How Much Does Mobile Home Underpinning Cost?

Cost of Mobile Home Underpinning or Skirting

The cost of mobile home underpinning is $1,400 to $4,600 based on the material used, the size of the mobile or manufactured home, who does the work, and several  other factors that are covered below. For the purpose of this Costimate, we factored the average underpinning cost on a double-wide home, with vinyl (most popular) skirting. Adding a decorative and functional skirt to your mobile home is done after you have leveled the mobile home.

Average Cost

The average cost to add underpinning to a doublewide mobile home is around $2,600. This includes all materials, labor and cleanup, to measure, prepare and install vinyl skirting around the bottom of the home. Review the skirting materials cost table below to see other types of underpinning and their cost.

Mobile Home Underpinning Overview

Mobile home underpinning is also called skirting. It is used on modular homes, also called mobile homes, manufactured homes and trailer homes, when the home is left on its trailer or placed on piers on top of a concrete foundation slab or gravel slab.

The skirting is the material that extends from the bottom of the home to the ground. The underpinning is used to conceal the trailer beneath the home or, if the trailer has been removed, conceal the underside of the home including beams, piers and plumbing. Mobile home underpinning also keeps out rodents and pests, so you won’t soon be faced with raccoon removal or a large rodent infestation requiring hiring a rodent exterminator.

Tip: Underpinning is not used when the home is placed on a permanent foundation, either concrete crawlspace or full foundation basement. All are permanent options, but far more expensive.

You have many good options for underpinning based on your budget and the look you want for your home. Keep in mind that the return on investment for new skirting isn’t high, since the mobile homes tends to depreciate in value. The best value is in using the same materials that most homes in your area use as skirting. But if you’re not concerned with getting a return on investment, then, of course, use any option you prefer.

Steel and vinyl are affordable and close to the average cost. Wood lattice is cheaper but won’t last long or keep out aggressive animals like raccoons. Faux stone and brick veneer are attractive and reasonable affordable from $2,200 to $4,000 installed. Genuine brick veneer and stone veneer cost twice the national average for vinyl and steel but are used on only a small percentage of mobile homes. Mobile home skirting cost is $700 to $2,800 for the materials, and you can save labor costs of up to $3,000 by installing the underpinning yourself.

Mobile Home Underpinning Cost Factors

The important cost factors for mobile home underpinning are materials, home size, who installs the underpinning, obstacles, whether the skirting is insulated and whether old skirting is removed. If the mobile home must be leveled first, the cost of mobile home leveling is extra, at an average of $845. If the stairs require replacing, then the cost will be about the same as the cost of deck stairs.

• Material Used – There is a breakdown of underpinning cost per material below. Wood lattice is the cheapest followed by steel or vinyl, wood planks, faux stone or brick and genuine stone or brick veneer.
• Who Installs the Skirting – You’ll save 25% to 50% by DIY depending on the cost of the materials.
• Home Size – Obviously, the large the home, the higher the cost. Cost rises from a single-wide to a double-wide to a triple-wide home.
• Obstacles – Most mobile home underpinning cost estimates factor in a front and back stoop and stairs. If the installer has to work around and underneath a deck or other add-on, installation will take longer, and the total cost will be higher.
• Insulation – In climates with freezing weather, insulating the skirting will reduce heat loss and keep your home’s floor warmer in cold weather.
• Removal and Disposal of Old Underpinning – While not a big job, removing old skirting and hauling it away adds 10% to 20% to the cost.

Cost of Mobile Home Skirting Supplies

Here are the most common underpinning materials and mobile home underpinning prices. See the example manufactured home skirting cost estimates below for the complete picture of what your cost might be. All installation materials are included including top rail, bottom rail and ventilation kits.

• $0.65 – $1.00 per Square Foot | Wood Lattice. This is the most affordable, but it offers poor durability, and it won’t keep out small rodents, birds and insects. And larger rodents can chew or claw their way through it.
• $1.50 – $2.85 per Square Foot | Vinyl Panels. With a similar look to steel, it has the advantage of not rusting. While it is flimsier than steel, it will look better longer in climates or conditions where rust is common.
• $2.15 – $3.35 per Square Foot | Wood-based Panels. Like T1-11. The material can be stained any color you like. It is easy to work with but requires ongoing maintenance.
• $3.35 – $4.85 per Square Foot| Faux Stone or Brick Panels. These are often PVC but can be a concrete mix too. They can look much like the “real thing,” though cheaper options have a distinct plastic look. Novik is a top brand.
• $2.35 – $7.15 per Square Foot | Steel Panels. This is the most common mobile home underpinning. It is available in an attractive range of colors and styles. Cost factors are thickness of the steel, quality of the coating and the design. Average-quality steel panels run about $4.50 per square foot.
• $4.95 – $7.25 per Square Foot| Genuine Brick Veneer. This material costs more, but it is longer lasting. Maintenance costs are higher too – the brick will need to be sealed every few years for maximum longevity, and the mortar will need ongoing repair after the first 10-15 years.
• $6.80 – $10.25 per Square Foot | Genuine Stone Veneer. This is the costliest material. It is found most often on large, manufactured homes in upscale manufactured home communities.
• $9.50 – $12.75 per Square Foot | Concrete Panels. Available in some regions, these panels are very durable but quite expensive.

Skirting Cost by Material and Home Size

Vinyl Mobile Home Underpinning

Vinyl	Materials	Installed Cost
Single Wide	$600 – $1,150	$1,500 – $2,950
Double Wide	$760 – $1,285	$1,900 – $3,300
Triple Wide	$950 – $1,350	$2,250 – $3,800

Wood Panel Mobile Home Underpinning

Wood Panel	Materials	Installed Cost
Single Wide	$925 – $1,400	$1,850 – $3,100
Double Wide	$1,050 – $1,500	$2,200 – $3,550
Triple Wide	$1,200 – $1,700	$2,500 – $4,200

Faux Stone or Brick Mobile Home Underpinning

Faux Stone/Brick	Materials	Installed Cost
Single Wide	$1,100 – $1,800	$2,250 – $3,600
Double Wide	$1,350 – $2,100	$2,500 – $4,250
Triple Wide	$1,675 – $2,400	$4,000 – $5,000

Steel Mobile Home Underpinning

Steel	Materials	Installed Cost
Single Wide	$1,400 – $2,400	$2,350 – $4,000
Double Wide	$1,800 – $2,750	$2,900 – $4,850
Triple Wide	$2,300 – $3,200	$3,550 – $5,700

Genuine Stone or Brick Mobile Home Underpinning

Real Stone/Brick	Materials	Installed Cost
Single Wide	$2,300 – $3,850	$3,550 – $5,900
Double Wide	$2,900 – $4,500	$4,400 – $6,750
Triple Wide	$3,600 – $5,150	$5,200 – $7,800

Permits, Inspection, Installation Labor Costs and Time

• $0| This outdoor home improvement project doesn’t require a permit.

Mobile Home Underpinning Installed Cost and Time

• $900 – $2,500| Average Total Labor Cost for manufactured home raising and leveling.

Completed Time

Expect the crew to be at your home for 1-3 days. Here’s how a typical schedule works:

• 2-4 Hours | Remove Old Skirting – Inspect Home, Check If It is Level.
• 1-3 Days | Install New Skirting.
• Up to 1 Day | Add Rails, Vents and Final Check

Related Projects

DIY or Hire a Pro

This job requires having the tools and skills to accurately measure and cut materials and make sure the installed materials are straight and level.

Our pro installers estimate it takes good DIY skills, though you certainly don’t need pro skills. If you’ve installed house siding, for example, you likely have the skillset to install your own mobile home skirting.

Since there are many types, and they vary greatly in installation techniques, do your homework. Watch tutorials and how-to videos on YouTube or on the siding manufacturer’s site. See what it required will allow you to decide whether DIY is the right approach.