Hello Cobra,
Once we found the damage-by moving it and the bottom cement board falling off and apart, we checked our pavestone patio for low spots, where water may have pooled. We never noticed pooling but you never know. Once the grill was out of the way, and before the arbor was built, we did not find any low areas but obviously, it got wet enough and stayed wet enough to rust out. I do not know how long it has been this way. This is the first time we have moved it since buying it 9-10 years ago.
Once we discovered the damage, we had to give it some thought to repair or replace. The ¼ inch cement board (not Hardiebacker) was starting to pull away from the studs on the sides as well. It needed some of that replaced, re-stuccoed and cracks repaired in the stucco in other areas.
Besides the bottom studs, some of the vertical studs needed replacing due to rust and deterioration.
In addition, in moving it, we were going to have to rotate it so that the long serving area was parallel with the roofline of the house, as the arbor being built was to be parallel.
It did not sit on any type of feet. It sat on ¼ inch cement board (again, not Hardiebacker) was attached to the metal frame on the entire bottom. The whole unit sat on a pavestone patio.
Here it is before we discovered the damage
Here are two bottom photos of the damage