I have to apply a 6′ high cultured-stone porch skirt that is canted at an angle and flares out near the bottom (Bungalow style). There is no siding to secure to, as it is in between 10 ft spaced posts, and no foundation base for it to rest on.
The only lame idea I’ve come up with is to brace horizontally between the support posts with 2×8’s, and then cut vertical ski-slope shaped formers out of 2×10’s, spanned horizontally with 1×3 furring spaced 1/2″ apart, covered with expanded mesh, and then apply the cultured stone/mortar. Whew, what a cluster!
Anyone have a better idea?
Replies
use lighter framework.
blue
Steel studs and cement board?
That's about how the original (1920s) builder did the flared shingle skirt around my house (before I tore it off and installed a foundation). The house was sitting on short 6x6 posts spaced about 8 feet on center. The posts were sitting on flat stones, nothing else. They ran 6x8s all the way around the outside of the place, horizontally at grade, notching them about 4 inches deep where they crossed the posts. That gave them a solid band about 4 inches proud of the rim joist plane. They nailed pieces of 1x3 vertically from the rim joist down to that 6x8 band, spaced about 1 inch apart, and then shingled over the whole thing. The 1x3s had the effect of holding the 6x8 up as it rotted over the years. The whole detail was flared out about 10 degrees from plumb. Looked great and the fact that it did compelled me to laboriously rebuild and reshingle it last winter (not framed as described above, given that I had a new perimeter footing to plate on.
You could probably do something similar, that is, if you don't want to pour any concrete. Not sure how heavy that veneer is, which would be a big factor in designing the detail.
Here's what we came up with, based on input & prototypes:
Horiz 2x4's on the face of the posts, 2x4's on edge behind them to make a 'T'. Vert 2x4's flat nailed to the 'T', 24" OC. To these we will nail 2 pcs 5/8" plywood in the shape of our flare to the outside of each vert 2x4, with 2x4 blocking between the 2 pcs of ply. To these will get nailed 6"wide horiz strips of 5/8" plywood, overlaid with stucco mesh. The cultured stone veneer is applied to that.
Result is a nice flared skirt with a lightweight but strong frame. thanks to all who replied.
RJ