If you have an old mobile home or an "off" mobile home brand, then good luck finding the correct size of skirting. It's absolutely ridiculous how so many mobile homes have custom parts for everything.
Thanks for commenting. Mobile home skirting comes in long panels that are cut to the desired length. You are definitely correct that each mobile home likely needs different size skirting as they are different heights off of the ground. Mention that a mobile home may be only 30 inches off the ground in the front but since it is on a hill it will be more like 60 inches when you get to the back of the home. However this is no problem because the long vinyl skirting panels are cut to size at the job site and slide in one right next to the other. There are even online calculators that will help estimate how much skirting you will need as they take the four corner heights and various heights around the mobile home into consideration. I hope this helps and makes sense.
I'm going to remove my vinyl skirting and replace with treated deck boards that will screw into a treated 2x4 frame under the trailer. I'm going to frame in several removeable access panels but cant decide whether to run the boards vertical or horizontal; im thinking horizontal to avoid cutting 16' boards into 1000 2' lengths to position vertically. Also, whether to paint, stain, or use a water seal product like thomsons, What do you think? Perhaps add a layer of rigid foam insulation board directly behind the deck boards or on the interior side of the 2x4 frame.
Hi Atz123ify, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. I like your ambition a lot. Depending on your state and the freezing temperatures you may want to make sure make sure some air can get through underneath the home, however not much... As to keep out the cold weather and small animals. As I was reading the first half of your comment I was envisioning the boards running horizontal as well. I would absolutely make sure these boards are pressure-treated and staining them with a water sealer would certainly not be a bad idea either. I've seen this look before and it can definitely be made to look very very nice. Moving forward if you ever have any additional questions or concerns please never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Talk soon, John
Curious, if I was looking at land to put a mobile home on, is there ways to decrease the chance of settling when preparing the plot, or identifying plots that will be more or less prone to settling issues?
Good question. This is obviously important. It is important to know what the local ordinances are and codes are for that area. These are usually written and with the local city or county governments. They will typically discuss setbacks of mobile homes, base pads needed, driveways, and more when it comes to mobile homes in parks and on private land. You may also consult with a soil engineer, mobile home mover, or dealer in the area. Obviously the soil engineer would probably be the most qualified person to ask, however the local dealer or mover would probably be able to give you a very good idea of what you are looking at if they are experience in the area. However on each parcel of property there probably are better areas to put a home versus other areas, especially depending on the utilities needed. In many areas of the country no base pads are needed. The mobile home may simply be placed on cinderblocks and perhaps some type of vapor barrier. However there are concrete footers that you can install or even hard plastic pads that disperse the weight out over a larger area versus having cinderblocks, peers, or Jacks directly on the dirt. This is definitely a question to ask a few folks in the area. Measure twice and cut once is definitely the way to go on something like this. Hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction.
Glad I had a concrete pad poured with a concrete pad for the stair landing and concrete sidewalk so my new skirting doesn't look like these... A little over 3 years in my trailer I bought used after my house burned down and I couldn't be happier... Just the right size for me and my cat.. thanks for the video..
Thanks for running down a list of options. My vinyl skirting doesn't look anywhere near as bad as the homes in the video, and I only need a few more short pieces to get it all buttoned up and make it about as attractive as can be. Most of the work it needed last year was due to neglect, and also from the house settling. I'm also looking into leveling the home myself, since the situation is causing the floor to buckle by the back entry. In places, the topsoil & lawn had migrated under the edge of the house a few inches, carrying the ground rail & the bottoms of the panels with it, and they were crooked & didn't seat properly in the bottom channel. I've dug out around them and got some 10-foot 1X4's which I painted to match, and screwed them down to stakes driven a foot apart into the ground. They serve as a solid, square foundation for the skirting rails, and I'm so far pleased with the results, especially because of the small amount of money invested. I watched your video earlier this year, and it was what inspired me to realize that I could do the work myself. About all it required was that I sit down and dream up solutions.
Hi Randolph. I'm very glad to hear that you're skirting looks better than the type in the video. Good to hear you'll need a few more pieces to get the job all done. Great job doing all this work and having a high pride of ownership in your property. Thank you for commenting if you ever have any specific questions now or in the future never hesitate to reach out. Always here to help. Talk soon, John
I was with you until you said a handyman could install skirting for a couple of hundred dollars and take up to three days to install it. Can't make much of a living taking three days to make $200.00.
How does that mobile home park get away with having mobile homes placed so close together? In our area we have regulations that do not allow mobile home to be closer that 40 feet apart in any new mobile home parks. A fire in one home could go from home to home if too close.
Hi ERS, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. This is most likely due to "grandfathering". This particular mobile home park is over 40 years old and at the time mobile homes were definitely smaller and the city was perfectly accepting of having a mobile home park with a mobile home density this high. In other words at the time the park was built the city gave it two thumbs up. With that said if there was a new park built in town I would definitely imagine that codes have certainly changed and they would need to be farther apart to make it feel more modern and look nicer. I hope this helps and make sense. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns please never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Talk soon, John
Hi ju@n, Thanks for reaching out and connecting. If the mobile home skirting is being looked at by an inspector that is from the code office than the answer to your question is "yes". In most areas there are codes as to what type of skirting may be used and also codes for proper ventilation. This ventilation helps to keep down on mold and heat buildup. However, in the real world there are many different products that are being used and local code departments do not typically waste their time with what type of mobile homes have ventilated skirting. So technically the answer to your question is no. But it definitely helps. I hope this helps and make sense. If it does not answer the question or you have any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out anytime. All the best. Talk soon, John
my siding on our trailer got a really bad wind that wrecked it the small square siding is fine but the top squirting is lose it has holes it needs to go into end was broken off
Hi Sheila. Thank you very much for reaching out and connecting. I hope there were no other damages in this recent bad windstorm. With regards to the skirting or top panel being broken, this may be something that you have to replace completely or perhaps you can use screws to secure the skirting and top channel directly into the mobile home structure itself. Use color matching screws made for the exterior if possible. I'm sure there are other fixes if you are able to visit a local mobile home supply store in your area. I hope this helps and point you in the right direction. Any follow-up questions you have never hesitate to reach out any time.
@@MobileHomeFormula Thank you one of our neighbors fixed it way stronger with small screws I wish we could do it all over in case we get bad weather again with 50 or 60 mile hour winds it would be a mess
Thanks for commenting. It gets pretty windy where this video was recorded and the vinyl siding holds up really well to the wind even just straight from the factory. The top and bottom channels do a good job at holding in each piece of skirting. However over the years I have definitely seen a number of 2 by 4 setups or concrete backer boards behind the skirting to add rigidity and insulation. However on these homes the properly installed vinyl siding does a good job to keep animals out from under the home.
I put edging bricks around the outside to protect from the weed eater and lawn mower debris. It also makes it look really nice. Just wondering what the average cost of a skirting replace usually runs.
Thanks for commenting and reaching out. Very good suggestion! Affordable and does the job. Thank you for taking the time again to post this suggestion. If you have any mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out. All the best.
Hi TheTalentedToy, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. I'm a super big fan of vinyl skirting. It is some of the easiest to work with and most readily available. Plus it looks good and is very durable. With that said it definitely does not do much for insulation. In super cold areas you may want to place hey bundles around the exterior of the perimeter of the mobile home as well. With that said that is just a suggestion. Corrugated plastic panels may work if allowed by the community and/or they look fairly decent. With that said these plastic panels may rot over time if directly touching the ground. I hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction moving forward. As always, if you have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out anytime. Keep in touch. All the best. Talk soon, John
Hi Kathryn Carter, Thank you for reaching out and commenting. Very good question. As a mobile home owner and mobile home park owner it would be best to have a solid metal or concrete type foundation that will keep out rodents, animals, wind, and severe weather. You are absolutely correct that lattice will not do anything to prevent rodents or small animals from getting underneath the home, it will also let cold weather in and under the home if you do not put something behind it such as hay bales or pressure treated lumber. However even pressure-treated lumber will rot quickly. With all of that said, the reason why people put lattice is because it looks better than putting nothing at all and that is all some people can afford. In my opinion this is just a Band-Aid and should eventually be replaced with proper skirting however the reason for lattice is mainly just to get by until something more permanent can be installed. With that said, in some areas of the country lattice will be okay most of the year as freezing weather may not be as extreme in southern states versus the North. I hope this helps and makes sense. Moving forward if you have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
I am trying to fix up my old double wide ,its on its own lot the moblie home itself quite old but ive had a new roof put on above ,im a little afraid to take off the skirting i am a widow but im a diy person .Its all i have so i am trying to beef it up to last and look nice , are there suport walls in these trailers? im so glad there is someone out there to talk to about this, how about an old wall of course on the windy side ,can i just goover the old wall with sheetrock?
@@MobileHomeFormula you don't need to plum use the yard stick to snap the chalkline and also measure as you go..so much faster.. unless you have a vertical panel over 36 inches
I need to replace skirting, will probably order the material from an online source. I don't really have time to install it myself. Any suggestions on how to find someone reliable to do the installation? Amy tips on hiring a handyman from a place such as Craigslist?
now...is there a more durable , stronger material than vinyl?.or stronger than aluminum?..I think vinyl would get chewed through, and aluminum , always seems bent on the homes I have viewed, Thanks, I enjoy your videos.
@John Fedro I am not sure what you are using for a camera, but you might want to look into a piece of foam over your microphone as a shield from the wind, so that we can hear every word. Very helpful video otherwise.
Hi Amos. Thank you for commenting. You are absolutely right. In these older videos there was little microphone protection and no video stabilization. Thanks for watching. I do hope that this video provided some useful information. Feel free to keep in touch. All the best. Talk soon, John
Hi John, can you give me a ballpark range estimate of how much it would cost to replace a floor in a 600 square feet mobile home. The entire floor subfloor, insulation and the plastic? Underneath.
Thank you so much for watching and pointing out this correction. This is very helpful. Moving forward if you have any additional mobile home questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. Always happy to help if possible.
Thanks for reaching out and connecting. The answer will depend on what type of siding that you are trying to paint over. Metal, vinyl, wood, or something else. Make sure that where you are picking up the paint you have verified that the paint you are buying is exterior paint that can be used for this certain type of material. I know this answer is a bit vague however I do not want to give you any misleading information is I'm not sure what siding you have or what shape the siding is currently in. However there is definitely a paint for almost every type of siding. You may need to pressure wash it prior to painting however this may or may not be needed. Hope this point you in the right direction. Feel free to keep in touch. All the best.
@@08farie Good to hear from you. With regards to potentially working together one-on-one and mobile home investing please see the following link. www.mobilehomeinvesting.net/results-first-mentoring-2/
@@michaelgilkerson1361 thanks for the unnecessary snark. It's beyond just using your bare hands, the bottom rail and pins need to be removed, ground leveled, etc.
@@SamanthaEHE fair enough. I was a bit snarky there. But you see, you already know the way to fix it. But I guess there are a few suggestions that could be outside of most diy commonsense. For instance: after grading the earth to a consistent height, determine the most appropriate bottom "track" for your skirting. Skirting is a very broad reference term referring more to the location of the application rather than the material being used. That being the case, your skirting could be any numerous forms of "barrier". Furthermore, any skirting you may purchase may not match your current material. Ok....i said that to say this....sometimes you gotta be creative. Consider the future need for access, the amount of damage libel to occur to the area in the future, the level of intrusion by local pests and vermin, etc. One way is to sink a 2x4 stake in the ground as deep as your soil requires every 8 feet , set underneath the trailer about two inches or so. Screw a 2x4 along the"posts" at ground level. Now attach any material or j-channel or starter strip track you need. Another way is to lay a length of angle iron along the ground and sink it just a bit. Let the skirt flop to it then bury it up a few inches.
Or pay me with a bucket of chicken and that smile of yours. I will be doing a trailer siding overhaul for a client in August and I will be recording a bit to document my work. Be in touch and I will share.
Hi Jesi Elise Johnson, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. The question to your answer is definitely, "it depends". However most of the time you will be able to remove and replace a single piece of the skirting without removing the top front rail or unscrewing anything. This is because when properly set up these top front panels securely hold the skirting in place while also being able to flex and allow you to remove some of the skirting panels. With that said you will definitely have to be a little bit rough and "manhandle" the skirting to get out. It may not want to come out to easy however should definitely come right out unless it is screwed or nailed into place. I hope this helps and make sense. As always, if you ever have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. Talk soon, John
+mark browne Hi Mark, Thanks for commenting and reaching out. I believe I understand your question however if I do not answer it fully do not hesitate to comment back and reach out again. I've had good results with a pressure-treated lumber or other types of scrap material or lumbar that you can spray paint to match the color of the current skirting in place just behind the insulated skirting underneath the mobile home. This will essentially create two barriers between the outside world and underneath the mobile home. While you still can see the holes in the skirting they are massed a little bit by the painted wood or metal layer directly behind the skirting acting as a second layer to keep out animals and insulate the home. Let me know if you have tried this and if this works out for you. There are likely other solutions as well besides replacing the skirting or upgrading the skirting to a concrete or metal type that will resist holes in the future. As always, if you ever have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
I had stray cats going underneath our home, we just had the new skirting panels put on last July. The cats were digging underneath the panels to get under our home. Well after not finding any answers to my question, I asked my brother-in-law. He suggested it place glass shards in the areas and bury them in the dirt. That is what I did, hopefully this will work
+mark browne Hi Mark, I now see where the problem is coming from. I had to chuckle a little bit when I heard your brother-in-law's suggestion. That will certainly deter some cats from going around that area for sure. Keep us posted on how that works out. That may be a solution for other folks to use as well. Thanks for the suggestion. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
Oh great. Next person that has to do any work in that area gets cut to pieces. Brilliant. Just brilliant. All you need to do is bury is wire mesh. Also cats don't usually dig under like that. I'd bet it was raccoons.
@@jazzcatt Broken glass was certainly a dumbass idea if at least effective. I am not for the cats cutting themselves trying to dig. Hardware cloth is the way to go.
Hi Leo, Of the video?.. Just overall thoughts about skirting and some options we have as investors. I didn't really dive into installing or any one topic of skirting too deeply, just a general talk. If you have any specific questions about skirting or mh investing don't hesitate to reach back out. Thanks for watching. Best, John Fedro
I used the vinyl pickets like on vinyl fences. I bought from a regional dealer to lower cost. It cost me roughly 125 more than if I used the conventional skirting but this will last 50 years and looks awesome.
Hi K. Bitz, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Ultimately I would encourage you to talk to a local licensed plumber in your area. Depending on extreme temperatures or other local environmental hazards there may be better advice given by a local expert. I mention this because while I am working with investors in Canada, I am certainly not a local expert compared to a local plumber in your market. I am a big fan of PEX pipes (cross-linked Polyethylene) as they are safe, flexible, and affordable to work with. While PEX is great in most weathers and very heat resistant, it is not as good on the exterior of homes as copper pipes can be. With that said if your mobile home is solidly insulated then you should be fine to use PEX pipes for your plumbing. I hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction. If you get different knowledge as to why something else may be better to use please feel free to comment back and let us know what is recommended. This channel is definitely for all of us to learn and grow together. Keep in touch. All the best. Talk soon, John
thanks John, Wondering can I install in wall as well? Also been wondering has anyone ever done baseboard heating in a unit instead of the traditional furnace unit?
@@169centurion If your in a building with metal siding, you will want to prolly keep with central forced air. This will help combat condensation issues that could lead to mold and rotting two bys
For my own home, I would want the stone or brick variant, something less susceptible to the elements and pests. That said, probably to expensive for homes you are selling.
Agreed and agreed! The concrete type or even faux stone/brick look really good these days. Anything looks better than some of the cheap vinyl skirting in this video.
Hi Mark Hansen, Thanks so much for commenting. Great job doing this type of work for the last 12 years! I have no doubt after this length of time you can likely rebuild a mobile home from the ground up. Feel free to always comment or make suggestions on this channel if you ever see any areas to improve or suggestions for future videos. With regards to helping out in this community, head on over to Kansas. The more hands the better. There is still a couple homes to be repaired and resold for sure. Moving forward if you ever have any questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
Hi Mark, do you still do work on manufactured homes in WI? I am always looking for a contractor to help me. I live near Madison. Let me know if you would ever be willing to work together to repair a house I purchase.
Hi Becauseiam thegoldfish, I am not sure I understand what you mean by "the bounce". Additionally, sorry I'm having trouble replying to your original comment. However please let me know what you mean by the bounce and I would be happy to give you any thoughts and help I can. Talk soon, John
hello again, thank you; also when I have to fix some wall or ceiling of my mobiles homes as holes; mix half and half ready mix latex caulking and works because it does not break, I think I already wise, thanks for everything, I still subs
Hi Ramon, Thank you for commenting. I have never used that 50/50 mix however will let my handymen know this idea. Thanks for the tips and keep in touch. Always enjoy learning something new. :) Talk soon, John Fedro
As mobile home park owners we definitely need to get better equipped with screening, hiring, and firing managers , maintenance people, etc. I can certainly remember when I had this stomach turning realization as well. I can certainly say that the longer I own parks the more experience I gain and better I become at people's skills and managing others. Thanks for watching. This video was helpful.
@MobileHomeFormula It was. I had to figure out my pest issue and patch up the under belly. I had a few panels pushed through, which means it wasn't installed correctly at all. 😅
+muchohumpty Thanks for commenting. There are certainly a lot of parks around the country. I encourage you to try to not judge too quickly before you speak with all park managers and owners if possible. Some parks are on an up-swing or perhaps were purchased by new owners and things will be imporving, or perhaps the parks knows how much help it needs and therefore would be very happy to work with you in their park. Looking like crap is one thing, but being unsafe is another. Thanks for commenting and for your constructive words. Talk soon, John
+muchohumpty Lot rents will very around the country, and very likely within your county and city as well. Keep in mind that you may not want to invest within any mobile home community that has an abnormally high lot rent for the area. While we can resell a mobile home for a great amount monthly due to the home having 3 bedrooms versus 2 bedrooms, we typically cannot sell a mobile home for more money monthly because it is in a five star park versus a four star park. In short, a higher lot rent will directly reduce your net cash flow monthly in many cases. This is because a buyer will typically only pay market rent, and that is acceptable and win-win. Hope this helps and makes sense. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns hesitate to reach back out or email me directly. Keep in touch and have a great week. Talk soon, John
i just was looking into some but because the lot rent is like 550-600 most places ive seen kinda turned me off from it. Thats a lot of money for me. I pay close to that currently renting a apt. Then you add on the additional price of utilities im not gonna have any money left over after a month lot rent, mortgage, electric, and heat bills. Now if the lot rents were cheaper not bad idea but they are too steep now. Maybe i will be able to find a cheaper place
Thanks for reaching out and commenting. Your comment definitely made me laugh and shake my head up and down. Since filming this video we have definitely upgraded the microphone situation. Any future mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out anytime.
I am a res. contractor in Oregon and have been learning the inn's and outs of mobile home repair. Thank you for your video resources. It's tough to find info on mobile home specific repair.
Happy to help, Kevin. Thanks again for your kind words. If I am missing anything or you have any good ideas for future videos never hesitate to reach back out. Never hesitate to email me directly if you need anything as well. I certainly don't know everything but would be happy to help if I can. All the best. Talk soon, John
@@MobileHomeFormula John, Sunnyvale is the fictitious trailer park in "Trailer Park Boys," a Canadian TV production that was also seen on Netflix. It's located in Nova Scotia.
How long I can say Is at 040 seconds 047 seconds into the film I almost had a heart attack lol I saw something that looked Almost so familiar But After pausing the video I had to take 4 or 5 looks to see if you were at a certain place in Ohio There is a place in Coshocton Ohio If you will pause it at 47 seconds It looks almost exactly Even the tree sitting in the yard just a little past The concrete side Walk I lived There with my Grand father in 1984 But after a closer inspection It is not the area...... But I'm telling you right now there is a place in Coshocton Ohio on Otceago Avenue There is a trailer park Located Today Off to the side of the small Armory Parking lot That is almost identical to your video It gave me Cold chills 'cause I thought I was looking at my grandfathers old trailer Wow Just thought I'd share that story with you guys check it out
Hi Lori! This is a fantastic tip. Thank you so much for mentioning this. I have actually seen bales of hay used as insulation. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Very valuable insight. Keep in touch moving forward.
Thanks for commenting, Gregory! I laughed when I read your comment. I definitely need you walking around at my parks handing out violation notices for bad siding/skirting jobs. Thanks again for commenting.
That sounds like experience talking. Thanks for commenting and mentioning to hire a pro when possible. For the folks reading, keep in mind a lot of handymen or contractors will call themselves professional or experienced, however make sure to ask for references and pictures. Keep in touch moving forward. All the best. Talk soon, John
+Cho CoMo Hi Cho, Thanks for commenting and reaching out. I'm not sure I understand your question. What can I help answer for you that was not mentioned in the video? Thanks for reaching out and looking for help. Keep in touch and let me know if you have any mobile home skirting specific questions. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
I agree. Who would want to listen to somebody with over 20 years of mobile home investing experience. Moving forward if you have any mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out.
Hey Vinny! Thanks for reaching out and connecting. Congratulations with regards to the 42 parks. I have no doubt that obtaining and owning all of these parks has not come without a great deal of hard work and daily effort on your part. This video was recorded about a decade ago so the pricing is a bit off. Additionally, this is in the Midwest which may be a little bit cheaper than other parts of the country. These days in Texas and Florida I am paying around $400 labor to skirt my mobile homes. If you are paying much more than that then I would encourage you to get some other quotes or have some of your managers ask around to folks in the park that would be very willing and able to do this type of work for less than you are currently paying. Hope this helps and points you in the right direction.
If you have an old mobile home or an "off" mobile home brand, then good luck finding the correct size of skirting. It's absolutely ridiculous how so many mobile homes have custom parts for everything.
Thanks for commenting. Mobile home skirting comes in long panels that are cut to the desired length. You are definitely correct that each mobile home likely needs different size skirting as they are different heights off of the ground. Mention that a mobile home may be only 30 inches off the ground in the front but since it is on a hill it will be more like 60 inches when you get to the back of the home. However this is no problem because the long vinyl skirting panels are cut to size at the job site and slide in one right next to the other. There are even online calculators that will help estimate how much skirting you will need as they take the four corner heights and various heights around the mobile home into consideration. I hope this helps and makes sense.
I'm going to remove my vinyl skirting and replace with treated deck boards that will screw into a treated 2x4 frame under the trailer. I'm going to frame in several removeable access panels but cant decide whether to run the boards vertical or horizontal; im thinking horizontal to avoid cutting 16' boards into 1000 2' lengths to position vertically. Also, whether to paint, stain, or use a water seal product like thomsons, What do you think? Perhaps add a layer of rigid foam insulation board directly behind the deck boards or on the interior side of the 2x4 frame.
Hi Atz123ify, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. I like your ambition a lot. Depending on your state and the freezing temperatures you may want to make sure make sure some air can get through underneath the home, however not much... As to keep out the cold weather and small animals. As I was reading the first half of your comment I was envisioning the boards running horizontal as well. I would absolutely make sure these boards are pressure-treated and staining them with a water sealer would certainly not be a bad idea either. I've seen this look before and it can definitely be made to look very very nice. Moving forward if you ever have any additional questions or concerns please never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Talk soon, John
weed trimming will do damage too. the string just bust holes into it.
Curious, if I was looking at land to put a mobile home on, is there ways to decrease the chance of settling when preparing the plot, or identifying plots that will be more or less prone to settling issues?
Good question. This is obviously important. It is important to know what the local ordinances are and codes are for that area. These are usually written and with the local city or county governments. They will typically discuss setbacks of mobile homes, base pads needed, driveways, and more when it comes to mobile homes in parks and on private land. You may also consult with a soil engineer, mobile home mover, or dealer in the area. Obviously the soil engineer would probably be the most qualified person to ask, however the local dealer or mover would probably be able to give you a very good idea of what you are looking at if they are experience in the area. However on each parcel of property there probably are better areas to put a home versus other areas, especially depending on the utilities needed. In many areas of the country no base pads are needed. The mobile home may simply be placed on cinderblocks and perhaps some type of vapor barrier. However there are concrete footers that you can install or even hard plastic pads that disperse the weight out over a larger area versus having cinderblocks, peers, or Jacks directly on the dirt. This is definitely a question to ask a few folks in the area. Measure twice and cut once is definitely the way to go on something like this. Hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction.
Glad I had a concrete pad poured with a concrete pad for the stair landing and concrete sidewalk so my new skirting doesn't look like these... A little over 3 years in my trailer I bought used after my house burned down and I couldn't be happier... Just the right size for me and my cat.. thanks for the video..
Thanks for running down a list of options. My vinyl skirting doesn't look anywhere near as bad as the homes in the video, and I only need a few more short pieces to get it all buttoned up and make it about as attractive as can be. Most of the work it needed last year was due to neglect, and also from the house settling. I'm also looking into leveling the home myself, since the situation is causing the floor to buckle by the back entry. In places, the topsoil & lawn had migrated under the edge of the house a few inches, carrying the ground rail & the bottoms of the panels with it, and they were crooked & didn't seat properly in the bottom channel. I've dug out around them and got some 10-foot 1X4's which I painted to match, and screwed them down to stakes driven a foot apart into the ground. They serve as a solid, square foundation for the skirting rails, and I'm so far pleased with the results, especially because of the small amount of money invested. I watched your video earlier this year, and it was what inspired me to realize that I could do the work myself. About all it required was that I sit down and dream up solutions.
Hi Randolph. I'm very glad to hear that you're skirting looks better than the type in the video. Good to hear you'll need a few more pieces to get the job all done. Great job doing all this work and having a high pride of ownership in your property. Thank you for commenting if you ever have any specific questions now or in the future never hesitate to reach out. Always here to help. Talk soon, John
I was with you until you said a handyman could install skirting for a couple of hundred dollars and take up to three days to install it. Can't make much of a living taking three days to make $200.00.
How does that mobile home park get away with having mobile homes placed so close together? In our area we have regulations that do not allow mobile home to be closer that 40 feet apart in any new mobile home parks. A fire in one home could go from home to home if too close.
Hi ERS, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. This is most likely due to "grandfathering". This particular mobile home park is over 40 years old and at the time mobile homes were definitely smaller and the city was perfectly accepting of having a mobile home park with a mobile home density this high. In other words at the time the park was built the city gave it two thumbs up. With that said if there was a new park built in town I would definitely imagine that codes have certainly changed and they would need to be farther apart to make it feel more modern and look nicer. I hope this helps and make sense. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns please never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Talk soon, John
Different Regulations for different cities/ counties...duh???
I thought that was a pretty spacious layout comparatively with my area.
Does the skirting on a mobile home need to be ventilated?
Hi ju@n, Thanks for reaching out and connecting. If the mobile home skirting is being looked at by an inspector that is from the code office than the answer to your question is "yes". In most areas there are codes as to what type of skirting may be used and also codes for proper ventilation. This ventilation helps to keep down on mold and heat buildup. However, in the real world there are many different products that are being used and local code departments do not typically waste their time with what type of mobile homes have ventilated skirting. So technically the answer to your question is no. But it definitely helps. I hope this helps and make sense. If it does not answer the question or you have any follow-up questions never hesitate to reach out anytime. All the best. Talk soon, John
my siding on our trailer got a really bad wind that wrecked it the small square siding is fine but the top squirting is lose it has holes it needs to go into end was broken off
Hi Sheila. Thank you very much for reaching out and connecting. I hope there were no other damages in this recent bad windstorm. With regards to the skirting or top panel being broken, this may be something that you have to replace completely or perhaps you can use screws to secure the skirting and top channel directly into the mobile home structure itself. Use color matching screws made for the exterior if possible. I'm sure there are other fixes if you are able to visit a local mobile home supply store in your area. I hope this helps and point you in the right direction. Any follow-up questions you have never hesitate to reach out any time.
@@MobileHomeFormula Thank you one of our neighbors fixed it way stronger with small screws I wish we could do it all over in case we get bad weather again with 50 or 60 mile hour winds it would be a mess
Just spikes on the bottom? I have a back skirting, 30 ft, and there's nothing on 20 ft.
Thanks for commenting. It gets pretty windy where this video was recorded and the vinyl siding holds up really well to the wind even just straight from the factory. The top and bottom channels do a good job at holding in each piece of skirting. However over the years I have definitely seen a number of 2 by 4 setups or concrete backer boards behind the skirting to add rigidity and insulation. However on these homes the properly installed vinyl siding does a good job to keep animals out from under the home.
I put edging bricks around the outside to protect from the weed eater and lawn mower debris. It also makes it look really nice. Just wondering what the average cost of a skirting replace usually runs.
Thanks for commenting and reaching out. Very good suggestion! Affordable and does the job. Thank you for taking the time again to post this suggestion. If you have any mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out. All the best.
You can call a local mobile home center where they are sold. They may order you some.
I need help whats the cheapest and easiest material to insulate and replace my skirting....what about corrugated plastic panels
Hi TheTalentedToy, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. I'm a super big fan of vinyl skirting. It is some of the easiest to work with and most readily available. Plus it looks good and is very durable. With that said it definitely does not do much for insulation. In super cold areas you may want to place hey bundles around the exterior of the perimeter of the mobile home as well. With that said that is just a suggestion. Corrugated plastic panels may work if allowed by the community and/or they look fairly decent. With that said these plastic panels may rot over time if directly touching the ground. I hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction moving forward. As always, if you have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out anytime. Keep in touch. All the best. Talk soon, John
Go to Home Depot and buy the 1/2. 3x5 cement panels with mesh for $10.47 each. If installed correct will last many many years.
Ctb 281 what are they originally for ?
If you shouldn't have holes in your metal skirting, why would you buy lattice?
Hi Kathryn Carter, Thank you for reaching out and commenting. Very good question. As a mobile home owner and mobile home park owner it would be best to have a solid metal or concrete type foundation that will keep out rodents, animals, wind, and severe weather. You are absolutely correct that lattice will not do anything to prevent rodents or small animals from getting underneath the home, it will also let cold weather in and under the home if you do not put something behind it such as hay bales or pressure treated lumber. However even pressure-treated lumber will rot quickly. With all of that said, the reason why people put lattice is because it looks better than putting nothing at all and that is all some people can afford. In my opinion this is just a Band-Aid and should eventually be replaced with proper skirting however the reason for lattice is mainly just to get by until something more permanent can be installed. With that said, in some areas of the country lattice will be okay most of the year as freezing weather may not be as extreme in southern states versus the North. I hope this helps and makes sense. Moving forward if you have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
I am trying to fix up my old double wide ,its on its own lot the moblie home itself quite old but ive had a new roof put on above ,im a little afraid to take off the skirting i am a widow but im a diy person .Its all i have so i am trying to beef it up to last and look nice , are there suport walls in these trailers?
im so glad there is someone out there to talk to about this, how about an old wall of course on the windy side ,can i just goover the old wall with sheetrock?
A yardstick really helps for quicker installation of vertical panels
Hey Gregory! Thank you for commenting. Is the yardstick just to help eyeball if the panels are vertical/plum?
@@MobileHomeFormula you don't need to plum use the yard stick to snap the chalkline and also measure as you go..so much faster.. unless you have a vertical panel over 36 inches
I need to replace skirting, will probably order the material from an online source. I don't really have time to install it myself. Any suggestions on how to find someone reliable to do the installation? Amy tips on hiring a handyman from a place such as Craigslist?
now...is there a more durable , stronger material than vinyl?.or stronger than aluminum?..I think vinyl would get chewed through, and aluminum , always seems bent on the homes I have viewed, Thanks, I enjoy your videos.
@John Fedro I am not sure what you are using for a camera, but you might want to look into a piece of foam over your microphone as a shield from the wind, so that we can hear every word.
Very helpful video otherwise.
Hi Amos. Thank you for commenting. You are absolutely right. In these older videos there was little microphone protection and no video stabilization. Thanks for watching. I do hope that this video provided some useful information. Feel free to keep in touch. All the best. Talk soon, John
Hi John, can you give me a ballpark range estimate of how much it would cost to replace a floor in a 600 square feet mobile home. The entire floor subfloor, insulation and the plastic? Underneath.
Panels at the end are vertical, not horizontal
Thank you so much for watching and pointing out this correction. This is very helpful. Moving forward if you have any additional mobile home questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. Always happy to help if possible.
Hey what kind of paint do you use for the siding?
Thanks for reaching out and connecting. The answer will depend on what type of siding that you are trying to paint over. Metal, vinyl, wood, or something else. Make sure that where you are picking up the paint you have verified that the paint you are buying is exterior paint that can be used for this certain type of material. I know this answer is a bit vague however I do not want to give you any misleading information is I'm not sure what siding you have or what shape the siding is currently in. However there is definitely a paint for almost every type of siding. You may need to pressure wash it prior to painting however this may or may not be needed. Hope this point you in the right direction. Feel free to keep in touch. All the best.
@@MobileHomeFormula oh ok just started listening to your podcast on apple daily, it’s really great and helpful how do I sign up for your course?
@@08farie Good to hear from you. With regards to potentially working together one-on-one and mobile home investing please see the following link. www.mobilehomeinvesting.net/results-first-mentoring-2/
Do you have recommendations for straightening out skirting that's been pushed in at the bottom by snow, moss, time etc?
Yeah, use your hands to dig the dirt away and pull it out. No offense, but if advise is needed for that, you need to just hire someone to do it.
@@michaelgilkerson1361 thanks for the unnecessary snark. It's beyond just using your bare hands, the bottom rail and pins need to be removed, ground leveled, etc.
@@SamanthaEHE fair enough. I was a bit snarky there. But you see, you already know the way to fix it. But I guess there are a few suggestions that could be outside of most diy commonsense. For instance: after grading the earth to a consistent height, determine the most appropriate bottom "track" for your skirting. Skirting is a very broad reference term referring more to the location of the application rather than the material being used. That being the case, your skirting could be any numerous forms of "barrier". Furthermore, any skirting you may purchase may not match your current material. Ok....i said that to say this....sometimes you gotta be creative. Consider the future need for access, the amount of damage libel to occur to the area in the future, the level of intrusion by local pests and vermin, etc. One way is to sink a 2x4 stake in the ground as deep as your soil requires every 8 feet , set underneath the trailer about two inches or so. Screw a 2x4 along the"posts" at ground level. Now attach any material or j-channel or starter strip track you need. Another way is to lay a length of angle iron along the ground and sink it just a bit. Let the skirt flop to it then bury it up a few inches.
Or pay me with a bucket of chicken and that smile of yours. I will be doing a trailer siding overhaul for a client in August and I will be recording a bit to document my work. Be in touch and I will share.
To replace a single panel, do you have to take off the top front rail?
Hi Jesi Elise Johnson, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. The question to your answer is definitely, "it depends". However most of the time you will be able to remove and replace a single piece of the skirting without removing the top front rail or unscrewing anything. This is because when properly set up these top front panels securely hold the skirting in place while also being able to flex and allow you to remove some of the skirting panels. With that said you will definitely have to be a little bit rough and "manhandle" the skirting to get out. It may not want to come out to easy however should definitely come right out unless it is screwed or nailed into place. I hope this helps and make sense. As always, if you ever have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. Talk soon, John
I have a few holes underneath the insulated skirting on mobile home, I need permanent solution to keep the animals out
+mark browne Hi Mark, Thanks for commenting and reaching out. I believe I understand your question however if I do not answer it fully do not hesitate to comment back and reach out again. I've had good results with a pressure-treated lumber or other types of scrap material or lumbar that you can spray paint to match the color of the current skirting in place just behind the insulated skirting underneath the mobile home. This will essentially create two barriers between the outside world and underneath the mobile home. While you still can see the holes in the skirting they are massed a little bit by the painted wood or metal layer directly behind the skirting acting as a second layer to keep out animals and insulate the home. Let me know if you have tried this and if this works out for you. There are likely other solutions as well besides replacing the skirting or upgrading the skirting to a concrete or metal type that will resist holes in the future. As always, if you ever have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
I had stray cats going underneath our home, we just had the new skirting panels put on last July. The cats were digging underneath the panels to get under our home. Well after not finding any answers to my question, I asked my brother-in-law. He suggested it place glass shards in the areas and bury them in the dirt. That is what I did, hopefully this will work
+mark browne Hi Mark, I now see where the problem is coming from. I had to chuckle a little bit when I heard your brother-in-law's suggestion. That will certainly deter some cats from going around that area for sure. Keep us posted on how that works out. That may be a solution for other folks to use as well. Thanks for the suggestion. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
Oh great. Next person that has to do any work in that area gets cut to pieces. Brilliant. Just brilliant. All you need to do is bury is wire mesh. Also cats don't usually dig under like that. I'd bet it was raccoons.
@@jazzcatt Broken glass was certainly a dumbass idea if at least effective. I am not for the cats cutting themselves trying to dig. Hardware cloth is the way to go.
What is the point
Hi Leo,
Of the video?.. Just overall thoughts about skirting and some options we have as investors. I didn't really dive into installing or any one topic of skirting too deeply, just a general talk. If you have any specific questions about skirting or mh investing don't hesitate to reach back out. Thanks for watching.
Best,
John Fedro
I used the vinyl pickets like on vinyl fences. I bought from a regional dealer to lower cost. It cost me roughly 125 more than if I used the conventional skirting but this will last 50 years and looks awesome.
Hey John, for plumbing , I'm about ready to re do my pipes . Would you recommend the new plastic tic lines or copper lines? I live up in Canada .
Hi K. Bitz, Thank you for reaching out and connecting. Ultimately I would encourage you to talk to a local licensed plumber in your area. Depending on extreme temperatures or other local environmental hazards there may be better advice given by a local expert. I mention this because while I am working with investors in Canada, I am certainly not a local expert compared to a local plumber in your market. I am a big fan of PEX pipes (cross-linked Polyethylene) as they are safe, flexible, and affordable to work with. While PEX is great in most weathers and very heat resistant, it is not as good on the exterior of homes as copper pipes can be. With that said if your mobile home is solidly insulated then you should be fine to use PEX pipes for your plumbing. I hope this helps and starts to point you in the right direction. If you get different knowledge as to why something else may be better to use please feel free to comment back and let us know what is recommended. This channel is definitely for all of us to learn and grow together. Keep in touch. All the best. Talk soon, John
thanks John, Wondering can I install in wall as well? Also been wondering has anyone ever done baseboard heating in a unit instead of the traditional furnace unit?
@@169centurion
If your in a building with metal siding, you will want to prolly keep with central forced air. This will help combat condensation issues that could lead to mold and rotting two bys
@@169centurion sure u can do baseboard heating, just be mindful that you may need to cut open some wall to run your heating pipes...
For my own home, I would want the stone or brick variant, something less susceptible to the elements and pests. That said, probably to expensive for homes you are selling.
Agreed and agreed! The concrete type or even faux stone/brick look really good these days. Anything looks better than some of the cheap vinyl skirting in this video.
where is this park I could make a fortune making this park look good again I have been doing this kinda work in Wisconsin for 12 years now
Hi Mark Hansen, Thanks so much for commenting. Great job doing this type of work for the last 12 years! I have no doubt after this length of time you can likely rebuild a mobile home from the ground up. Feel free to always comment or make suggestions on this channel if you ever see any areas to improve or suggestions for future videos. With regards to helping out in this community, head on over to Kansas. The more hands the better. There is still a couple homes to be repaired and resold for sure. Moving forward if you ever have any questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out any time. All the best. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
Hi Mark, do you still do work on manufactured homes in WI? I am always looking for a contractor to help me. I live near Madison. Let me know if you would ever be willing to work together to repair a house I purchase.
Thx for sharing your knowledge. Nice job !
Thank you Andy! Happy to help. Moving forward if you have any follow-up mobile home specific questions never hesitate to reach out anytime.
Hi Becauseiam thegoldfish, I am not sure I understand what you mean by "the bounce". Additionally, sorry I'm having trouble replying to your original comment. However please let me know what you mean by the bounce and I would be happy to give you any thoughts and help I can. Talk soon, John
It looka to me that a lot of the damage we see to the skirting is due to settling of the trailer.
hello again, thank you; also when I have to fix some wall or ceiling of my mobiles homes as holes; mix half and half ready mix latex caulking and works because it does not break, I think I already wise, thanks for everything, I still subs
Hi Ramon,
Thank you for commenting. I have never used that 50/50 mix however will let my handymen know this idea. Thanks for the tips and keep in touch. Always enjoy learning something new. :)
Talk soon,
John Fedro
Keep up the good work. You do an awesome job.
Watched this and realized truly how lazy my park's management is.
As mobile home park owners we definitely need to get better equipped with screening, hiring, and firing managers , maintenance people, etc. I can certainly remember when I had this stomach turning realization as well. I can certainly say that the longer I own parks the more experience I gain and better I become at people's skills and managing others. Thanks for watching. This video was helpful.
@MobileHomeFormula It was. I had to figure out my pest issue and patch up the under belly. I had a few panels pushed through, which means it wasn't installed correctly at all. 😅
I use the metal roofing it's the best!! When I put the roof on I use same color...
Roger l what did you pay to use the metal roofing as the skirt?
@@chocolatechipslime not cheap but it last & no issues with weed trimming damage. the plastic breaks easy.
thanks John.
good information!!
Lots of issues, hire a inspector before buying. Good video.
Thanks for reaching out and connecting! Agreed and agreed.
Thank you
that park looks like crap
+muchohumpty Thanks for commenting. There are certainly a lot of parks around the country. I encourage you to try to not judge too quickly before you speak with all park managers and owners if possible. Some parks are on an up-swing or perhaps were purchased by new owners and things will be imporving, or perhaps the parks knows how much help it needs and therefore would be very happy to work with you in their park. Looking like crap is one thing, but being unsafe is another. Thanks for commenting and for your constructive words. Talk soon, John
John Fedro no problelm. another question is lot rent usually in the high 500s or are there alot cheaper someplace
+muchohumpty Lot rents will very around the country, and very likely within your county and city as well. Keep in mind that you may not want to invest within any mobile home community that has an abnormally high lot rent for the area. While we can resell a mobile home for a great amount monthly due to the home having 3 bedrooms versus 2 bedrooms, we typically cannot sell a mobile home for more money monthly because it is in a five star park versus a four star park. In short, a higher lot rent will directly reduce your net cash flow monthly in many cases. This is because a buyer will typically only pay market rent, and that is acceptable and win-win. Hope this helps and makes sense. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns hesitate to reach back out or email me directly. Keep in touch and have a great week. Talk soon, John
i just was looking into some but because the lot rent is like 550-600 most places ive seen kinda turned me off from it. Thats a lot of money for me. I pay close to that currently renting a apt. Then you add on the additional price of utilities im not gonna have any money left over after a month lot rent, mortgage, electric, and heat bills. Now if the lot rents were cheaper not bad idea but they are too steep now. Maybe i will be able to find a cheaper place
muchohumpty I'm certain these places looked great when they were first placed there and are simply aged.
Interesting video, but dude you need to but a windguard on your mike. Sounds like you're demolishing the place.
Thanks for reaching out and commenting. Your comment definitely made me laugh and shake my head up and down. Since filming this video we have definitely upgraded the microphone situation. Any future mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out anytime.
our park still look great
Is that Sunnyvale
Hi Kevin Meek. Thanks for following along and guessing. No, I am not sure where Sunnyvale is. Talk soon, John
I am a res. contractor in Oregon and have been learning the inn's and outs of mobile home repair. Thank you for your video resources. It's tough to find info on mobile home specific repair.
Happy to help, Kevin. Thanks again for your kind words. If I am missing anything or you have any good ideas for future videos never hesitate to reach back out. Never hesitate to email me directly if you need anything as well. I certainly don't know everything but would be happy to help if I can. All the best. Talk soon, John
@@MobileHomeFormula John, Sunnyvale is the fictitious trailer park in "Trailer Park Boys," a Canadian TV production that was also seen on Netflix. It's located in Nova Scotia.
How long I can say Is at 040 seconds 047 seconds into the film I almost had a heart attack lol I saw something that looked Almost so familiar But After pausing the video I had to take 4 or 5 looks to see if you were at a certain place in Ohio There is a place in Coshocton Ohio If you will pause it at 47 seconds It looks almost exactly Even the tree sitting in the yard just a little past The concrete side Walk I lived There with my Grand father in 1984 But after a closer inspection It is not the area...... But I'm telling you right now there is a place in Coshocton Ohio on Otceago Avenue There is a trailer park Located Today Off to the side of the small Armory Parking lot That is almost identical to your video It gave me Cold chills 'cause I thought I was looking at my grandfathers old trailer Wow Just thought I'd share that story with you guys check it out
Hay is flammable animals can tear it up and drag it under your house for a nest
Hi Lori! This is a fantastic tip. Thank you so much for mentioning this. I have actually seen bales of hay used as insulation. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Very valuable insight. Keep in touch moving forward.
They didn't notch the cover plates where they meet to hide the seam..amateur job
Thanks for commenting, Gregory! I laughed when I read your comment. I definitely need you walking around at my parks handing out violation notices for bad siding/skirting jobs. Thanks again for commenting.
don't mention it..now if you're replacing vinyl with metal or Hardee that's a different animal.. vinyl is very forgiving
Looks like a real hassle…hire a pro!
That sounds like experience talking. Thanks for commenting and mentioning to hire a pro when possible. For the folks reading, keep in mind a lot of handymen or contractors will call themselves professional or experienced, however make sure to ask for references and pictures. Keep in touch moving forward. All the best. Talk soon, John
Where's the meat?
+Cho CoMo Hi Cho, Thanks for commenting and reaching out. I'm not sure I understand your question. What can I help answer for you that was not mentioned in the video? Thanks for reaching out and looking for help. Keep in touch and let me know if you have any mobile home skirting specific questions. Keep in touch. Talk soon, John
This guy is terrible
I agree. Who would want to listen to somebody with over 20 years of mobile home investing experience. Moving forward if you have any mobile home related questions never hesitate to reach out.
wow, was just trying to help a friend know how to pull one out.. moving on.
thanks for stopping by 🙂
I own 42 parks and I've never had skirting installed for 200 bucks ever
Hey Vinny! Thanks for reaching out and connecting. Congratulations with regards to the 42 parks. I have no doubt that obtaining and owning all of these parks has not come without a great deal of hard work and daily effort on your part. This video was recorded about a decade ago so the pricing is a bit off. Additionally, this is in the Midwest which may be a little bit cheaper than other parts of the country. These days in Texas and Florida I am paying around $400 labor to skirt my mobile homes. If you are paying much more than that then I would encourage you to get some other quotes or have some of your managers ask around to folks in the park that would be very willing and able to do this type of work for less than you are currently paying. Hope this helps and points you in the right direction.