your home, or rather, under your home.

The reason that foam skirting panels for manufactured homes are so expensive is that they come in small panels and are made to be energy-efficient. Whereas other skirting panels come in 4-5ft panels, foam insulated skirting comes in 2-ft panels most of the time.

Underpinning A Mobile Home

Skirting is often confused with underpinning, but it doesn&#;t reinforce foundations like underpinning does.

However, if you choose something like cinder blocks for your skirting, it can be used as underpinning to make the mobile home sturdier than ever. In this case, it&#;s an extension of the original foundation.

Not too long ago, most mobile homes were actually mobile. But these days, with the threat of tornados and hurricanes looming above, we&#;ve learned to make mobile homes more durable. There was only one way to do this.

To nearly eliminate the &#;mobile&#; part of mobile homes. So now, most mobile homes aren&#;t really mobile at all. They are manufactured homes that were built away from the property that the foundation for the home is on. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ

Does Mobile Home Skirting Need To be Vented?

In short, yes it does. Because adding the skirting to reduce moisture is counterproductive if it adds more moisture by not being vented. So make sure that the moisture can escape and that the air can circulate underneath the home. 

You can add vents to the mobile home skirting yourself but most of the time, if you hire someone, they will vent it for you at no extra cost. Vents are cheap and can be placed periodically over skirting. 

What Is The Cheapest Way To Skirt A Mobile Home?

That depends on whether you want to hire someone or not. If you hire someone, then you can ask them to choose the cheapest options. But if you don&#;t then mobile home skirting kits are the cheapest.

Mobile home skirting kits are designed so that anyone can use them. They often come with vents, hardware, and anything else you need to install them. Just make sure they are compatible with your mobile home.

Do You Need A Vapor Barrier Under A Mobile Home?

While adding ventilation can do most of the work for keeping away moisture, a vapor barrier or moisture barrier can help too. Most manufacturers require new homes to have a vapor barrier if they add skirting.

Vapor barriers are usually added to the ground to prevent moisture from the earth and vice versa. But there are many other ways vapor barriers work, including being attached to the inside of the skirting. 

How Do You Measure For Mobile Home Skirting?

The first thing you do is measure the length and width of your home and round the total up. This is how much skirting you need. Because most skirting comes in set heights, this is the most important number. 

Measuring height is primarily important if you have different heights along with your mobile home. For example, mobile homes built on a hill are much more difficult to measure but it can be done by measuring slants. 

You also need to check with local codes because different states and different districts have different laws about mobile homes. Sometimes, they aren&#;t even considered a real home, other times, there are restrictions on types of skirting. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of baseboard wholesale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.