How High Does Wood Siding Need To Be Above Earth

Concrete and masonry foundation walls shall extend above the finished grade adjacent to the foundation at all points a minimum of 4 inches 102 mm where masonry veneer is used and a minimum of 6 inches 152 mm elsewhere.

How high does wood siding need to be above earth.

If the wood framing is not pressure treated then it should be a minimum of 8 above the ground. Should be at least six inches above ground level. Clearance between wood siding and earth on the exterior of a building shall not be less than 6 inches 152 mm except where siding sheathing and wall framing are of naturally durable or preservative treated wood. My code check actually states it this way.

Wood siding stucco vinyl brick all siding should ideally have at least 6 to 8 inches clearance above the ground. Wood siding door and window frames etc. This requirement is not just to prevent damage to the siding it serves a couple of other functions as well. Measure the length of the pieces of siding you need at each mark.

The further the better. Hold a piece of siding on the wall using a level to make sure it s straight. That means if you place the siding 6 inches above the ground you get a 70 percent on the test. If the adjacent ground is concrete such as part of a patio or a sidewalk it still requires the same clearance as bare earth.

Masonry veneer ledge 4in above earth wood sill 6in min. Touch one bottom corner. The screed shall be placed a minimum of 4 inches 102 mm above the earth or 2 inches 51 mm above paved areas and shall be of a type that will allow trapped water to drain to the exterior of the building. Six inches would not be too far.

Eliminating wood to soil contact may require regrading or pulling soil or mulch back from the foundation cutting the bottom off wood latticework or supporting steps or posts on a concrete base. Any clearance is better than none. Mike the building code here in the usa used to say that wood siding must be 6 inches above grade. Siding materials need proper clearances between finish grade and the siding regardless the type of siding.

You just barely pass. If the sheathing siding is not pressure treated then it should be a minimum of 6 above the ground. When it is higher from the ground splashing water onto the wood is minimized.