How often have you driven by "that" house in the neighborhood and seen the unsightly underside of the house. This is a place where even the bravest of souls would not dare venture in (unless you're a rodent or small animal). Then you think, "a little porch skirting is all those folks need".
In the older home - say 60+ years - there really was no such thing as lattice or lattice panels. Homeowners simply ignored the issue, and threw together some pieces of wood to make some semblance of an enclosure.
Classy Halloween Decor
The first time you really saw porch skirting was when mobile homes come about. There was everything from the low cost metal skirting and wood to the higher end brick, and even faux stone surrounds. Each was used for one purpose: to cover the eyesore that was and is the wheels and jacks.
Metal skirting came with a lot of issues since it would easily bend, make ground level maintenance somewhat difficult (and even unsafe), and was exposed to the elements. A good alternative - though not as expensive as brick or stone - was wood lattice. This was a good solution as it offered more ventilation than brick, sufficient pest control of rodents, and gave a more uniform appearance. The downside to wood lattice as porch skirting was the maintenance. Left untreated, lattice would deteriorate and repair was near to impossible. Even those panels that had been treated required upkeep with stain or paint.
As timed progressed, wood lattice phased out and the gate opened to vinyl lattice panels. They offered the same benefits as wood - ventilation, pest control, and appearance - yet the maintenance was slim to none. Better yet, vinyl lattice offered better choices when it came to aesthetics.
While the mobile home launched the trend, soon homeowners with open porches and decks were considering vinyl lattice panels as an option. The problem, however, was that there was really no selection. This is how Marcus McAvoy got his start: handcrafting attractive panels for his own home. One thing lead to another and porch skirting became not only functional but also very decorative and attractive.
Just one glance at the porch skirting choices available today and you will see there are no boundaries. There are classic geometric patterns, coastal scenes with palm trees and dolphins, geometric shapes, logos (and what die-hard, college football fan wouldn't dream of having his teams logo on the outside of his home!), trees and flowers from nature, as well as custom designs (for that homeowner who wants a cohesive and high-end look.
No longer must you be embarrassed at showing the visually challenged areas of your home. Vinyl porch skirting and deck lattice panels will transform your home into the classy showplace you have always dreamed it would be.