Vine to cover foundation
Thanks to all for your wonderful suggestions. I will probably go with your
advice. No vines but instead stain the foundation with patterns. Thanks once again -Aler "Brian Martin" wrote in message ... If it was me...I would put a thin layer of concrete over it {a resurfacing product} then us a vine roller {find in the wallpaper section/paint...for stamping wet plaster} then roll my pattern...and stain. You can get away with using on color if you don't feel creative. Most of the stain will go into the cracks of the veins and background and become dark leaving the high points highlighted. This way you have your vines...but you don't have your problem. You can use any thing to stamp with...so you are far from limited. You could even do a reverse affect by using a stenciled and putting the resurfacing material over the top of you stenciled with a putty knife the remove the stenciled to show a two dimensional vine, leaf or what ever you have chosen. The possibilities are endless... http://www.acid-stain.com/photogalle...togallery.html Lorraine "CP" wrote in message . .. We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Which one is best suited for Austin? I saw in the Native & Adapted plant list published by the city, Fig vine is a good one. But it also says it is susceptible for hard freeze. So what is the best alternative that will withstand the extreme Austin climatic conditions? I am also looking for something that is relatively pest and insect free. Is Boston ivy a good choice? Thanks for any help provided... -Aler |
Vine to cover foundation
If it was me...I would put a thin layer of concrete over it {a resurfacing
product} then us a vine roller {find in the wallpaper section/paint...for stamping wet plaster} then roll my pattern...and stain. You can get away with using on color if you don't feel creative. Most of the stain will go into the cracks of the veins and background and become dark leaving the high points highlighted. This way you have your vines...but you don't have your problem. You can use any thing to stamp with...so you are far from limited. You could even do a reverse affect by using a stenciled and putting the resurfacing material over the top of you stenciled with a putty knife the remove the stenciled to show a two dimensional vine, leaf or what ever you have chosen. The possibilities are endless... http://www.acid-stain.com/photogalle...togallery.html Lorraine "CP" wrote in message . .. We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Which one is best suited for Austin? I saw in the Native & Adapted plant list published by the city, Fig vine is a good one. But it also says it is susceptible for hard freeze. So what is the best alternative that will withstand the extreme Austin climatic conditions? I am also looking for something that is relatively pest and insect free. Is Boston ivy a good choice? Thanks for any help provided... -Aler |
Vine to cover foundation
How about doing something like a deck with storage underneath? Or perhaps
just a small storage room if it is not a place for a deck. It would really help if you could take a couple of pics and link to them. Some of us could probably give some creative ideas if we had more to work with. It sounds to me like your builder got really cheap back there. They could have built the foundation so that the brick came down close to the ground. It wouldn't have been that much more expensive to drop that brick ledge and then brick it. I've seen some really nice ways to deal with a problem like this, but I have no idea the size of space you have to work with. "CP" wrote in message . .. I appreciate your feedback. So, is there any other alternative? When we go into our backyard, the 14 ft of solid foundation (it is huge) looks unsightly. A couple of landscaping experts suggested covering it up with vine/ivy to make it look natural. That is where we got the idea from. We have the brick above the foundation (No wooden siding). Can you pass on some suggestions, as I am seriously re-thinking the idea of planting a vine... Thanks once again. -Aler "starlia" wrote in message ... I couldn't agree with you more as well. The damage the vines and shrubs could do to your home is one thing, but it promotes and conceals pests. I work for a local government agency and I am in charge of pest control, etc. We have a huge problem with termites, rats, and mice getting access to buildings with all types of ground cover including vines. "bobwhite" wrote in message ... I couldn't agree more, Karen!!!!! Vines can really raise havoc with masonry, bricks, and siding of all materials. I have replaced much siding because vines made holes in it, and the siding began to rot. Of course, it was good for business, but an unnecessary expense to a lot of people. Also, please don't plant large hedges or shrubs close to a house. They seem small when you plant them, but they soon are huge. They can grow to roof line height and more, and ruin shingles, and cause other damage. Also, huge roots grow under the foundation and could eventually cause breakage. Bob We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Why do you want to cover it with a vine? I admit that I have some pretty strong feelings about vines. I just helped a friend remove some Asian Jasmine from his house and garage and saw firsthand how it ate holes in the wood and brick. Also, I went to a college that had to constantly fight English Ivy while still keeping enough around to still look Ivy League... There's no way that I would put a vine next to my house. However, I think some vines that can go on trellises look great, like potato vine. Karen |
Vine to cover foundation
Nandina is a non-native invasive plant. How about an evergreen sumac
instead? |
Vine to cover foundation
"CP" wrote in
: We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Why do you want to cover it with a vine? I admit that I have some pretty strong feelings about vines. I just helped a friend remove some Asian Jasmine from his house and garage and saw firsthand how it ate holes in the wood and brick. Also, I went to a college that had to constantly fight English Ivy while still keeping enough around to still look Ivy League... There's no way that I would put a vine next to my house. However, I think some vines that can go on trellises look great, like potato vine. Karen |
Vine to cover foundation
I couldn't agree more, Karen!!!!! Vines can really raise havoc with masonry, bricks, and siding of all materials. I have replaced much siding because vines made holes in it, and the siding began to rot. Of course, it was good for business, but an unnecessary expense to a lot of people. Also, please don't plant large hedges or shrubs close to a house. They seem small when you plant them, but they soon are huge. They can grow to roof line height and more, and ruin shingles, and cause other damage. Also, huge roots grow under the foundation and could eventually cause breakage. Bob We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Why do you want to cover it with a vine? I admit that I have some pretty strong feelings about vines. I just helped a friend remove some Asian Jasmine from his house and garage and saw firsthand how it ate holes in the wood and brick. Also, I went to a college that had to constantly fight English Ivy while still keeping enough around to still look Ivy League... There's no way that I would put a vine next to my house. However, I think some vines that can go on trellises look great, like potato vine. Karen |
Vine to cover foundation
I couldn't agree with you more as well. The damage the vines and shrubs
could do to your home is one thing, but it promotes and conceals pests. I work for a local government agency and I am in charge of pest control, etc. We have a huge problem with termites, rats, and mice getting access to buildings with all types of ground cover including vines. "bobwhite" wrote in message ... I couldn't agree more, Karen!!!!! Vines can really raise havoc with masonry, bricks, and siding of all materials. I have replaced much siding because vines made holes in it, and the siding began to rot. Of course, it was good for business, but an unnecessary expense to a lot of people. Also, please don't plant large hedges or shrubs close to a house. They seem small when you plant them, but they soon are huge. They can grow to roof line height and more, and ruin shingles, and cause other damage. Also, huge roots grow under the foundation and could eventually cause breakage. Bob We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Why do you want to cover it with a vine? I admit that I have some pretty strong feelings about vines. I just helped a friend remove some Asian Jasmine from his house and garage and saw firsthand how it ate holes in the wood and brick. Also, I went to a college that had to constantly fight English Ivy while still keeping enough around to still look Ivy League... There's no way that I would put a vine next to my house. However, I think some vines that can go on trellises look great, like potato vine. Karen |
Vine to cover foundation
Aler, You can stain concrete with special stains. You might be able to match your brick. Or you could do a very subtle pattern. One resturant in town has a harliquine pattern (alternating diamonds) in stained and not stained concrete. You could also put stucco on the concrete. Or apply a layer of small gravel and concrete and then sand blast it to expose the gravel. If you want plants, is there room to set a row of nandina about 5 feet away from the foundation? If you put weed blocking fabric with gravel over it between the nandina and the foundation, then you can create a low maintenance zone hostile to other plants and small creatures. Good luck! On Fri, 21 Mar 2003 14:36:55 +0000, CP wrote: I appreciate your feedback. So, is there any other alternative? When we go into our backyard, the 14 ft of solid foundation (it is huge) looks unsightly. A couple of landscaping experts suggested covering it up with vine/ivy to make it look natural. That is where we got the idea from. We have the brick above the foundation (No wooden siding). Can you pass on some suggestions, as I am seriously re-thinking the idea of planting a vine... Thanks once again. -Aler |
Vine to cover foundation
How about doing something like a deck with storage underneath? Or perhaps
just a small storage room if it is not a place for a deck. It would really help if you could take a couple of pics and link to them. Some of us could probably give some creative ideas if we had more to work with. It sounds to me like your builder got really cheap back there. They could have built the foundation so that the brick came down close to the ground. It wouldn't have been that much more expensive to drop that brick ledge and then brick it. I've seen some really nice ways to deal with a problem like this, but I have no idea the size of space you have to work with. "CP" wrote in message . .. I appreciate your feedback. So, is there any other alternative? When we go into our backyard, the 14 ft of solid foundation (it is huge) looks unsightly. A couple of landscaping experts suggested covering it up with vine/ivy to make it look natural. That is where we got the idea from. We have the brick above the foundation (No wooden siding). Can you pass on some suggestions, as I am seriously re-thinking the idea of planting a vine... Thanks once again. -Aler "starlia" wrote in message ... I couldn't agree with you more as well. The damage the vines and shrubs could do to your home is one thing, but it promotes and conceals pests. I work for a local government agency and I am in charge of pest control, etc. We have a huge problem with termites, rats, and mice getting access to buildings with all types of ground cover including vines. "bobwhite" wrote in message ... I couldn't agree more, Karen!!!!! Vines can really raise havoc with masonry, bricks, and siding of all materials. I have replaced much siding because vines made holes in it, and the siding began to rot. Of course, it was good for business, but an unnecessary expense to a lot of people. Also, please don't plant large hedges or shrubs close to a house. They seem small when you plant them, but they soon are huge. They can grow to roof line height and more, and ruin shingles, and cause other damage. Also, huge roots grow under the foundation and could eventually cause breakage. Bob We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Why do you want to cover it with a vine? I admit that I have some pretty strong feelings about vines. I just helped a friend remove some Asian Jasmine from his house and garage and saw firsthand how it ate holes in the wood and brick. Also, I went to a college that had to constantly fight English Ivy while still keeping enough around to still look Ivy League... There's no way that I would put a vine next to my house. However, I think some vines that can go on trellises look great, like potato vine. Karen |
Vine to cover foundation
If it was me...I would put a thin layer of concrete over it {a resurfacing
product} then us a vine roller {find in the wallpaper section/paint...for stamping wet plaster} then roll my pattern...and stain. You can get away with using on color if you don't feel creative. Most of the stain will go into the cracks of the veins and background and become dark leaving the high points highlighted. This way you have your vines...but you don't have your problem. You can use any thing to stamp with...so you are far from limited. You could even do a reverse affect by using a stenciled and putting the resurfacing material over the top of you stenciled with a putty knife the remove the stenciled to show a two dimensional vine, leaf or what ever you have chosen. The possibilities are endless... http://www.acid-stain.com/photogalle...togallery.html Lorraine "CP" wrote in message . .. We have about 14 ft of foundation in our house and would like to cover it with some type of an 'evergreen' Vine. Which one is best suited for Austin? I saw in the Native & Adapted plant list published by the city, Fig vine is a good one. But it also says it is susceptible for hard freeze. So what is the best alternative that will withstand the extreme Austin climatic conditions? I am also looking for something that is relatively pest and insect free. Is Boston ivy a good choice? Thanks for any help provided... -Aler |
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