vinyl skirting problem
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:26 pm
Hi all, I have lurked here for awhile and found much helpful information. I have a skirting problem and hope someone can suggest a fix.
I have faux rock vinyl skirting (sometimes called reil rock). It is required in my park, meaning metal skirting is not an option and regular vinyl skirting is also not an option. Other homes that have been here a while have regular vinyl or metal, and their skirting looks nice and is intact after many years in place. My skirting, however, has been in place less than two years and it is a mess.
The problem is at one section of my home only and is caused by frost heave. The rest of my skirting looks great as there seems to be the frost heave issue only in that one area. In the problem area, the skirting is buckled and pushed inward, resulting in gaps at the seams that allow cats and rodents to gain access to the crawlspace.
From what I understand, faux rock skirting panels are normally installed by either burying the bottom 3-4 inches in the ground or setting the bottom of the panels in a bottom rail that sits on the ground and is secured with ground spikes. My skirting is in a bottom rail and as stated before, all looks great and is intact, except for one 25 to 30-foot section.
This spring a neighbor and I plan to remove and reinstall the damaged area of my skirting. We believe the panels are reusable as they are not broken; they are just bent out of shape a bit. Most or all can probably be straightened and reinstalled.
Does anyone know of a top rail that would accommodate faux rock skirting? I have checked with mobile home parts stores and none offer a top rail system for this type of skirting.
I have found some metal support bars that self-adjust with ground movement and plan to install one behind each of the faux-mortar seams of the skirting, then with hex screws bolt the panels together at those seams. That will provide support behind the skirting to keep it more rigid, but how can I secure the skiring at the top without a top rail? Currently the top of the panels are just slipped under the vinyl siding of my home, and that works well and looks great in every area except this one problem area where the ground heaves considerably.
My preference would be to remove this skirting and replace it with either regular vinyl or metal skirting, but park owners will not allow those materials to be used (even thought they are far better materials for areas with frost heave issues, in my opinion).
Suggestions on how to secure faux rock vinyl panels and still allow for ground movement will be appreciated. Thank you.
I have faux rock vinyl skirting (sometimes called reil rock). It is required in my park, meaning metal skirting is not an option and regular vinyl skirting is also not an option. Other homes that have been here a while have regular vinyl or metal, and their skirting looks nice and is intact after many years in place. My skirting, however, has been in place less than two years and it is a mess.
The problem is at one section of my home only and is caused by frost heave. The rest of my skirting looks great as there seems to be the frost heave issue only in that one area. In the problem area, the skirting is buckled and pushed inward, resulting in gaps at the seams that allow cats and rodents to gain access to the crawlspace.
From what I understand, faux rock skirting panels are normally installed by either burying the bottom 3-4 inches in the ground or setting the bottom of the panels in a bottom rail that sits on the ground and is secured with ground spikes. My skirting is in a bottom rail and as stated before, all looks great and is intact, except for one 25 to 30-foot section.
This spring a neighbor and I plan to remove and reinstall the damaged area of my skirting. We believe the panels are reusable as they are not broken; they are just bent out of shape a bit. Most or all can probably be straightened and reinstalled.
Does anyone know of a top rail that would accommodate faux rock skirting? I have checked with mobile home parts stores and none offer a top rail system for this type of skirting.
I have found some metal support bars that self-adjust with ground movement and plan to install one behind each of the faux-mortar seams of the skirting, then with hex screws bolt the panels together at those seams. That will provide support behind the skirting to keep it more rigid, but how can I secure the skiring at the top without a top rail? Currently the top of the panels are just slipped under the vinyl siding of my home, and that works well and looks great in every area except this one problem area where the ground heaves considerably.
My preference would be to remove this skirting and replace it with either regular vinyl or metal skirting, but park owners will not allow those materials to be used (even thought they are far better materials for areas with frost heave issues, in my opinion).
Suggestions on how to secure faux rock vinyl panels and still allow for ground movement will be appreciated. Thank you.