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Material and cost to close in the space under a deck.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated skirting cost | $783 – $1,528 |
| Skirting area | 132 sq ft |
| Perimeter to cover | 44 linear ft |
| Per square foot | $6 – $12 |
| Skirting material | $462 – $924 |
| Framing behind it | $261 – $424 — 25 studs plus rails |
| Access hatch | $60 – $180 |
| Ventilation opening needed | 1.3 sq ft minimum |
| Sides covered | 3 of 4 |
Leave the bottom edge an inch or two clear of the soil and build in at least 1.3 square feet of open ventilation — the usual rule is one square foot of vent per 150 square feet enclosed. A sealed skirt traps moisture against the joists and rots the frame faster than no skirt at all, which is why lattice remains the default despite better-looking options. If you want a solid look, use a solid material with a continuous vent strip top and bottom. Ranges are national material and framing estimates; add labour at $5 to $10 per square foot if a contractor installs it.
Skirting hides the framing, keeps animals out from under the deck and finishes the look for a fraction of what people expect. The cost depends almost entirely on which material you choose and how tall the gap is. This works out the area, the framing you need behind it, and the price across every common option.
For a 16 by 12 ft deck 3 ft off the ground with three sides skirted, lattice runs about $500 to $900 in materials, vertical wood boards $850 to $1,500, composite panels $1,250 to $2,150, and faux stone $2,350 to $4,200. Contractor labour typically adds $5 to $10 per square foot of skirting on top.
Yes, and it is the part people skip. Enclosing the underside without airflow traps ground moisture against the joists and beam, and a deck frame that never dries rots far faster than an open one. The common rule is one square foot of free vent area per 150 square feet enclosed, split so air can cross from one side to the other. Lattice provides this automatically; solid materials need dedicated vents.
Pre-made lattice panels in wood or vinyl, at roughly $3.50 to $7 per square foot installed in a simple frame. It also solves ventilation for free. The main drawback is appearance up close and the fact that thin vinyl lattice cracks in cold weather — if the deck is low and prominent, vertical boards with a gap between them look considerably better for a modest step up in price.
It is optional and mainly cosmetic, but it does three useful things: it keeps animals from nesting underneath, it makes under-deck storage practical with a hatch, and it stops wind driving leaves and debris into the frame. On a deck less than about 18 inches off the ground it is often more trouble than it is worth, because there is no usable space to close in and ventilation gets harder.
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