How High Does Wood Siding Need To Be Above Earth

Wood siding door and window frames etc.

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. Realize the building code is a set of minimum standards. The further the better. Maintaining proper clearances reduces access to wood structures behind the siding by wood destroying insects or damage from water that might.

Wood siding stucco vinyl brick all siding should ideally have at least 6 to 8 inches clearance above the ground. That means if you place the siding 6 inches above the ground you get a 70 percent on the test. When it is higher from the ground splashing water onto the wood is minimized. Masonry veneer ledge 4in above earth wood sill 6in min.

My code check actually states it this way. 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. 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. If the adjacent ground is concrete such as part of a patio or a sidewalk it still requires the same clearance as bare earth.

This requirement is not just to prevent damage to the siding it serves a couple of other functions as well. 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. Touch one bottom corner. You just barely pass.

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. Six inches would not be too far. Siding materials need proper clearances between finish grade and the siding regardless the type of siding. Any clearance is better than none.

Wood siding should be 4 or so from the ground whether that be soil or solid surface. Measure the length of the pieces of siding you need at each mark. Should be at least six inches above ground level.