How about some native to your area stacked stone?

DIY- backbreaking, but doable in sections!!

And what a beautiful glimpse of your log home!

What about something like this.

I often see the area left open. Are you trying to keep wildlife out?

Trex Fascia Board

Some good suggestions here. Anyhow, the contractor-suppled lattice wouldn't keep any determined critter out from underneath. I may even go with leaving the space open. Things to think about. Thanks...

The stacked stone could be do-able over time... there is plenty of native rocks around here! And the Trex seems to have some diverse colors.

You could also make a skirting out of the same boards used on your deck. Since the wood on the deck is diagonal I'd be temped to run the skirt diagonally in the opposite direction. The lattice is too busy and distracting- but your logs are lovely.

I just ordered a couple of Trex samples. I'm figuring I may want the deck out back to be made out of composite. It's a log home, but I figure the deck could stand some long-term not needing any extra care for.

I'm wondering if something creative could be done with the Trex, if I use it under the porch. Slots of it down vertically, with an inch or two between panels. Maybe a thin horizontal piece against the ground? Further thoughts?

I don't want to use wood here -- New England can leave high pilings of snow that will push in on any wood (or that flimsy plastic stuff depicted above).

(And then again, I may just try the stonework idea....) I'll also look into the tin/galvalume idea if I can get it some other color than tin color...

I'd keep it and the deck simple and let the logs and all of their varying textures and colors be what draws the eye They are so busy and interesting themselves, I keep other elements more simple.

Btw, I believe Home Depot sells Trex. I'm going to redo my deck with it. I really dislike having to wash and seal my deck every three years.

Artemis and Tibb, do your research and consider a brand other than Trex. I didn't and used trex brand and it's horrible. there have been multiple lawsuits about it and a gazillion unhappy customers. I would never, ever buy this brand again. And trex type materials still need cleaning; that's the problem with trex, nothing gets the mold stains out and the company has no solution; nothing works - their attitude? "too bad, so sad."

Find a brand that consumers like.

What are your doing with those vertical logs? I would chunk up the supports so the logs look like they continue down into the ground, beef up the stairs (maybe put the risers in) and leave the rest opened up.

Ty for the info. Oly! Very helpful.

I'd take that same plastic stuff, trim it, and recess it so it's a few feet under the deck and not visible. Then it can do whatever it is it's supposed to do without being seen.

How about logs like the rest of your house or maybe even railroad ties used for walls in yards? You could stagger the railroad ties and they would keep the critters out....if you wanted to you could cut a door to open so you could get under the porch if needed. I think railroad ties would be great and would weather well.

Regarding Trex vs. Other brands. Years ago when we were considering a project, I found that Timbertech is a well regarded brand/material. We ended up not doing project but FWIW you might want to check it out.

Our deck is TimberTech - love it!

Thanks, I'll check out TimberTech -- AND, the idea of the railroad ties is extremely promising!

dainaadele - those vertical logs are going to be railing supports -- besides the necessary railing on the porch, I'm having railings from the porch to the ground. (I have seriously BAD knees and need the support, especially if I am carrying anything.) PS, there's enough space for a ramp, should it ever come to that...

I had also thought of railroad ties, artemis, but I've got them on my property and they do rot. Why not just use pressure-treated beams?

Keep in mind that I think you do need ventilation under there.

I installed a timbertech deck and had the same mold stains on it as Oly had Trex. I think it may depend on location. I was also in the PNW same as Oly. I have seen trex in dry parts of Washington and after 5 years it still looked new. I had scrub mine every year and never did get all the stains out, I just had to learn to embrace it.

I just bought a cabin in the mountains. I have a similar need around the back deck. I was thinking of doing a diy project with twigs from the property. Either a woven wood fence or twigs just tacked on in an Adirondack style.

Obviously not the sharpened points.

Or something like this with chicken wire backing.

For vermin control, you need to keep leaves and other debris from blowing under the porch, need to keep them from digging under to make homes, and should you have a wildfire, to keep burning crap from getting under it and setting the porch on fire.

And you have not lived until a local critter drags dinner under there and leaves it. One bunny or squirrel can wreck your whold summer.

How about black-coated hardware cloth, with part buried as if it were a chicken run.

In front of that you could have anything rustic you want to install.

Hmm, so many great ideas! Good points, I don't want debris getting under there, so making it "nothing" is not an option.

Lazy gardens makes a good point about critters. Our deck is on a slight slope and we have a walk-out basement. We had to install a more solid deck skirt to keep out the bear who liked the shade in the summer. Currently we're trying to discourage the rattlesnake who denned under the stairs - there's just enough of a gap between the step and the house so he could slither in. When he's gone we'll probably use the hardware cloth or maybe copper mesh to eliminate the gap.

I think they have just installed what you have in a less than ideal way as someone else mentioned. It should not be on the top front, reinstallation and a little landscaping would probably completely change the look.

I am considering this stone look-alike product for the perimeter of a deck.

http://www.eldoradostone.com/products/river-rock/