How to: Lattice to Hide Brick Foundation
A brick foundation gives a house a solid base and transfers the weight of the house to the ground. It is an important structural job, but this doesn’t mean the foundation should not also be decorative. Brick foundations may look worn over time or clash with the house’s siding. One way to hide an ugly brick foundation is to cover it with vinyl lattice. Making a short lattice fence, attached directly to the home’s foundation, can hide an unsightly foundation and create an attractive new look.
Preparation
Step 1
Clean the brick foundation with a pressure washer. Even though you will be concealing it with lattice, it will be partially visible through the latticework.
Step 2
Measure the height of the foundation. The lattice will be approximately the same height.
Step 3
Measure the perimeter of the foundation. You will need enough lattice panels to cover the perimeter of the foundation.
Make Framed Lattice Panels
Step 1
Cut the lattice panels to match the height of the foundation. The panels should be about 2 inches shorter than the foundation height, to accommodate the panel frames.
Step 2
Cut 1-by-4, pressure-treated wood in pieces to frame each lattice panel. These frames should be as close to the height of the foundation as possible so that no part of the brick foundation will show above or below the frame. This frame will look like a large picture frame, but the edges do not need to be mitered.
Step 3
Assemble the 1-by-4 pieces into a frame by attaching 90-degree, flat corner braces at each corner with wood screws. Strengthen the joints by attaching straight, flat mending plates with wood screws. Repeat to make a frame for each lattice piece.
Step 4
Paint the frames any desired color.
Step 5
Trim the lattice panel with a saw to match the dimensions of the frame, if needed. Each lattice panel will extend past the interior of the frame, but not all the way to the exterior.
Step 6
Attach the lattice panels to the frames with panhead wood screws, with washers between the screws and the lattice panels. Attach the lattice panels on the side of the frames with the metal braces.
Attach Lattice Panels
Step 1
Drill pilot holes through the frames to facilitate the screws that will mount it to the foundation. On screw in each corner of the lattice panels will hold them securely, since the lattice is decorative and will not need to support any structure.
Step 2
Position the panels along the foundation where they will be installed and mark the hole positions on the brick foundation.
Step 3
Drill pilot holes in the brick foundation, at the places marked, with a hammer drill equipped with a masonry bit. The masonry screws you select will determine the size the pilot holes should be.
Step 4
Attach the lattice frames to the foundation with masonry screws. Use a standard power drill with the appropriate driver bit.
References
Writer Bio
Michael Signal began writing professionally in 2010, with his work appearing on eHow. He has expert knowledge in aviation, computer hardware and software, elementary education and interpersonal communication. He has been an aircraft mechanic, business-to-business salesman and teacher. He holds a master's degree in education from Lesley University.
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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