20 Budget Deck Skirting Ideas That Look Expensive

Deck skirting closes the gap between your deck and the ground. Done well, it hides the framing and the clutter underneath and makes the deck look finished. Done badly, it traps moisture, blocks access and gives animals a sheltered place to live.

Below are 20 low-cost skirting ideas, each with what it suits and what to watch out for. Start with the four basics every skirting project needs, then use the comparison table to narrow down your choice.

Before you build: four things every deck skirting needs

1. Let air move underneath

Deck framing lasts longer when it can dry out. Choose an open material such as lattice, spaced boards or louvers, or add vents to solid skirting. If your deck boards are composite, check the manufacturer’s installation guide: brands such as TimberTech publish ventilation and clearance requirements, and skirting must not block that airflow.

2. Leave a way in

Plan at least one removable panel or a small hinged door. You will need it to check the framing, reach outdoor faucets or wiring, and remove anything that gets in. Turn buttons, barrel bolts or screws (rather than nails) make panels easy to take off.

3. Keep wood off the soil

Wood that touches the ground, or sits just above it, rots fastest. The International Residential Code (Section R317) treats exterior wood siding within 6 inches of the ground as needing naturally durable or preservative-treated wood, and wood in direct contact with the ground must be treated for ground contact. Apply the same thinking to skirting: leave a small gap above the soil, or use ground-contact-rated lumber for the bottom edge.

4. Keep animals out, after checking none are inside

Skunks, raccoons and rodents like the dry space under a deck. Wildlife-control specialists recommend an L-shaped barrier of hardware cloth: dig a trench about 12 inches deep, bend the mesh into an L and run it about 12 inches outward underground, so animals can’t dig under the skirting. Make sure no animal is living under the deck before you close it in.

Fastener tip: modern pressure-treated lumber corrodes ordinary steel. The American Galvanizers Association recommends hot-dip galvanized fasteners (ASTM A153) or stainless steel with treated wood, and using the same metal for fasteners and connectors.

The 20 ideas at a glance

Idea	Rough cost	DIY difficulty	Airflow	Lasts
Pallet wood	$	Easy	Good (gaps)	Short
Corrugated metal	$$	Moderate	Needs vents	Long
Vinyl lattice	$	Easy	Good	Long
Cedar fence boards	$$	Moderate	Good (gaps)	Medium to long
Stone veneer	$$$	Hard	Needs vents	Long
Painted plywood	$	Easy	Needs vents	Medium
Board and batten	$$	Moderate	Needs vents	Medium
Bamboo rolls	$	Easy	Some	Short
Block with stucco	$$$	Hard	Needs vents	Long
Reclaimed shutters	$ to $$	Moderate	Good (louvers)	Medium
Framed treated lattice	$	Easy	Good	Medium to long
Aluminum slats	$$$	Moderate	Good (gaps)	Long
Woven reed or willow	$	Easy	Some	Short
Painted block wall	$$	Hard	Needs vents	Long
Log slices	$	Moderate	Some	Short to medium
Composite boards	$$$	Moderate	Good (gaps)	Long
Outdoor fabric	$	Easy	Good	Seasonal
Brick veneer	$$$	Hard	Needs vents	Long
Gabion baskets	$$	Moderate	Good	Long
Climbing plants	$	Easy	Good	Grows in over time

1. Horizontal Pallet Wood Skirting

Reclaimed pallet boards fixed horizontally to a treated-timber frame make a rustic, slatted screen for very little money. Sand the boards, cut them to equal lengths and leave a small gap between each one so air can move through. One exterior stain color pulls the mismatched boards together.

Good to know: check the stamp on every pallet. Extension guidance lists heat-treated pallets (marked HT) as the safe choice, says pallets marked MB were treated with the pesticide methyl bromide and should not be used, and advises rejecting pallets with no markings. Pallet wood isn’t rot-resistant, so keep it a few inches above the soil and expect to replace boards sooner than treated lumber.

2. Corrugated Metal Panel Skirting

Corrugated metal panels give a clean, modern farmhouse look and don’t rot or attract insects. Galvanized silver is the classic finish; painted panels in black, charcoal or barn red can coordinate with your deck stain or home exterior color. A stained timber frame around the panels hides the cut edges.

Good to know: solid metal blocks airflow, so leave a gap at the bottom or add vents. Keep the bottom edge clear of soil and mulch, wear gloves when cutting (the edges are sharp), and use fasteners suited to the panels and to any treated lumber in the frame.

3. Vinyl Lattice Panel Skirting

Vinyl lattice is the most common budget skirting: it’s inexpensive, easy to cut and never needs painting. The open pattern lets air through while screening the view underneath. Black or brown lattice looks more finished than white, because the pattern recedes behind plants.

Good to know: lattice panels are thin and flex, so fix them to a timber frame rather than straight to the deck posts, and cover the cut edges with trim. Make at least one panel removable for access.

4. Horizontal Cedar Fence Board Skirting

Standard cedar fence boards installed horizontally with even gaps look like modern slatted cladding for far less money. The gaps let air through, and staining the boards to match the deck makes the whole structure read as one piece.

Good to know: cedar heartwood resists decay, but fence boards often include lighter-colored sapwood that doesn’t. Keep the bottom board clear of the soil, or use a ground-contact-rated treated board along the bottom.

5. Stone Veneer Panel Skirting

Stone veneer makes a deck look as if it sits on a stone foundation, which suits tall decks and homes that already have stonework. Pick a color that matches your house foundation or existing stone.

Good to know: these are two very different products. Lightweight faux-stone panels are screwed to a frame following the maker’s instructions. Real adhered manufactured stone is a masonry job: installation standards call for water-resistive barrier layers, corrosion-resistant metal lath and a mortar scratch coat, not glue on plywood. Either way, add vents so the space underneath can breathe.

6. Painted Plywood Panel Skirting

Exterior-grade plywood panels painted the same color as your house give a smooth, solid skirting. Fill and sand the edges, prime, apply two coats of exterior paint, and add a trim board around each panel for a paneled look.

Good to know: plywood edges soak up water, so seal every edge (including the bottom) and keep the panels off the soil. Solid panels block airflow, so cut in vents or leave gaps, and fix at least one panel with screws so it can come off.

7. Vertical Board and Batten Skirting

Vertical boards with narrow battens over the joints echo board-and-batten siding and make a deck look taller. Painting the skirting the same color as your siding ties the deck to the house.

Good to know: ordinary pine isn’t decay-resistant outdoors. Use pressure-treated boards (ground-contact rated for anything near the soil), paint all sides, and add vents, because board and batten is a closed surface.

8. Bamboo Fencing Roll Skirting

Rolled bamboo screening, sold for garden privacy, brings a warm, natural texture that suits tropical planting and pool areas. Fix it to a treated timber frame so it stays flat, and add a top and bottom rail for a tidy edge.

Good to know: bamboo rolls are a budget, shorter-life option. Keep the bottom clear of wet soil and check the binding wire each season, since it often wears out before the canes.

9. Cinder Block with Stucco Finish Skirting

Concrete blocks finished with stucco look like a solid masonry foundation and can be tinted to match the house. A smooth finish looks modern; a textured one suits Mediterranean or Southwestern homes.

Good to know: a masonry wall needs a firm, level base and is heavy work, so ask your local building department about footings and permits before you start. Build in vent openings with metal grilles, and treat the wall as a screen: it doesn’t support the deck unless it was designed to.

10. Reclaimed Shutter Skirting

Old wooden shutters from salvage yards make one-of-a-kind skirting, and their louvers let air through. Paint them one color for a calm look, or leave them mixed for something more playful.

Good to know: old paint can contain lead. The EPA notes that homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead-based paint and that sanding or scraping it creates hazardous dust, so test salvaged shutters before you sand or strip them. Mount them on a frame so one or two can lift off for access.

11. Pressure Treated Lattice with Timber Frame

Plain pressure-treated lattice looks custom once each panel sits inside a proper timber frame. Build the frame from the same material as your railing posts and paint or stain everything to match.

Good to know: use lumber rated for ground contact for any part that touches the soil, and hot-dip galvanized or stainless fasteners with treated wood. Turn buttons or clips make the panels easy to remove.

12. Horizontal Metal Slat Skirting

Thin aluminum flat bars mounted with even spacing give crisp, modern shadow lines. They cut with a hacksaw or a chop saw fitted with a blade made for non-ferrous metal, and matte black or dark bronze looks the most refined.

Good to know: aluminum doesn’t rot, warp or rust, but it usually costs more than wood. Use a spacer block to keep the gaps even, and choose fasteners suited to both the metal and the frame.

13. Woven Reed or Willow Screen Skirting

Woven reed or willow panels from garden centers add a handmade, natural texture that suits cottages and lake houses. Framing each section in stained timber gives a neater finish.

Good to know: natural woven screens are among the shortest-lived materials on this list. Keep them off damp soil and plan to replace them every few years.

14. Painted Concrete Block Skirting Wall

A low wall of concrete blocks painted to match your foundation gives solid, permanent-looking skirting. Decorative vent covers set into the wall keep air moving underneath.

Good to know: a stacked block wall is a screen, not a retaining wall. If it will hold back soil on a slope, talk to your local building department first, because retaining walls often need a permit and, above certain heights, an engineered design.

15. Vertical Log Slice Skirting

Small logs or half-round slices set side by side give a rustic, cabin look, and trimmings from tree work can cost very little. Peeling the bark helps the wood dry out and last longer.

Good to know: untreated logs in contact with soil rot quickly, even with a brushed-on preservative. Stand them on a gravel strip or a treated bottom rail so the ends stay dry.

16. Horizontal Composite Decking Board Skirting

Leftover or discounted composite boards used as skirting match a composite deck exactly and never need staining. Many stores sell end-of-line colors at a discount, so ask before you buy new.

Good to know: composite boards need closely spaced support and expand and contract with temperature, so follow the manufacturer’s guidance for fascia or skirting (support spacing, gaps and fasteners). Composite brands also require airflow under the deck, so leave gaps or add vents.

17. Outdoor Fabric Curtain Skirting

Outdoor fabric hung from a tensioned stainless wire between the deck posts is the quickest and cheapest skirting, and it slides open for access. Solid neutrals such as canvas, linen-look or navy look the most deliberate.

Good to know: use fabric made for outdoor use, let it dry fully before tying it back, and take it down for winter. It works best as a seasonal or temporary fix.

18. Brick Veneer Skirting

Thin brick is real fired clay cut thin, so it can make a deck look like part of a brick house. Match the brick color and the mortar joint style to your home.

Good to know: thin brick is installed as masonry veneer, with proper backing and moisture protection following the manufacturer’s system, not stuck to bare plywood. Add vent openings, and expect it to cost more than the lumber options.

19. Gabion Basket Skirting

Wire gabion baskets filled with stone, river rock or broken brick give a heavy, modern base that makes tall decks look grounded. The gaps between the stones let air through.

Good to know: gabions are heavy, so set them on firm, level ground. Buy fill from a landscape supplier or reuse rubble from your own projects; don’t collect rock from streams or public land.

20. Living Wall Skirting with Climbing Plants

A wire trellis across the opening, planted with climbers, screens the underside with living green that changes through the seasons. A roll of wire mesh and a few plants are all it takes.

Good to know: pick a vine that suits your climate and your patience. NC State Extension lists star jasmine as fast-growing but hardy only in USDA zones 8 to 10. The Morton Arboretum says climbing hydrangea grows slowly for its first three to five years. Virginia creeper clings with adhesive disks that are hard to remove from wood, and its berries are poisonous, so keep it off the deck itself and away from where children play.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Closing the space in completely, with no vents or gaps.
• Nailing every panel shut, so there’s no way to get underneath.
• Letting wood skirting sit on or in the soil.
• Sealing animals in instead of keeping them out.
• Using fasteners that aren’t rated for pressure-treated lumber.
• Using pallets stamped MB, or pallets with no markings.

Deck skirting FAQs

Does deck skirting need ventilation?

Yes. Air needs to move under the deck so the framing can dry. Use an open material or add vents, and follow your decking manufacturer’s ventilation guidance.

What is the cheapest deck skirting?

Outdoor fabric curtains, vinyl or treated lattice, and reclaimed pallet boards are the lowest-cost ideas here. Pallets and fabric also need the most upkeep.

How do I keep animals from getting under my deck?

Make sure nothing is living there, then bury an L-shaped hardware-cloth barrier along the skirting, about 12 inches down and 12 inches out.

Should deck skirting touch the ground?

Wood skirting shouldn’t. Leave a small gap above the soil or use ground-contact-rated treated lumber for the bottom edge. Masonry and metal can sit on a gravel strip.

Are wooden pallets safe to use?

Use pallets stamped HT (heat-treated). Avoid pallets stamped MB and pallets with no markings.