There are many different design options for deck skirting. One that is gaining popularity is horizontal skirting. With a distinctly often called modern look of horizontal planks enhancing the appearance of the lower part of your deck.
Horizontal skirting can be constructed from either wood composite material. Giving you a great deal of choice in both appearance and function.
Many of these pictures I got from Houzz.com. Always a great choice for pcitures and home imporvment ideas. I also included some pictures of horizontal deck skirting I have built.
If you are to the required staining this a beautiful welcome to your house.
The stain enhances a distinctly wood look with variation in the wood colour.
I love how they matched the height of the horizontal planks with the riser, making a seamless transition.
Along with gaps between the boards. This is good for both controlling expansion and contraction of the wood but, more importantly, allows for under-deck ventilation
, which is crucial for the life of any deck.
Similar in design, greying of wood is embraced with no protective or colour-enhancing stain here. Which works, contrasting with the bright white deck fascia board and railing.
I also like how they break up the horizontal planks with vertical “posts.” This enhances the appearance of the skirting by hiding the joints and creating sections of planks. Making it almost look like the deck is supported by these posts.
They didn’t do it here, but lining up the skirting vertical “posts” with the railing post compounds the look.
I did this for a rebuild a couple of years ago. At first, the homeowners were unsure of all the fuss to line up the post until the railing was installed. Then it became clear how the little things make all the difference.
Unfortunately, that was with a lattice skirting, so it is not included in this list.
Consistency between the deck and skirting can be a nice design feature. Here we have decking installed horizontally as skirting.
A nice solid enclosure, preventing critters from moving in under your deck with minimal extra costs. Spaced enough for air circulation but not animals.
By using the same material as the deck, maintenance is also simplified. When they do stain it, it can be stains simultaneously, with the same stain as the decking.
Clear coated as not to rob from the natural beauty of the horizontal boards.
But what sets this apart from many designs is separating the large planks with much smaller ones. Breaking up the look of a sold wall.
This design also increases skirting airflow under the deck.
This design calls us back to a time when wood shutters were more common.
With the horizontal boards installed at an angle. Which hides the view of under the deck better than most designs while still allowing a great deal of air flow.
But this skirting design is not for the timid. With many precise cuts and installation required to make the panels work.
The blending of the railing and skirting together. What a wonderful idea.
This a slightly different take on blending the railing and skirting design. Using the same material with both just adjusting the spacing. Larger gaps for the railing, smaller for the skirting.
Just a word of caution. Always check with your local jurisdiction about railing designs. Where I build decks, horizontal railing boards are considered unsafe because they can be climbed. But if you can, it is a nice blended look.
A beautiful but straightforward horizontal skirting design.
The contrasting of colours with the darker stained horizontal wood boards just below the bright wide rim board.
The design makes the deck stand out from its surroundings.
A nice solid stacking of beautiful wide planks.
This can be done with both wood and composite fascia boards.
The advantage of composite of course, is the reduced maintenance compared to wood boards. The Composite never needs to be stained.
A blend of both large planks and small slats.
What I like about his design is setting back the skirting under the shadows of the deck.
I often like to do this to emphasize the deck over the skirting.
I generally don’t set it as far back, but it looks great for this deck.
Slightly set back under the deck the smaller skirt boards compliment the larger fascia board.
Taking it to a whole new level is using wood plugs hiding the skirting screws.
Aztek did a wonderful job of blending the decking, rim board and skirting together.
The fascia board is set back a few inches under the deck and rim board. Emphasizing the deck over the skirting. This was both advantageous for both ease of construction and aesthetics.
A simple plank design I built using TimberTech composite fascia board.
By setting it back and 1 ½” (38mm) I could attach the 2×4 holding the skirting to the back of the rim board.
The shadow effect is the real bonus. Something that I am beginning to discover the power of.
I gapped the composite ¾” (18mm) for venting and room for the material to move. But the dark lines (shadows) enhance the planks’ appearance.
A solid wall deck skirting finished with horizontal vinyl siding. Blending the house and skirting together.
Painted plywood skirting panels with a darker contrasting trim board.
A full enclosure of the underside of the deck.
