Wood to Earth Contact

The photo above is a commonly seen issue for the home inspector. At least I know that is true in the Pacific Northwest. What you see there is the post at a deck. It is buried in the soil. The problem is our old nemesis known as wood to earth contact. Fact: Wood to earth contact will eventually lead to rot or decay of the wood.

In this picture the problem was not quite as clear cut as it sometimes is. Why? Because the post itself, to the left side, was pressure-treated lumber. While pressure-treated lumber is designed for contact with the earth, there was just flat no need for it here. There was a concrete pier beneath the post, so why bury the wood? Makes no sense. Even treated lumber lasts many more years if it is isolated from the earth. The wood piece to the right, which was a trim piece that tied in above, was NOT pressure-treated material so it was an obvious concern. People always forget, or do not believe, that wood to earth contact should be eliminated, except in a few non-critical applications -- treated posts sunk in the ground for fences, that kind of thing.

Thanks for looking.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections