Ground Clearance To Siding

Wood siding sheathing and wall framing on the exterior of a building having a clearance of less than 6 inches 152 mm from the ground.

Ground clearance to siding.

Hardie siding does a great job of wicking moisture when it is installed on the wall but when it s uncovered and flat on the ground it will absorb water. If the adjacent ground is concrete such as part of a patio or a sidewalk it still requires the same clearance as bare earth. If your contractor installs hardie siding when it s saturated it may show signs of shrinkage or even staining over time. Wood siding clearances wood trim and siding should always be installed with an air gap when installed at a roof ground or concrete contact area.

Wood siding stucco vinyl brick all siding should ideally have at least 6 to 8 inches clearance above the ground. Any clearance is better than none. Metal is considered one of the most durable and low maintenance products on the market today. Siding materials need proper clearances between finish grade and the siding regardless the type of siding.

The reason for this clearance requirement is that while moisture will rot wood and damage other siding even if the ground isn t holding water against the siding rain splashes up and soaks the siding. This requirement is not just to prevent damage to the siding it serves a couple of other functions as well. Wood structural members supporting moisture permeable floors or roofs that are exposed to the weather such as concrete or masonry slabs unless separated from such. Maintaining proper clearances reduces access to wood structures behind the siding by wood destroying insects or damage from water that might.

There are usually four types that you ll be able to choose from. Fiber cement siding gap clearance caulking specifications the following information is adapted expanded a bit from certainteed corporations installation instructions for the company s fiber cement siding products as this is the most comprehensive guide we could find for caulking clearance instructions when installing fiber cement siding. Luckily it takes lots of water to saturate hardie products. Wood structural members supporting moisture permeable floors or roofs that are exposed to the weather such as concrete or masonry slabs unless separated from such floors or roofs by an impervious moisture.

Aluminum copper steel and zinc. Also the closer to the ground the siding the more easily termites can go undetected and the more easily rodents can bore their way into your home.