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We’re building an outbuilding (woodshed, garden shed), and putting it on a slab. After years of dealing with the no-clearance induced rot in our foundation (and more years yet to come), I’m trying to do it right — good clearance earth-to-wood. Trouble is, this outbuilding is 20 feet behind the house and highly visible when you look out a back window; and, between the slope of the land and the necessary clearance on the uphill side, the slab is almost 2 feet thick on the house side. The Aesthetic Director has decreed, and I agree with her, that a plain old concrete slab is Not Acceptable. I was originally going to tint it, until I found out that the concrete colorants that you add to the mix about double the cost of the concrete (always do your planning before you get out the shovel — I’ll never learn).
So now I’m looking at this thin brick veneer (about 1/2-3/4″ thick) that you mortar to the side of the slab like tile. That, rather than true brick, because I’m putting in foundation tie bolts and hold-downs (we live in California, where the ground is inclined to dance), and I’d wind up with 10″ studs if I used full bricks.
Anyone have any experience with this stuff? The principle seems sound, but I’m a bit concerned that my local building materials yard doesn’t carry much of it and makes kinda sarcastic faces when we talk about it.
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I live in MI and there is lots of it used here. Get on Yahoo, and look up Williams Panel Brick, 8 Mile Road, Redford, MI. They are a manufacturer of all varieties of brick, as well as cultured stone. i did a basement fireplace front in stone, and you can't tell the difference from real, other than the 1/3 weight during installation.
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We're building an outbuilding (woodshed, garden shed), and putting it on a slab. After years of dealing with the no-clearance induced rot in our foundation (and more years yet to come), I'm trying to do it right -- good clearance earth-to-wood. Trouble is, this outbuilding is 20 feet behind the house and highly visible when you look out a back window; and, between the slope of the land and the necessary clearance on the uphill side, the slab is almost 2 feet thick on the house side. The Aesthetic Director has decreed, and I agree with her, that a plain old concrete slab is Not Acceptable. I was originally going to tint it, until I found out that the concrete colorants that you add to the mix about double the cost of the concrete (always do your planning before you get out the shovel -- I'll never learn).
So now I'm looking at this thin brick veneer (about 1/2-3/4" thick) that you mortar to the side of the slab like tile. That, rather than true brick, because I'm putting in foundation tie bolts and hold-downs (we live in California, where the ground is inclined to dance), and I'd wind up with 10" studs if I used full bricks.
Anyone have any experience with this stuff? The principle seems sound, but I'm a bit concerned that my local building materials yard doesn't carry much of it and makes kinda sarcastic faces when we talk about it.
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Check out http://www.culturedstone.com
Nice website (can be graphic intensive if you decide to view the pics)
I've used their stuff a couple times and most of it looks great (pieces are made from molds of actual brick and stone)
You do need to hang metal lathe over your framing in order to get a good bond, and for exterior use, it has to have a clear sealer applied after installation.
Go for it.