How to Give Your Home's Foundation a New Look with Rock or Stone

The foundation of your home is, well, the foundation. It is usually constructed of poured concrete or concrete blocks. Some homes may have had the concrete covered in brick. If so, then you probably won't be interested in this article. If, however, your foundation still has the same exposed concrete it had when the home was first built, you might be interested in a way to give it a bold new look.

I'm talking about using natural stone or rock to cover the concrete or blocks. Natural stone or rock is beautiful and will give your old foundation a strong and completely new look. You can even color coordinate it to go with the color of your house's siding or brick. That's because stone comes in many colors. You can choose stone in shades of gray, tan, brown, or even a reddish color to complement your home's exterior.

I won't lie to you. Working with stone is not easy. It is a messy and sometimes backbreaking job. Unless you have plenty of help or can take your time, you might want to hire someone to do the work for you. But, if you are in no big rush to complete the job, and can stand some physical labor, it is a project you can do yourself.

The first step is to find the rock or stone you wish to use. You can be adventurous and go rock hunting. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find enough creek rock, or fieldstone, or riverstone to do your job. If you live close to a mountain, look for rock slides. They often provide rock in small enough pieces that you can handle and use. If finding enough rock for your project is unlikely, you can always go to a rock quarry or landscaping center. Keep in mind that most places sell the rock according to its weight. So this project might turn into an expensive one. However, by doing the labor yourself, you will cut your cost tremendously.

Once you have enough rock to get you started, you need to purchase the mortar. Since your rock will be applied to an already existing wall, you can use type N mortar mix. With the mortar mix all you have to do is add water. You should also purchase a bag or two of concrete mix. You will use this to form a two or three inch wide base around the bottom of the foundation. Since mortar will dissolve eventually if left in water, this concrete base will give a solid foundation to your stone covering. Other supplies you will need are a wheelbarrow, a nearby source of water, a trowel, a mattock to clean out around the base of the foundation, a hammer to chip off pieces of the rock, safety glasses, and a pair of leather gloves. Using gloves is important as the sand in the mortar can cause the skin on your fingers to shed if you use your bare hands.

If you have never done any rock or stone work, it is probably a good idea to begin at the back of the house or on one end. That way if your first section doesn't look the greatest, it will not be as noticeable.

To begin your project you will need to clean out around the base of the foundation. MIx the concrete and pour a two or three inch wide band at the base of the foundation. It should be thick enough to get the first row of rocks or stone up out of the ground. You can pour this in sections, a couple of days ahead of applying the stone. This will give it time to set up and dry. Once the base is ready, mix up your mortar. I recommend mixing a bag or two at a time unless you will have help. You can mix the mortar in the wheelbarrow or rent a small mixer. The consistency of the mortar is very important. It should be thick enough to stick, but not so thick that you can't work with it. A good example is about the consistency of bread dough. If the mortar starts to get too thick while you are using it, simply add a little more water and stir it.

Start at one end and begin placing your rocks or stone by applying mortar to the wall with the trowel. Only cover a small section at a time, maybe two or three feet. Then generously apply some mortar to the back of the first stone. Position the stone with some portion of it resting on the base. Twist the stone back and forth slightly to seat it into the mortar. Choose your next rock and do the same with it. Work your first row at least five or six feet before starting to work your way up. This will give the mortar a little time to set up. Your rocks should be placed so that they seem to fit together, but not perfectly. That's what the mortar is for, well, besides holding it to the wall. You will fill in between the gaps in the rock with the mortar. Allow it to dry slightly, then use a broom or brush to smooth the mortar between the rocks. Work your way up and over. You will probably only be able to do a six or eight foot section at a time unless you have someone helping you pick out the rocks and place them. Help is good, so enlist someone if you can.

Once your complete foundation is covered and dry, you should apply some type of sealer. This will help keep the rocks and mortar looking fresh and clean. Then sit back and admire your work.