House foundations are concrete or concrete blocks. Most of the time, these foundations are rarely exposed, with much of the surrounding soil covering the walls. However, if you have a foundation that is exposed and you wish to cover it with siding, there is good news. Of the many practical applications for covering a house foundation with siding, the most common one requires installation of furring strips, which serve as the base for the siding. By following a few simple steps, you can be sure that your foundation is securely covered and aesthetically pleasing.
Installation
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Furring strips must be installed over a cement-based item that receives house siding. House siding cannot be attached directly to a house foundation because of the foundation's hardness, as well as the fact that siding needs to be installed on a straight, flat surface; home foundations may be rigid and wavy. Installing 2-inch wide treated strips is necessary for a solid base for the house siding. The strips can be ripped from 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber or plywood, but they should be at least 3/4-inch thick. Using self-tapping screws, such as those by Tapcon, will fasten the strips to the concrete securely, but concrete nails can be used as well. Spacing the furring strips at no more than 16 inches ensures a solid frame base for the siding; spacing between 12 and 16 inches will do, but the spacing needs to be divisible by two standard measurements in construction. For example, if your siding is 10 feet long and your spacing of strips is 12 inches apart, then the end of the first piece of siding should hit in the center of the 10th furring strip; if the siding is 4 feet wide, then the end of the sheet will hit in the center of every third strip--if the strips are set on 16-inch spaces.
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After the furring strips have been installed--vertically--on the wall, you may install any siding you wish. Use nails that are no longer than the furring strips are thick so that they don't penetrate the concrete behind the strips, which would cause the nails to bend and damage the siding.