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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Cement board skirt
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Grateful
Member
# Posted: 22 Jun 2019 06:13pm
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Hello,

I had a 6-8" trench dug around my house, cement skirting attached and into the trench, then backfilled with gravel. Critters will find the gravel & skirting then go elsewhere. The gravel helps prevent moisture wicking as well.

Many thanks to Sustainusfarm for your testimony of long-term durability.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 23 Jun 2019 10:21am - Edited by: KinAlberta
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Quoting: MtnDon
Dig down and away from the perimeter. Use Hot dipped galvanized hardware cloth, 19 gauge if you can find it (smaller gauge numbers are thicker wire). Install an L shaped piece coming down from the underside of the cabin, into the earth about 6-9 inches. Have the leg of the L extend outward, horizontal, away from the structure for 12 inches. Rodents, what not will dig down at the wall base and they aren't smart enough to consider backing away from the wall when they encounter the horizontal hardware cloth.


This looks like a very cost effective solution to naintain air movement. However I think there’d be an issue with grasses etc growing into it and making it a fire risk.

Would attaching aluminum soffit work?

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 23 Jun 2019 10:36am - Edited by: KinAlberta
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I have a 16x22 boathouse on sloped ground down to water level and grass and bush on two sides with it being about 2’ off the ground at the front. It just sits on concrete pads and will always have some movement.

One skirting idea I’ve thought about to prevent critter and fire risk and create a nice look is an artificial stone base with vents maybe set a couple inches away from the wall so it can move independently of the building but rising about 1’ higher than the base. So only the top 7’ of the sheathing would be visible. Then I’d put sloped flashing covering the flexible hardware cloth spanning the gap to make the skirting look like it forms the foundation of the boathouse.

I’ve seen cabins build on wider stone foundations as well as cabins with wider but shingle covered foundations.

Can’t find any pictures though.





https://www.flickr.com/photos/kodiakmountain/3575869489/

http://mit24h.com/1dwy449_8694sr4/

https://www.alamy.com/traditional-timber-ethno-houses-with-wooden-roof-and-stone-base -velika-plana-eastern-europe-serbia-image185220510.html

https://www.machtarchitecture.com/price

Great2Bnate
Member
# Posted: 12 Jan 2024 01:07am
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i'm building a cabin shed in my backyard, and will be using Hardibacker board as a result of forum threads like this. It reminds me of Duraskirt, but there's no easy way to buy that stuff. I'ts primary purpose is for mobile home skirting. It seems that building homes on piers always runs into weather/ critter issues. So, I'm going to use some chicken wire I have lying around where Duraskirt uses plastic mesh. I've already got gravel down, and will put some weed fabric on top to keep the dirt from caking up. All in all, it should work exactly like mobile home skirting. Wish me luck.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 12 Jan 2024 10:13am
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Quoting: Great2Bnate
So, I'm going to use some chicken wire I have lying around where Duraskirt uses plastic mesh.


We have found that chicken wire is too large to keep out many critters. Our purpose is for garden beds/greenhouse. We have been using 1/4" hardware cloth which is very effective. That said, you need to bury at least 6" down to prevent/discourage burrowing critters.

rpe
Member
# Posted: 12 Jan 2024 04:10pm - Edited by: rpe
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Where our cabin is located frost heave is a major issue. Soil depth is 0-5 ft range, with rolling bedrock beneath. Any deep soil areas soak full of water, and feed moisture from the frost zone below. Ground surface heaves upwards 4-6" easily.

When purchased our cabin had pressure-treated lattice used to vent/skirt the 2-3ft distance from support beams down to ground level. The lattice would buckle horribly through the winter, and then mostly pop back in the spring. We've now replaced with fence board skirting panels leaving a 6" gap at the bottom. Here's hoping the heaving doesn't exceed that value!

Some method of sliding or accordion type action skirt would allow for sealing out the critters, and absorbing the frost heave. I haven't seen any of my neighbours achieve that goal yet, unless completely built on bedrock.

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