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I have built a cabin about a year ago using green treated wood for the foundation. The site is high and dry and has very good drainage. I am looking for something to cover the green plywood with from a foot or so underground to where it meets the siding. My thought is using stainless steel mesh with stainless fasteners and coating with concrete. Can anybody help me with this idea?
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Steve, I have had fairly good success with a technique similar to your idea. I suggest putting a layer of 30# felt paper on the plywood overlapped horizontally by at least 12" (top sheet over the bottom) and an extra layer over the corners. Then attache the mesh using stainless roofing nails or plastic cap nails. You can then parge the mesh with two or more coats of sand mix. For a better bond and to give the parge some crack resistance, use a latex additive instead of water. This is commonly used for thinset tile installations. Finally, be sure you cap the parge with a drip edge cap that extends behind the siding to prevent any moisture from getting behind your work. One other thought- ideally you sould terminate the bottom of of uour plywood in a well drined gravel trench that drains to daylight. We run perforated drain pipe in a gravel trench below the ground at the base of the plywood. This step may be overkill but it is easy to do and the cost is minimal if you plan it from the beginning.
D. Northrup Pittsburgh
*Durarock nailed to the wood.Use 3x5 or 4x8 sheets ripped as needed.Mesh tape the seams, brush coat with Thoroseal or trowel coat a surface bonding cement.Terry
*Thanks,I just wanted to be sure I wasn't out to lunch with this idea. I thought of Durarock but if I am going to coat it with cement anyway why use Durarock? What is Thoroseal? Is stainless steal mesh available? Thanks.Steve
*Steve, if stainless steel mesh is available you probably wouldn't want to pay for it. Durarock goes up quick & easy, with mesh you have to build up the thickness and it's just too much work, unless you're real good at traditional plastering.Thoroseal is a waterproofing product you apply on masonry. It's good at resisting water pressure (compared to asphault coatings). Here's their web site: http://www.ruberoid.ie/ruberoid31.htmMike
*Thanks Mike. I appreciate the insight.Steve
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I have built a cabin about a year ago using green treated wood for the foundation. The site is high and dry and has very good drainage. I am looking for something to cover the green plywood with from a foot or so underground to where it meets the siding. My thought is using stainless steel mesh with stainless fasteners and coating with concrete. Can anybody help me with this idea?