Design opinions

USAFpj · May 14, 2016

Well, we're about 8mnths since our home was 'put together'. The 30x50x14 shop has been built as well, so now looking for opinions on how to finish the trim on the house. Personally, I'm content with the way it is now, and so is the wife.

However, another part of me says to wrap all the cinder block foundation in stone veneer, and the bottom portion of the vertical porch posts in real field stone (by a local stonemason)that is everywhere on our property. Another part of me says to enclose the space beneath the porch and utilize it as a shed.

Another question for the TBN guys- what would you do?

These are pics taken before the grass was seeded, landscaped, and road finalized.

dieselcrawler · May 14, 2016

I would be all for closing in the space under the porch... no sense in not utilizing an area that is already under roof, you are 75% weatherproof already.

As to the exposed cinder block, I could go either way. Could just seal/paint it to match or contrast the house...

dickfoster · May 14, 2016

Definitely make use of that space under the porch. I've got my tractor parked under my back deck right now, a situation just like that. Otherwise it's a fenced in dog run so the dog has somewhere to go at night after we bring him inside. We do have access to that space from inside the house. There is no roof over my deck so I rigged up some tarps to keep it dry under there. When I replace the deck it will be with stamped concrete so that will make a weatherproof roof for that space.

USAFpj said:
Well, we're about 8mnths since our home was 'put together'. The 30x50x14 shop has been built as well, so now looking for opinions on how to finish the trim on the house. Personally, I'm content with the way it is now, and so is the wife.

However, another part of me says to wrap all the cinder block foundation in stone veneer, and the bottom portion of the vertical porch posts in real field stone (by a local stonemason)that is everywhere on our property. Another part of me says to enclose the space beneath the porch and utilize it as a shed.

Another question for the TBN guys- what would you do?

View attachment 468530 View attachment 468531 View attachment 468532

These are pics taken before the grass was seeded, landscaped, and road finalized.

the old grind · May 14, 2016

My first thoughts are.

Side porch: enclose bottom w/lattice, color to match fir siding, one side QD to set, check critter traps.

Front porch: Shed w/siding, color to match house, access from either end(?). (Rubber roof for shed u'neath deck

)
Nice planting (some height) to disguise the lateral slope and make o'all front look (from afar) more proportional(?), as that of the basic design. (btw, how's the view(s) from within?)

I also might side & stain the blocked area close to the ground (~16"), maybe plant something there too that would be easier to maintain than mowing a slope, as you've likely pondered, and perhaps give less of a 'castle on a hill' o'all appearance. (tho' you could add turrets, parapets later

)

BTW, to my eye that is a very handsome abode!

Until you decide/proceed IMO it only lacks a bit of weathering/darkening on the new decking bits to look just great. :thumbsup: I also feel that field stone would contrast awkwardly with the houses clean lines and trim. (JMHO) For an 'old farmhouse' look it would probably add much, but that's where each has his own (opinion). tog

USAFpj · May 14, 2016

Thank you! I will have fun contemplating all the choices.

Rustyiron · May 14, 2016

USAFpj said:
Personally, I'm content with the way it is now, and so is the wife.

"There's your sign"
Any or all of this can be done later. I don't see many block foundations any more, but if you have your mason parge those exposed block walls, you can have paint matched up to your siding color and it (visually) go's away, has a more finished look, and is a bunch cheaper than the stone veneer option. Nice looking house:thumbsup:

USAFpj · May 15, 2016

Old Grind, what did you mean by 'Rubber Roof'?

With the summer showers, we still get a good bit of rain inside our covered porch, so some type of roofing may indeed be necessary for what goes underneath the porch.

RustyIron- I'm thinking that if we were to paint the block the same color as the siding, that may make the entire building appear to be one large block of dark gray?

May be time to get out the photoshop.

Here's some pics of the front porch 'view'. My wife and I laugh at 'views'. We're perfectly content to be nestled in these foothills, and don't need a house on top of the mountain. In fact, makes me want to call in JDAM air strikes on 'em. Yeah, you got a great view, but you raped that mountain top and screwed the view for everyone else who has to look at it. Just my humble opinion, of course

PILOON · May 15, 2016

A suggestion that I have used successfully.
I 'slung' metal roofing under my deck and it worked so well that we even have upholstered furniture under there

Used a metal version that resembles 3" slats with 1" X 1" dimple or bumps. Chose it in white.
I created a slope by screwing the 'bumps' to the underside of 3 strips attached to bottom of the porch joists. (AKA 'hung' the metal)
1st (nearest house) is flat 2 x 4, next (middle) is 2 x 3 on edge and last or outer is 2 x 6 on edge.
This made for a gentle slope that allows rain to drain away from the 'under porch room'.

Now the porch deck above not roofed so it gets rained on as well as it gathers lots of snow but never in 15 years has any water entered the 'under porch room'.
Also to our total satisfaction this is the coolest area to be in on those super hot summer days.
Seems that air moving over the metal has a cooling effect and this 'under porch room' faces full afternoon sun.
With the wooden deck above the metal the metal never sees the hot sun.
(I often have been tempted to use a soaker hose to add water and create a DIY swamp air conditioner, bet it would work)

Note that it does not require all that many screws to 'hang' the metal 'ceiling' as there is never any weight on it.
The decking above takes any loads and water simply runs off leaving no more that wet metal.

rswyan · May 15, 2016

USAFpj said:
... However, another part of me says to wrap all the cinder block foundation in stone veneer, and the bottom portion of the vertical porch posts in real field stone (by a local stonemason)that is everywhere on our property. ...

Being a fan of stone work, I'd say listen to your "inner voice" ...

PAGUY · May 15, 2016

1. Paint the block foundation.
2. Stain the porch a dark color.
3. Leave the under porch the way it is now. Enclosing it would only invite "critters" to move in.
4. You stated you already have a shop so unless you need more storage area I'd leave well enough alone. You could build a shed away from the house at edge of tree line if you have to need more storage.
JMHO - PAGUY

TCJatko · May 15, 2016

There are some rather nice looking panels that give the appearance of stone but can be put over block or concrete foundations.

On Sale Faux Stone Panels, Specials, Stone Miami Sales, Reduced

You can do this yourself or have it installed. I'm partial to either the river rock or stacked stone looks. As to the area under the porch, I'd leave it alone.

USAFpj · May 15, 2016

PAGuy- what color are you going with on the block? Don't flog me, but the thought has entered my mind that the space underneath would make a pretty nice chicken coop :duck:

the old grind · May 15, 2016

"Rubber Roof", our nickname for synthetic membrane with sealed seams. The way to go for 'flat' and minimally-sloped roofs.
Easy to DIY uh ... unless maybe applied under a porch. :scratchchin: (~1/8"/foot slope is usually enough)

+! the metal 'method' Piloon suggests. (same result w/run-off allowance required, btw) There are also 'under-deck' systems, tho' most are made just to keep open spaces dry beneath.

Good point about critters. If you never have 'em in your basement, attic, shed, garage, or barn who'd want 'em under their porch?

(trapping is fun, from mice to fur bearers

)

Perhaps we're just assuming that you'll plant something around the foundation vs weeding.mowing right up to it. Plenty of time to plan that sort of thing.

forgeblast · May 16, 2016

Here is what we did, dig out under the porch, then put in a paver stone patio. added lattice to the sides (could also put in screening first to keep bugs out). Covered the block with field stone. The more use-able you make it the better. I use under the deck for storing my canoe, snowblower in the summer and winter (easier to start there).
also put in some 4'' perferated pipe and get the rain gutters flowing into them.

arrow · May 16, 2016

I'll throw in here. I would not put a stone veneer on your foundation. The reason being that it will be too busy looking with your vertical siding. Your siding makes a strong visual statement. If I would do anything to your foundation it would simply to e put a skim coat of cement troweled on either the block or mounted cement board. If you do anything other than that, you would want something more uniform in appearance than random field stone. I would not paint the foundation the same color as the house under any circumstances as your assumption is correct.

If you build an enclosure under the porch, I would side it just like the house. There is enough break up with the wood work railings to nicely tie in what should be a cohesive look with vertical siding.

USAFpj · May 16, 2016

Hmmmm, so Arrow, you envision the same color HardieBoard board/batten style all around the base of the front porch vs. lattice? I don't know if I've ever seen that- will have to search for images.

arrow · May 17, 2016

USAFpj said:
Hmmmm, so Arrow, you envision the same color HardieBoard board/batten style all around the base of the front porch vs. lattice? I don't know if I've ever seen that- will have to search for images.

I do. I do not like the lattice idea as visually speaking, it would seem busy and distracting to me. The porch railing and post structure is very beautiful to me. I would want to kind of showcase that by creating a uniform tie in to the house (visually) by using the same siding. It would be enough to create an appealing cohesiveness while bringing attention to the nice wood work on the porch w/o anything screaming at you senses wise.

And you're right again. Here's where Photoshop or something similar would come in handy for you.

the old grind · May 17, 2016

HardieBoard?? Oops! I saw 12" spacing and thought it was fir (post #4) vs B&B but yes, I'd want to continue the clean look/color (+some vegetation) to play down the proportion.

Great idea to photoshop some of these ideas ... and my cataract surgery might be sooner than later. :laughing:

USAFpj · May 17, 2016

HardieBoard?? Oops! I saw 12" spacing and thought it was fir (post #4)..

Ha! Yeah, the home builder actually makes this house, originally, out of logs. I did not want the maintenance of logs, and me and the wife always liked board and batten style, so this was a no-brainer to us. It still confuses my other external family members, as they are concerned about my choice due to fire and carpenter bees :laughing:. The flooring of that front porch is Ipe, and my Dad still swears it's that plastic Aztek stuff...