Thanks on your help! When you make a purchase order utilizing our hyperlinks on this article, we might make a fee. And, as an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the complete disclosure right here.
For these of us who prefer to journey in the course of the winter, or keep in a single place for an prolonged time, RV skirting is an effective way to extend heating and cooling effectivity. Nevertheless, buying RV skirting will be costly. An amazing different we use is DIY foam board RV skirting.
Do-it-yourself RV skirting is an effective way to get pleasure from the advantages of RV skirting at a portion of the associated fee. DIY RV skirting can be a improbable approach to make RV skirting that completely suits your specific rig. On this article, we are going to share the advantages of RV skirting and provides some fundamental directions on tips on how to create your personal.
Do You Actually Want RV Skirting?
Not each RV proprietor wants RV skirting. Nevertheless, for some RVers, skirting can present wonderful advantages and elevated consolation. For these RV homeowners who love to remain in a single place for an prolonged interval, RV skirting is a necessary accent for just a few causes.
Defend The Plumbing System
The ground of your RV doesn’t have the standard of insulation that the remainder of your RV does. The truth is, many of the ground or your RV has nothing greater than an air hole.
The rationale for that is that options like drain strains, water tanks, and waste tanks are held between the ground and the outer masking of the RV. This minimal insulation signifies that warmth and chilly switch happens at an important charge by way of the ground of your RV.
Lengthen Your Tenting Season
The RV proprietor who will benefit from the best profit from investing in RV skirting is the one who, like us, loves cold-weather journey. Staying in colder climates in your RV, particularly for an prolonged time frame can put numerous stress in your RV’s heater.
It may additionally create a little bit of discomfort on the underside of your ft. Chilly air passing below your RV chills the ground of your rig. This reduces the warmth retention capabilities of your RV. Utilizing RV skirting insulates the underside of your RV, retaining warmth in and enhancing the effectivity of your heater.
Works In Scorching Climate Too
For these RVers who get pleasure from prolonged stays in heat areas, notably in the summertime, RV skirting can be useful. As with chilly climate tenting, scorching temperatures round your RV can enhance the demand in your air con unit. Utilizing RV skirting will preserve extra of the cool air inside your RV, with out the elevated operation from the air conditioner.
Whereas long-term stationary RVers are the most typical customers of RV skirting. It is usually standard for RVers who get pleasure from chilly climate tenting. Even in case you are solely staying a short while in a cold-weather location, RV skirting could make an enormous distinction in your consolation.
How A lot Is RV Skirting?
The one factor about RV skirting that deters homeowners from making the funding is the worth. Buying RV skirting, particularly that which is a precise match on your rig will be very costly.
After-market or generic RV skirting could be a bit extra inexpensive. Nevertheless, these merchandise might require a little bit of artistic considering to make them work along with your RV. Light-weight “common” skirting kits will be as low cost as just a few hundred {dollars} and customized heavyweight kits could be a few thousand.
In the long term, nonetheless, for stationary or chilly climate RVers, investing in skirting could be a cash saver. Not solely will you might have a extra pleasant expertise, however you place much less demand in your furnace and/or air con.
These are two of the extra expensive home equipment in your RV to exchange. Utilizing your air conditioner or furnace closely additionally will increase your upkeep prices. RV skirting can cut back the quantity of money and time you spend on periodic upkeep of your RV heater and air conditioner.
What Is Foam Board Insulation?
Most individuals eager to make their very own RV skirting use foam board insulation. This product is light-weight, straightforward to govern, and fairly inexpensive.
Because the identify suggests, foam board insulation is a agency sort of insulation. It’s produced from sheets of polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane. These kinds of foam are nice for offering insulation for quite a lot of functions with minimal bulk and are very light-weight.
When you might not suppose you might be conversant in foam board insulation, you might have in all probability seen it in passing. Sometimes, foam board insulation is utilized in residential and business constructing development.
It’s most continuously used between the plywood wall and no matter materials is getting used as a siding. It supplies nice insulation whereas additionally being skinny sufficient to work with most traditional development nails and screws.
The beauty of foam board insulation is that it is available in all kinds of thicknesses and retention or R values. Relying on how a lot safety you need out of your foam board RV skirting insulation you possible have quite a lot of choices.
The froth board is rated primarily based on the kind of foam and the thickness of the panel. Typical foam board utilized in residential development is round 1 inch thick and has an R-value of 4. Thinner foam board may have a decrease ranking, whereas the thickest foam board commercially obtainable has a ranking of R8 and is 2 inches thick.
How To Make DIY RV Skirting From Foam Board Insulation
Now that you understand a bit about foam board and the way it may be helpful in making DIY RV skirting, we wish to supply some fundamental directions on making your personal.
This mission is just not terribly tough. Nevertheless, to have the best profit out of your DIY RV skirting you will have to take time to measure correctly and reduce fastidiously. We recommend retaining the previous adage, “Measure twice, reduce as soon as,” within the entrance of your thoughts as you full your mission.
When you find yourself deciding on foam board for use it’s good to take into account two elements. The primary is how a lot safety or temperature retention you might be searching for. The second is how a lot area you must retailer your skirting.
When you should not have numerous area, discover a product that has the very best R-value obtainable within the thinnest board. Some half-inch boards present nice R-value rankings as a result of sort of froth they’re produced from.
Now we have discovered at Dwelling Depot that 1″ inflexible foam board supplies an R-5 ranking. The 1 1/2″ foam board has a 7.5 RV worth and the two″ foam board insulation supplies a RV worth of 10.
Earlier than you begin your mission collect the instruments and supplies that you’ll want. These are the supplies that we’d advocate. Nevertheless, it’s possible you’ll discover that you don’t want all of those or might want one thing totally different relying on how you intend on connecting the skirting to your RV.
Supplies and Instruments:
- Foam Board Insulation – search for 4’x8’ sheets of 1-inch thick foam board. You should utilize a thicker foam board (or thinner) relying on how a lot insulation you need and the way a lot space for storing you might have.
- Measuring Tape
- T-Sq., Straight Edge, or Yard Stick – We like T-squares which might be longer. They’re actually the proper software for making correct straight-line cuts.
- Utility Knife, Field Cutter, or Foam Board Cutter
- Marker
- Duct Tape and/or HVAC Foil Tape
- Scissors
Non-obligatory Supplies:
- Exterior Home Paint (or different cowl materials)
- Velcro Stripping
- Grommet Package
- Tent Stakes
- Zip Ties
- Bungy Cords
With these instruments and supplies in hand, now you can begin creating your DIY RV skirting. The steps beneath are common instructions, it’s possible you’ll discover that it’s good to modify these directions to higher suit your wants.
DIY Foam Board RV Skirting Directions:
- Measure the RV – You will want to measure the size round your RV in addition to the peak between the underside of your RV and the bottom. To make the peak measurement as correct as doable, do that whereas parked on flat, even floor.
- Purchase the correct variety of foam sheets – Calculate this worth utilizing the size round your RV. Relying on the peak, you might be able to use fewer boards. We might advocate that you’ve an additional couple of boards, simply in case.
- Mark boards with correct measurements – Use a pencil or marker to mark the froth on the correct width and size. Use your T-square to make straight slicing strains throughout the complete sheet of froth. Measure fastidiously to make sure that your boards will match snuggly in opposition to the underside of your RV.
- Reduce the boards – Use a pointy slicing software akin to a utility knife or foam board cutter. You might need to make the most of the T-square or straight edge to assist make a easy reduce.
- Reduce-in entry factors – Add cut-outs for issues like your sewage hose, water hose, or storage compartments that you could be need to entry when you find yourself parked.
- Cowl or paint the froth sheets – You might need to cowl the surface of the froth board with a fabric like self-stick flooring or paint with exterior house paint. This may make the sheets of froth look extra enticing. It would be best to do that earlier than you begin securing the skirting to the RV.
- Construct a body – This might not be mandatory, nonetheless, it will possibly strengthen the skirting. Utilizing 2×2 or comparable boards makes a light-weight body and is one thing strong to connect foam board to.
- Safe the skirting panels collectively – There are just a few methods to make this connection. Utilizing duct tape or foil HVAC tape is a fast and simple possibility. It additionally supplies a weather-proof seal. Nevertheless, if you don’t want to tape and un-tape every time you employ your skirting, it’s possible you’ll need to use self-stick Velcro as an possibility. Velcro is comparatively sturdy and works properly to securely connect many issues to your RV.
- Safe the backside of the skirting – This step retains the underside of the froth sheets from shifting round. Many individuals merely use tent stakes alongside the underside of the skirting. That is the best possibility in case you are parked someplace with dust. Grommets for the stakes will be added to the underside of the froth sections. You may also use snow, boards, dust trenches, brick or rock, or some other materials with a little bit of weight.
- Cowl gaps between sections – Use your duct tape or HVAC foil tape to seal the gaps between every part of skirting. This method is good as a result of it’s straightforward to take away if you take the skirt off.
Your foam board RV skirting is sort of customizable. With a little bit of creativity, you can also make customized RV skirting that’s as easy or as fancy as you prefer to.
Do not forget that like every thing else that goes along with your RV, your DIY RV skirting does must be cared for whether it is to final a great period of time. Guarantee that it’s saved in a secure spot when not in use.
Additionally, be sure you clear the underside of every part after use in order that dust and dirt don’t create further put on and tear in your RV skirting.
What Sort Of RV Skirting Is Greatest?
In relation to RV skirting, the sort you choose is basically about what works greatest for you and your RV.
A DIY RV skirt could also be nice for you now, however over time, it’s possible you’ll discover {that a} totally different possibility is best. Fortuitously, there are all kinds of RV skirting choices to pick from.
If you’re touring within the winter or need to keep in a single spot for an prolonged time, an RV skirt of some type is basically a necessary accent.
DIY RV skirts are an important possibility in case you are on a price range and don’t thoughts doing the work. It is usually good if you wish to make your RV skirting customized or to match your RV. Nevertheless, this feature is just not for everybody.
Vinyl RV Skirting
Vinyl RV skirting is sort of standard and is likely one of the extra inexpensive skirting choices for RVs. It is usually light-weight and pretty compact. This makes it straightforward to retailer and doesn’t add a ton of weight to your RV or tow automobile.
EZ Snap is a trusted identify in vinyl RV skirting they usually have kits to suit all RVs
The issue with vinyl skirting is that some RV parks and campgrounds don’t permit this kind of skirting. The explanations differ however basically, this prohibition has to do with look and construction.
If this prohibition is just not of concern to you, and you aren’t actually into the DIY mission, vinyl skirting is a good possibility.
AirSkirts RV Skirting
One of many extra fascinating RV skirt choices in the marketplace at present is AirSkirts. This feature is a sequence of inflatable tubes which might be positioned between the bottom and the underside of your RV.
They’re produced from sturdy supplies that rise up properly to the weather. When uninflated, AirSkirts take up minimal room in your RV. They’re produced from high quality supplies and when packed up for storage are fairly heavy.
These high quality supplies and fast setup and teardown include a worth and AirSkirts are dear however value it for these severe about RV skirting.
Irrespective of which possibility you choose, it is vital that you just fastidiously measure and measurement your RV skirting. Choosing an possibility that’s too giant or too small will defeat the aim of putting in skirting.
Moreover, if you choose an possibility that’s tough so that you can set up, the worth and time mandatory could also be not definitely worth the funding.
Closing Ideas About DIY RV Skirting
For RVers who get pleasure from touring in the course of the winter or would quite keep in a single place for an extended period of time, RV skirting is a good funding.
Moreover retaining your RV hotter, a high quality RV skirt will shield your plumbing from freezing and add a layer of safety from pests.
Commercially manufactured RV skirting could be a bit on the dear facet. So it could appear impractical to these on a price range.
A superb different to the choices you should buy on the web or out of your native RV supplier is DIY RV skirting. This feature will be extra inexpensive and might help you create a product that fits your RV and your price range.
Associated Studying:
–Journey Trailer And RV Insulation Information: R-Values Defined
–RV Window Insulation Suggestions For Winter And Summer time
–Will RV Skirting In Summer time Assist Preserve Your RV Cool?
–RV Skirting For Winter – DIY Or Model Identify?
Jason Gass – Creator and Half Time RVer
Jason Gass is a full-time freelance author and part-time RVer whose purpose is to share nice tales round a campfire with good buddies.
When he’s not working, he spends most of his time tenting, looking for the perfect breweries, and road-tripping in his teardrop trailer along with his spouse, daughter, and two canine.
