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Siding · You can handle this one

Wood siding in contact with soil

Grade rises over time. Wood touching dirt wicks moisture and gives termites a route past any soil barrier. Pulling the soil back is a shovel job.

Quick answerMulch, topsoil and new beds slowly raise the ground against the house until the bottom of the siding is buried. Wood in contact with soil stays wet, wicks moisture up into the wall and rots. It also gives termites a hidden path over any treated soil barrier. Dig the soil back, keep a clear gap between the siding and the ground, and slope the grade away from the house. You can handle this one yourself. No call needed.

Nobody buries their siding on purpose. It happens a bag of mulch at a time. The fix costs nothing but effort, and it protects the sill and framing that sit just behind the bottom course.

Weathered wooden siding with streaks of dirt on an old facade
Weathered wood siding streaked with dirt. Wood that stays damp loses its paint first, then rots. Photo by Sebastian Schuster on Unsplash.

1Why it matters

  • Constant moisture. Wood touching soil never fully dries. Paint fails first, then the wood rots.
  • Wicking. Water climbs into the siding, the sheathing and the sill plate behind it.
  • Termites. Soil contact lets termites reach the wood without crossing treated soil or showing on the foundation.
  • Splash-back. Even without contact, siding close to bare soil gets soaked by rain splashing up.

2How to check

  1. Walk the perimeterLook for any spot where soil, mulch, stone or a patio slab touches or nearly touches the siding.
  2. Probe the bottom coursePress a screwdriver into the lowest board. Soft or crumbly wood is rot.
  3. Look for mud tubesPencil-width dirt tubes on the foundation or behind the siding are a sign of termites.
  4. Check the slopeThe ground should fall away from the house, not toward it.

3Fixing it

Do it yourself

  • Dig soil and mulch back so the siding is clear of the ground
  • Regrade so the ground slopes away from the foundation
  • Keep mulch thin next to the house, or use gravel in a strip
  • Make sure downspouts discharge away from the wall

Hire a pro

  • The bottom boards are rotted and need replacing
  • You find mud tubes or other signs of termites
  • A patio or slab is sloped toward the house

How much clearance you need depends on local code and the siding maker’s instructions. Check both. More clearance is better than less.

Termites and older paint

If you see mud tubes, call a licensed pest control company before replacing wood. On a pre-1978 home, paid work that disturbs paint on the siding should be done by a lead-safe certified firm.

4What drives the cost

Pulling soil back costs nothing but time. Costs climb if the bottom boards, sheathing or sill plate have rotted, if regrading needs machinery, or if termite treatment is needed.

Siding cost

5Questions

How much gap do I need between siding and the ground?

Check local code and the siding manufacturer’s instructions. Both usually call for a clear gap of several inches.

Is mulch against the house a problem?

Yes, if it touches the siding. It holds moisture against the wood. Keep it back and keep it thin.

Can I just paint the bottom board?

Paint won’t survive soil contact. Clear the soil first, then repair and repaint.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.