There are a bunch of different ways by which you can improve the curb appeal of your property. As a homeowner, there are so many different options available to you, from decorating your garden to improving your driveway.
However, one of the things that confuses many people is the ugly, exposed concrete around their house. The exposed concrete foundation is pretty much a staple in most houses, and many people are often stumped because they do not know what to do about it.
Just like the rest of your home’s exterior, you might want to take a look at the concrete foundation and come up with a way to hide it.
Unfortunately, it is much easier said than done. You need to take into account a myriad of factors, such as the dimensions of the exposed concrete, and how far it protrudes out.
Instead of leaving the place looking a bit unfinished thanks to the rough concrete, there are quite a few ways that you can hide the foundation of your property. However, it does require a bit of hard work and you will need to pull your socks up.
A bit of elbow grease, some free time, and a creative imagination is really all that it takes to turn the home foundation into something good.
By the time you are done with it, the foundation is not just going to look good, but it will not even stick out like a sore thumb. It is also going to greatly boost the curb appeal of your property significantly, so it is definitely worth a try.
But, a lot of people are short of ideas about how they want to hide the foundation without spending a lot of money. If you are one of them, there is no need to worry.
Here are a few ideas that will help you hide the foundation of your house in a stylish manner, without even breaking the bank.
1 – Use a Bit of Stucco
Stucco might not be the latest trend for use in home interiors, but that does not mean that you cannot use it on the exteriors. In fact, stucco is commonly used on home exteriors, and can do a wonderful job for you when decorating the home foundation.
When you apply it all around the foundation, it not only gives it an exceptionally clean and nice-looking exterior, but it also improves the aesthetic considerably.
2 – Plant Flower Beds
Hydrangeas are perennial plants that bloom throughout the year. If you are interested in doing something out of the box, why not plant flower beds all around the house foundation, and use hydrangeas?
The bushy hydrangeas are an instant hit with many people and they will also greatly improve the aesthetics of your property.
Moreover, adding hydrangeas all around the house will not just help you hide the foundation, but it will also add a colorful touch to the property. You can further complement the hydrangeas with a range of other flowers.
The fact that they are perennial means that they will look just as good throughout the course of the year. Granted, you won’t get many flowers during the winter season, but it’s still going to look pretty good.
3 – Use the Criss-Cross Lattice
Another excellent thing that you can do is add a criss-cross lattice all around the foundation. The criss-cross lattice will add a slightly country touch to your place.
It’s a fun DIY project for people who are interested in hiding the foundation, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money either.
You can easily do the job with some bricks and you can also buy wood lattice. You can buy the wood lattice from a local depot store, and all it takes is a bit of hard work to set it all up together.
Once you are done, you can also paint the wood lattice to match the color palette of your house. Not only does it look very good, but it will also improve the value of your property.
4 – Go for the Old Fashioned Paint Job
If you don’t want to spend a whole lot of money on the foundation and just want it to look good, why not paint it?
There’s really no better way to hide the foundation than to paint it in a unique style, which will complement the color scheme of your property. Painting the foundation outdoors is not as simple, though. You need to make sure that you have all-weather, high-quality paint for the foundation.
Also, if you haven’t painted outdoor surfaces before, you need to do a bit of research. First of all, you will have to clean up the surfaces and then go ahead with the painting.
Many people think that it’s too much work for them, and if you are one of those, you can always hire a professional house painter to paint the foundation for you.
5 – Pebbles
One of the simplest, yet the most visually impactful ways of hiding your foundation is to add a rock strip all around the base. A rock strip made of polished pebbles is a gorgeous choice because it will help you create something that looks like a stone moat around your property.
Not only that, but the rock strip will also serve a practical purpose: it will be able to catch splashes on the ground, but it will also deter pests from entering your house and also keep the walls clean.
Again, this is another project that you can carry out on your own, but if you want, you can also hire a landscaping company to help you out with it.
6 – Stone Veneer
Veneer is used in more ways than one, and it is incredibly popular all around the world.
Using stone veneer is a fantastic choice for people who want to hide the foundation, while adding a touch of elegance to their house simultaneously. Stone veneer is relatively inexpensive and looks just like the real thing.
One of the major benefits that you get for installing stone veneer to your property is that it is quite durable and efficient, and it can easily be used to hide the foundation of the property.
However, you should know that the costs might go up, especially depending on the amount of stone veneer that is used.
7 – Use Corrugated Sheet Metal
One of the most effective ways to hide the foundation of your property is to make use of corrugated sheet metal.
Metal sheets are incredibly common and are readily available from a number of different home stores. For any DIY project, you can buy a wide range of different kinds of sheets.
The best thing about these corrugated metal sheets is that they can be trimmed and installed anywhere you like. You don’t need to worry about customization; there are plenty of options available for that.
Apart from simply hiding the ugly foundation, they can also be used to add a bit of texture and color to your property.
8 – Brick
If you want to go old-school, nothing beats the use of brick to hide the foundation.
Bricks are available in virtually all kinds of textures and colors, and you can use them to dress up the otherwise boring looking foundation structure. Not only that, but the use of bricks also adds another layer of protection to your property.
For instance, the use of red bricks on the foundation could greatly improve the aesthetic appeal of the property and also give it a very homely feel.
If you have never laid bricks down before, it’s best if you hire a local contractor for the job. These professionals can do a fantastic job for you and make sure that the bricks are laid down in the perfect positions.
9 – Go for Stone
The use of stone materials is really one of the best ways to hide the foundation. Not only will it greatly improve the curb appeal of your property, but in case you decide to sell your house in the future, you could easily get a considerable return on your investment.
Stone is expensive, there’s no doubt about that, but the premium look and feel that it gives off makes it the ideal choice. Stone gives off a very high-end look to your property, so it’s recommended that you choose accordingly.
Applying the stones on your own isn’t going to be easy, so it’s best if you get in touch with a landscaping company to help you out with the process.
10 – Use Cement Blocks
Last, but not least, you have cement blocks. A very efficient way to cover up the foundation without making it look ugly is to make use of cement blocks. They are an excellent choice because they add a patterned design to your house foundation.
You can easily buy patterned concrete blocks and pavers from local stores in your area and use them to customize the foundation.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get started with covering up your foundation!
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel