wood siding: When Wood Siding Is Too Close To The Ground - 11/28/16 03:09 AM
This is what happens when wood siding is too close to the ground.
It gets wet, it rots, and it attracts termites!
Wood siding should be 4" or so from the ground whether that be soil or solid surface.  Six inches would not be too far.
The further the better.  When it is higher from the ground splashing water onto the wood is minimized.
The wood is not sitting in a moist or wet condition, so it is not wicking moisture.
And termites are less inclined to try to reach it with their mud tunnels.
But if wood siding is too close, even siding that has been … (7 comments)

wood siding: Too Close Is Too Close - 06/24/15 07:52 PM
Wood siding should be 4-6" from the soil, as too close is too close.
When it's too close to the soil wood siding becomes an invitation to moisture (and therefore rot) and termites.
Termites are looking for wet wood.  That's their objective.  Eating it and returning to the colony is their job!
And they are good at it.
Looking at the photo to the far right, the green algae is evident, the mushy wood is evident, and moisture retention is evident, and in the center, highlighted by the cropped section, termite damage is evident.
Are they active?  THAT is another inspection yet to happen.
If I was to see … (13 comments)

wood siding: When A Detached House Comes With Two Condos - 09/28/10 10:48 PM

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On the side of a house with rough-sawn, stained cedar siding, I was surprised to see two condos.  This puts me in a tough position.  Do I charge more for the inspection or just let this go?
Never before have I seen where birds have created holes in siding like this.  The means they have also, probably, bored through the underlayment (see the pine needles on the left side sticking out?) and removed enough insulation to create a nest.  A basement door is in process on the left side … (27 comments)

 
Jay Markanich, Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC)

Jay Markanich

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Bristow, VA

More about me…

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Address: Bristow VA 20136

Office: (703) 330-6388

Mobile: (703) 585-7560

An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.


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