Weed Eaters are a great invention. Crisp, neat and trim yards are now possible in just minutes. Weed eaters come in lots of different models from the casual consumer to the "more power" industrial size. Regardless of the size, all weed eaters do the same thing to skirting, any skirting, they destroy it!
In the case of metal skirting the damage is not so permanent. You take off a layer of paint and expose bear metal. Metal doesn't rot, but it looks like sh.. and it needs to be re-painted.
Vinyl skirting gets a hole in it instantly. If the weed eater operator isn't on drugs or had too many beers, the operator will stop and limit the damage to just one 16" panel. Just lift the top front rail and pull out the damaged section and replace it with a new panel. No tools required.
There have been many homeowners under the mistaken impression that T1-11 doesn't suffer the same weed eater consequences as metal and vinyl, but that's just not the truth. The facts are plain to see. The weed eater removes the paint, primer and even some of the wood. After the first season rot sets in. Repair is simple, but it needs to be done before the wood gets wet. Just prep the area, primer it and paint. No need to remove the panel, but if it was necessary, the panel is four feet long. You get the point.
Seeing is believing. 1. Looks like the weed eater has damaged the T1-11 up to 4" high. 2. Rocks have been placed under the skirting to reduce air flow. 3. The biggest mistake of all: This skirting goes all the way to the ground.
1. The un-protected wood has rotted and fallen off. 2. A properly installed insulation system would eliminate the need to push rocks under the skirting to reduce air flow. Click here to learn about insulation. 3. Skirting that is permanently attached to the under side of the home will push the side of the home up when the ground heaves from freezing. Click here to see pictures. No special science here. 4. Frost heave has pushed up on the wood and the wood is buckling and will fall off just like the panel next to it. That means two four foot panels need replacing, need primer and need painting, then they need to be installed.
The easy way to save your skirting from a skirting eater is to use something as a barrier between the eater and the skirting. I use a piece of aluminum that has a handle on it. It was a painter's tool for painting corners and not painting the other wall. Just place the item between the grass and skirting, then use the weed eater.
The minimal amount of extra effort needed to protect your skirting, metal, wood or vinyl, from the skirting eater can directly effect your pocket book and personal time. Chances are the homeowner of the skirting system pictured above would rather be eating steak at a Bar-B-Q than repairing the skirting. In my case, I removed the 16" damaged vinyl panel and replaced it with a new panel and it took about 1/2 hour; from set-up to clean-up. Didn't need to paint. Total cost was about $13.00 and I have a piece left-over that can make about two more panels incase I do it again.
Have a suggestion we can share with other mobile/manufactured home owners? Please call or email us postmaster@reallyneatstuffalaska.com