Enhancing Your Mobile Home with Brick Skirting: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you considering upgrading your mobile home's exterior appearance and potentially boosting its value? Vinyl skirting, a common choice for mobile homes, can lose its appeal over time. The solution? Transitioning to brick skirting can not only provide a fresh, elegant look but also offer long-term benefits for your property. In this guide brought to you by Spartans Properties, your trusted destination for buying and selling used mobile homes, we'll show you how to brick a mobile home foundation in five simple steps while emphasizing the legal and practical aspects.
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Ensuring Legal Compliance
Before diving into the brick-laying process, it's essential to address the legality of adding brick skirting to your mobile home. According to HUD codes, mobile homes with permanent foundations must have a corresponding permanent enclosure, commonly referred to as "skirting." This skirting must rest on a concrete footing and be self-supporting. The good news is that using brick as your skirting material is permissible as long as it adheres to these standards. However, always check local ordinances for any additional requirements that may apply to your area.
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If you're looking to add brick skirting to a non-permanent foundation, we recommend considering brick panels or brick veneer skirting to maintain your mobile home's mobility.
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Beyond Aesthetics: Increasing Value
Opting for brick skirting instead of vinyl goes beyond improving aesthetics. It can also enhance your home's overall value. In the steps that follow, we'll guide you through creating a permanent foundation for your mobile home. Mobile homes on permanent foundations can be classified as "real" property, making them easier to finance and more likely to appreciate over time.
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While the choice of brick type and color is primarily a matter of personal preference, if you plan to sell your mobile home in the near future, consider popular market trends. Regardless of the specific brick type, brick skirting provides added value to your mobile home by offering protection against the elements and adding a stunning finishing touch to your property. Let's explore the steps to install brick skirting and give your mobile home a brand-new appearance.
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Step #1: Preparing the Ground
Start by removing any existing skirting from your mobile home, if applicable. If your mobile home lacks skirting, you can proceed to the next step. Ensure the stability of the blocks beneath your mobile home to support the additional weight. Add a cement mixture around each block and allow it to dry for 24 to 48 hours to solidify.
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Step #2: Establishing a Foundation
If your mobile home does not have a permanent foundation, you'll need to dig around the base to a depth of approximately two feet. This can be a DIY project with a friend's help or contracted out to a professional. Once the foundation area is prepared, fill it with a concrete mixture up to the base of your mobile home. Level the concrete and allow it to dry for 48 to 72 hours before proceeding.
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Step #3: Attaching Metal Strap Anchors
Once the concrete foundation is dry, attach metal strap anchors to your mobile home. These anchors should be placed approximately one foot apart around the cement base, encircling the mobile home.
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Step #4: Laying the Brick
Now it's time to work with the bricks. Layer the bricks around the concrete foundation, applying a thick layer of mortar and leveling it with a trowel. Securely place the bricks and cover their sides with mortar. Continue this pattern until you complete the first layer. Ensure each brick's placement is level and secure using a level and a trowel handle. Keep applying bricks and mortar until you reach the top of the home supports.
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Step #5: Finishing Touches
After laying the bricks, you may find excess mortar on them. Wipe it away with a metal or copper bristle brush and use a jointer to secure the bricks. Allow the bricks to dry for 24 to 48 hours. Once fully dry and satisfied with the results, step back and admire your mobile home's stunning transformation.
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Now, with your beautifully bricked mobile home, you've not only enhanced its visual appeal but also its value. Bricking a mobile home is a feasible DIY project, but if you have any doubts about safety or accuracy, consider hiring a professional. For more ideas on improving your mobile home, explore our article on mobile home remodeling. At Spartans Properties, we specialize in buying and selling used properties, and we're here to help you make the most of your mobile home investment. Contact us today for expert guidance and support.