I'm thinking in terms of an ICF foundation. I'll do my waterproofing, and will use dimple board as well. I assume the dimple board comes up above soil level? How do you handle the area from the bottom of the siding down to soil level? I'll probably use fiber cement siding, and I'll have to put something over the ICF, such as parging or stucco. Do you carry the finish down below grade? Since our house will look like an old farmhouse, and I can't afford stone or brick to cover the foundation, I was thinking about making fake brick columns every so many feet, and then use lattice in beween, to look like it's up on piers. Whatever I put over the ICF to protect it could be painted flat black so it doesn't show behind the lattice. I just don't know how to handle the transition at soil level.

This issue has been discussed several times in the past few months. Search the forums for parging, parge, and stucco, and you should find some pretty good answers. This will save many of us posters the time and effort to just repeat what's already been said before. Thanks. After you've digested all the comments and still have questions come back.