Do You Want To Cover Concrete Foundations With Faux Brick Or Stone? No Problem.

The use of formed concrete foundations or prefab and insulated walls are simply the standard in today’s construction world. After all, have you seen anyone build a foundation with stone or cinder blocks lately? We didn’t think so. Nobody today is willing to spend the money necessary to build the foundation with a material that provides a better-finished look, right away.

Most of the homes you see today have an exposed concrete foundation that either looks like rough concrete or that has a brick pattern that undoubtedly looks fake.

What can you do in this situation?

Painting those walls is just going to make a very small cosmetic improvement. Many who are not aware of other solutions have also used vinyl siding, with the results we all see around us. What you are left with is covering the concrete foundation with realistic faux stone, rocks or brick. You have already spent a considerable amount of money to build the house and the foundation so, most likely, you will want to find an affordable faux stone cladding solution.

Available stone cladding options.

1- Paint. As mentioned this provides a visually small improvement but it’s affordable.

2- You could look into applying a layer of textured stucco. This wouldn’t work where the foundation has a brick pattern. The stucco will follow those fake grout lines and show what is behind it. It is also not that affordable as the foundation has to be prepared and the stucco must be applied with a trowel, which is labor-intensive.

3- Some companies who normally install this type of cladding are used to cast stone, which is made of heavy concrete mixes. They say it is a lighter alternative to real stone or brick but it is still quite heavy nonetheless. Stucco cannot be applied directly to the concrete as well, particularly if it has been already painted. In most cases, you will need to install a layer of plywood or flat boards on which to glue block by block.

4- Use a lightweight faux stone that solves a wide range of hurdles. When using faux rock and stone panels you will bypass the biggest obstacle of the project; the preparation of the concrete wall.
This material will also remove the constant need to fix peeling and dark moldy spots.
Faux stone panels are usually less than two inches thick so they integrate well with siding materials above the foundation level. The size and look of the stones are very different so you are not stuck with just one pattern and color.
As you know, concrete is one of the worst insulating materials and it transmits the outside temperatures to the inside of the wall. This is mostly the reason why basements are so cold. Using a layer of faux stone, the one made of resins that provide an R4 or R5 insulation factor will protect you for extreme temperatures.
Paint, stucco or cast stone will not do that therefore the saving in using faux rocks also shows up in your heating and cooling bills.

Another great article on how to use faux stone as siding is here:
https://www.anticoelements.com/blog/just-in-stacked-stone-panels-to-reface-a-home-facade/

Let’s not forget one of the most important advantages and that is the savings in labor costs.

For an example of how easy it is to install these panels make sure to visit our Installation Pages.
https://www.anticoelements.com/blog/installation-pages/

One thing these faux stone panels are great for is the skirting of a mobile home or raised home. If you have an open space below the foundation of your home there is a very simple solution. House skirting with panels of stone. All you have to do is create a simple frame with vertical strips and glue/screw the faux stone on them. It will look like a real and solid stone wall.