skip to main content

Landscape Design

Hiding exposed foundation

15 years ago

I'm trying to hide an exposed foundation, or at least make it better looking! See pic below. I know, yuck. I've since painted it dark brown instead of the dirty white. But it's definitely still ugly. I got a few hollies but they are very small 12" and growing very slowly! I was thinking of a line of fast growing evergreens but no idea where to start. I can't afford spending $100 each on a more mature shrub. How would evergreen vines look on the foundation?

Anybody have any ideas?

{{gwi:21174}}

{{gwi:21175}}

Comments (6)

laurell
15 years ago
Ideally you'd put in a retaining wall and only have to hide half the wall (which I'd consider doing with some additional siding if you have a door coming out of it).

It sounds like you don't have the money to do it that way. You may consider putting up a trellis of some sort and planting a quick-growing evergreen vine there. That would likely be the fastest and cheapest solution.
enailes
15 years ago
The taupe color and burgundy are pretty together;
why not paint the base the same color as the siding.
That way you're not forced to use plants just because
they "hide" something.
Related Discussions
shrubs to hide water meter at front of foundation
Q
Comments (6)
Good luck with your contact on this one. The American Foursquare is called a variety of things - box house, a cube, a double cube or, simply, a square type American house. It came on the scene around 1890 and was popular into the 1930s. The foursquare is typically a two-and-a-half-story house on a full basement, with a monitor dormer in the attic. A variation here though in that the typical foursquare has a pyramidal hip roof. Front porches run the full width of the house, with two, three or four simple columns supporting the porch roof. At some point in its history, bet in the 50's or 60's, this porch was enclosed. The foursquare is a nearly square house with square shaped rooms. The first floor typically has four rooms, including an entry foyer or reception hall, living room, dining room and kitchen. Upstairs, three bedrooms and a bath all in their own corners. Most of the landscaping I see for the fronts of these houses is knife edge sharp sheared yews. You definitely wouldn't want anything growing up beyond the porch windows. Grasses - or a grass - would be nice as an accent, but it could get lost against the backdrop as could any shrub flowering white. Rhododendrons can sprawl.
...See More
What to do with exposed foundation?
Q
Comments (23)
we had our builder leave 1.5 inches overhang on the main house and then hired a mason to put the stone all the way around. the back is a 12ft high wall as it is a walk out basement. the labor alone was over $5000 a few years ago, the stone was around $1200... BUT the outcome was worth every penny, it turned out great! the rock on the foundation just gives a house an authentic natural look in my opinion. we are in the middle of adding an attached garage and wrap around deck now, which will hide most of the rock we have now, but we plan on adding it on the piers under the porch and the foundation of the garage.
...See More
Suggestions for covering exposed concrete foundation
Q
Comments (5)
Thin man made stone or brick is inexpensive and easy for diy. It simply sticks to foundation with thin set similar to tile.
...See More
Exposed Rebar and Crack in Foundation
Q
Comments (3)
That is some poor looking concrete. My guess is that the cracks are at previous patches of earlier problems. The picture with the rusty rebar doesn't seem like much of an issue as the footing is still in one piece, but I agree that someone is going to have to look at it and maybe pry off one of those patches to see how big a problem it is.
...See More
holleygarden Zone 8, East Texas
15 years ago
I agree totally with enailes. Make the foundation look like part of the house. You have a door there - just by painting the foundation the same color as the siding, you will eliminate having to 'hide' all that area, and can concentrate instead on having a beautiful landscape! :)
timbu
15 years ago
With the dark brown background you now have, I can imagine a couple dogwoods with red and yellow twigs - in addition to evergreens. Leave 3-4 ft between wall and planting hole.
enailes
15 years ago
In addition to painting the foundation the exact same color as the siding, if the second picture represents the front of the house; I would paint the door the same color as the shutters. You could add window boxes under those 3 windows and add petunias or other trailing flowers/vines to draw the eye up.
vmcenroe
15 years ago
I agree with laurell that a low retaining wall is in order curving out along both sides of the door to the driveway. It doesn't have to be expensive. You could do it yourself by stacking flat rocks designed for this purpose. Just do a little research first. 2 feet may be the right height. It's hard to tell. Fill in dirt to the level of the wall. Plant a small flowering tree near the wall but out from the foundation then curve the bed around to the porch corner where I would plant a large shrub like a viburnum. Fill in with lower shrubs in between. Keep the 2 lighter colored plants you have at the base of the wall and add a couple on the other side as well.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES 7 Bad Things Your Home May Be Hiding

By Ventana Construction LLC

What you don't know about your home could cost you during a remodel. Here's what to plan for

MOST POPULAR 5 Ways to Hide That Big Air Conditioner in Your Yard

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Don’t sweat that boxy A/C unit. Here’s how to place it out of sight and out of mind

ARCHITECTURE Know Your House: What Makes Up a Home's Foundation

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Learn the components of a common foundation and their purpose to ensure a strong and stable house for years to come

ARCHITECTURE Houses Exposed: Show Your Structure for Great Design

By Spry Architecture

Why take part in the typical cover-up when your home’s bones can be beautiful?

HOME TECH New Strategies for Hiding the TV

By Becky Harris

Its easy to be discreet when you've got cabinets, panels and high-tech TV hiders like these

HOME TECH Save Your Decor — Hide Your Media Stuff

By Eco+Historical, Inc.

When you tuck boxes, wires and speakers into walls and ceilings, all you'll notice is your favorite shows or music

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Ways to Hide That Air Conditioner

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Feeling boxed in designing around your mini-split air conditioner? Try one of these clever disguises and distractions

KITCHEN DESIGN Hang 'Em or Hide 'Em: 10 Stylish Ways to Store Pots and Pans

By Jennifer Ott Design

Keep cookware neat and at the ready with racks, drawers and creative storage solutions

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Manhattan Brownstone Hides a Surprise

Behind an unassuming residential facade on an East Village street dotted with storefronts lies a feat of engineering

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: Complexity Hides Inside a Concrete Box

Don't be fooled by the monolithic exterior. This Canadian home is more open, light and multifaceted than it may seem

Sponsored

More Discussions

Curb Appeal & Flower Bed

14

Timber Deck and Pergola Close to a Pine Tree Dilemma

22

Need some privacy ideas

13

help identifying soil type

2

Rocks ok or need plants under Japanese Maples?

14