Brick mobile home skirting is much more durable than galvanized metal, vinyl or fiberglass pre-made skirting. Metal skirting is subject to rust, while vinyl and fiberglass skirting can be damaged by the sun. Pre-made skirting is also very light and can suffer wind damage. Brick skirting is much more durable because it is a heavy, fixed skirting. It also helps to keep the mobile home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Laying the skirting yourself is economical and is really not too hard; it will just take some practice to get the hang of it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Make a mark at each corner of the footer. This mark should be in line with the outside corner of the mobile home. Stretch the chalk line from mark-to-mark. Raise it about 2-feet in the center and then let it snap down. This will lay down a line of chalk to use as your outside guide.
2. Prepare the mortar mix; it should be thick enough to hold its shape. Using the trowel, lay down a line of mortar about 3-feet long in each direction. Pick up a brick. Then, using the trowel, put a good amount of mortar on one end of it. Lay the brick down at the corner. Put mortar on another brick and lay it down next to the mortared side of the first brick.
3. Use the rubber mallet to tap the second brick up against the first. Leave a mortar joint of about ½-inch. Do this until you have laid about 10 bricks in one direction. Repeat the process laying about 10 bricks in the other direction. Use a 4-foot level and mallet to keep the brick you are laying level with about ½-inch of mortar underneath.
4. Go back to the corner and begin a second row using the same process. You will lay the mortar on top of the last row of brick. Lay the brick until only half lies exposed underneath each corner. Continue pulling up the corner until you are about five layers high. Repeat the last two steps for each of the other three corners.
5. Use the striker to rake out the excess mortar and give it a finished look. If you need to add mortar, use the jointer and your fingers to push mortar into the joints. Finish with the striker. Be sure to strike the joints frequently before the mortar sets up too tightly.
6. Take the string line clip and attach it to the first brick from one corner to another. Stretch the string line taunt. Next, attach it to the first brick on the other corner. Align the string with the top of the row of bricks. This serves as a level guide for the next row of bricks. Move the string line up row-by-row to keep the bricks level.
7. Pull up all of the corners again. Once you have pulled the bricks up, level with the first corners. Continue pulling up corners and laying rows or brick until you are done.
8. Fill the top of the brick skirting with mortar using the jointer. It will be easier and cleaner to fill it in from the backside.
Tags: first brick, mobile home, string line, about bricks, about -inch
