Facing the foundation of a wooden house or on a rotten foundation the house will not stand

All house needs a solid foundation, but wooden homes require it more than others. In addition to providing structural support, the foundation shields the building from environmental factors like moisture and pests. Even a strong foundation can deteriorate over time without adequate facing, which could cause major problems for the entire house.

The foundation of a wooden home needs to be properly maintained and guarded. The entire stability of the house is at risk if the foundation starts to rot or crumble. The ground’s moisture can seep into the wood, causing rot, mold growth, and structural weakness.

One of the best ways to avoid these issues is to face the foundation. It serves as a barrier, keeping the foundation safe from the elements and increasing its longevity. Appropriate foundation facing is essential to maintaining the structural integrity of your wooden home, whether you’re building from scratch or renovating an old one.

Foundation Material Advantages
Stone Durable and weather-resistant, adds a natural look.
Brick Offers good insulation, aesthetically pleasing.
Concrete Strong, cost-effective, and low maintenance.
Porcelain Tiles Resistant to moisture and frost, easy to clean.
Wood Panels Blends with the wooden structure, provides insulation.

Correct choice of material

We have to concede that a wooden house can be categorized as a light structure and that the soil’s composition plays a decisive role in selecting the foundation design. You can get by with a basic, shallow structure that doesn’t need reinforcement in stationary and non-heaving soils. Natural finishing products are preferred over artificial ones when it comes to meeting the requirements for resistance to negative external manifestations for the foundation cladding of a wooden house. Thus:

  • River and sea stone, which have a complex structure and rounded surfaces with interesting patterns and a variety of color shades. A durable, wear-resistant material, the main purpose of which is decorative exterior decoration and cladding functions in the interior.
    If large volumes of natural stone are required, then it is more profitable to purchase them in places of extraction where the manufacturer"s price is set.
  • Dolomite, which most people do not suspect in what quantities it is present in their homes. A natural product with interesting patterns that allows you to produce high-quality finishing material.
    It turns out embossed or polished. Embossed tiles give the foundation a touch of antiquity, neatness and integrity, polished products are more formal and ceremonial, and the foundation is elegant and modern.
  • Granite, as a material for facing the foundation of a house, cafe, city institutions, monuments, not only symbolizes solidity, prosperity, reliability, aesthetic appeal, but also the durability of the building material.
  • Most developers and manufacturers of building materials, who put the quality of work and products first, dream of buying basalt and marble. There is no point in dwelling on these materials in detail, because after all, the topic of a wooden structure is being discussed.
  • Sandstone and facing the foundation of houses from it have been used for more than 10 years. Buildings faced in that old period now have an unsightly appearance, many of these finishes have been replaced by other, simpler ones.
    It is incorrect to categorically say that it cannot be used, it is bad. Why?
    Yes, because technologies have not frozen on those achievements of ten years ago, but are also in constant motion and search for more modern processes and improvement of product quality, especially since foreign competition does not allow domestic manufacturers to sleep peacefully.

Note: Sandstone cannot be used for cladding because it exfoliates when handled or operated on. This is based on observations of the stone’s behavior.

  • Ceramic, special tiles deserve attention. This includes ceramic granite – a non-enamelled, single-fired ceramic product in the form of a tile.
    Clinker tiles with a compacted base, manufactured using the extrusion method. These tiles have all the characteristics and properties required of materials capable of providing foundation protection for many years and decades.

Properties and characteristics of the material

Not only do the following natural materials complement and work well with wood, but they also have specific qualities that make them ideal for facing the foundation of a house:

  • Resistance to mechanical damage, determined by a high level of strength.
  • Long service life, calculated in tens of years, which is welcomed when selecting an option.
  • Natural, natural material is not afraid of ground, sedimentary or melt water, is highly resistant to moisture. More precisely, moisture will not leak through them if proper waterproofing is provided at the cladding stage.
  • Frost resistance and resistance to rotting processes.
  • Natural diversity of material forms, various colors and not only monochromatic, various patterns and shades.
  • The properties of this group of minerals can be attributed to unique characteristics and aesthetic qualities.
  • Facing the foundations of houses with such materials is quite expensive, which is not in their favor. Many developers are showing their interest in artificial products.
  • They are also characterized by high quality indicators, you can do the work with them yourself, but their cost and weight are much less.
  • Such options include decorative stone for cladding the foundation of a house and special panels made from it.
  • Vinyl siding, or rather its variety – basement siding, we must not forget about the increased requirements for this material.
  • Plastic panels of various types and sizes.

Cladding the foundations of different types of houses

Even though you really don’t want to, you must complete the required work before beginning any work, regardless of the material you choose to finish the foundation with. Thus:

  • Where the foundation reaches the surface, it is waterproofed to a height of 20-30 cm. The method of using various mixtures for these purposes is described in detail in the instructions.

Be aware that thermal insulation must be completed in accordance with professional recommendations using "warm plasters," polypropylene panels, or foam plastic, if preferred.

  • Which house does not have blind areas? A ruined house, on other houses there are platforms or blind areas that have a slope away from the walls.
    At the same time, adhere to the basic rules – the angle of inclination is set at the rate of 1ᵒ per 10 cm of the platform, that is, a distance of a meter width has a slope of 10ᵒ . The edge of the platform should protrude beyond the edge of the roof slope by 20-25 cm or more.

  • Do-it-yourself foundation cladding of the house can be done with the most common materials – natural and artificial stones, plaster, plastic panels, corrugated sheets, brick, siding, sandstone.
  • The choice of material depends on the foundation of the house that needs to be faced. Agree that the cladding of the foundation of a country house, in which the stay is limited to a certain season, does not need to be expensive and costly.
  • Plastering is one of the cheap methods. This is not only a popular and affordable material for finishing the base of the foundation, it is also quite easy to work with.
  • Plaster not only decorates the base of the house, but also provides it with additional waterproofing. It serves both as protection and decoration, because you can create any work of art on it from drawings.
    A significant disadvantage of this type of cladding is its fragility. The coating requires repair after a couple of years.
  • It does not withstand foundation shrinkage and can be destroyed by atmospheric changes. Calculations show that even taking into account repairs, plaster is cheaper than stone finishing.
  • Facing the foundation of a private house can be done with high-quality and inexpensive finishing with basement (facade) panels.
  • Basement plastic siding believably replaces natural finishing materials. Their fastening is made to the frame, and the voids are filled with waterproofing material and insulation.
  • A big plus of basement siding lies in its intransigence to care.
  • It can be simply washed from the hose with water and this procedure is enough for the panels to play with its novelty and pristine purity.
  • The correct finish of the basement provides reliable protection of the foundation, and therefore the whole house.
  • Facade panels are highly durable, they are not deformed from random blows, do not acquire fragility in the cold.
  • A wide range of facade panels, various colors, shade, textures are presented. It can be stated that this is a wonderful, modern choice for a private house.

When and how to mount the panels

  • Often, cladding work on the base is carried out after the completion of construction, and this is wrong. During construction, the base may be damaged by careless work.
  • Immediately after the foundation is erected, cladding is performed. There is a proven work procedure: foundation device, its vapor barrier, plastering the base and its cladding with base panels.
  • In order to properly install the panel, you need to know that before cladding it is necessary to create a special drainage cushion.
  • For this purpose, a depression of 150-200 mm and about 500 mm in width is made along the perimeter of the house, it is filled with gravel and ensures unimpeded water drainage.
  • After completion of the preparatory work, the base is treated with ordinary lime-cement plaster. To provide additional waterproofing, a plasticizer is added to the plaster mixture.

Attention: They are further fastened with a reinforcing mesh to strengthen the base-foundation structure.

  • Ignoring this operation may lead to deterioration in the quality of the foundation and plinth; the situation is aggravated by the use of low-quality materials for waterproofing.
  • This is expressed in the exfoliation of the plaster with its heterogeneous consistency, poor waterproofing can pass water and the finish on the basement will seduce.
  • Next, you can proceed to the cladding with panels.

Your wooden house’s foundation is its spine, so keeping it safe is essential. In addition to adding to the aesthetic appeal, facing the foundation protects it from deterioration and weathering.

Ignoring this crucial step could put the stability of your entire house at risk by causing major structural problems. You can guarantee the durability and security of your living area by making an investment in high-quality materials and appropriate installation.

In the end, a well-kept foundation maintains the strength of your house, gives you peace of mind, and increases its value over time.

The stability and longevity of a wooden house are largely dependent on its foundation. The entire structure could be at risk if the foundation rots. The house will stay sturdy and long-lasting for years to come if the foundation is facing the right direction, which shields it from moisture and other harmful substances. Ignoring this crucial step could result in expensive repairs or possibly the house collapsing.

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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