[dml247]

Greetings. Just bought a house and am dealing with some issues. The garage has wood siding that contact the soil directly. On one side, there is a 1-3 foot high retaining wall (it rises from the back of the garage to the front), with only about 6-8 inches of clearance between the wall the the garage (in one spot, there is only about 2 inches of clearance as a big rock has migrated closer, or started closer) There seems to just be dirt in between the wall the and garage, and some the siding is showing some rotting.

What can/should I do? Please help!

Thanks.

 

[mark sr]

Siding should never touch the ground. You have two choices, either lower the grade or replace the bottom portion of the wall with masonry.


The right front of my son's house is too low to the ground with the bottom plate level or even under the grade in places. What we did was remove the siding at the bottom, install roofing felt to overlap onto the foundation and then we put cement board from the top of the joist down to the footer [mortared in place] I then stucco'd over it. That was 6-7 yrs ago and it seems to be doing fine.

 

[dml247]

Hi Mark. Thanks! Sounds like what you did makes more sense based on my yard etc.. So, I'll need to dig down around the structure. What if there no concrete foundation because there's no basement? Is it possible there's just a slab?

 

[mark sr]

Most slabs still have a footer. The main thing is you don't want any water to wick up under/behind the cement board ..... or allow a pathway for insects.

 

[Bud9051]

If you already have termites they swarm in spring with flying ant like critters everywhere. Then they quickly disappear, but really aren't gone just out of sight. If you had a swarm already you need to do some treating before you cover that area. Slab homes are exposed to the soil everywhere under the slab.

I like Marks advice also.

Bud

 

[dml247]

Thanks! What type of treatment do you recommend?

 

[mark sr]

I've always used the termite poison they sell at Lowes and it seems to do a decent job although I'm sure there are better products out there.

 

[Nealtw]

Thanks! What type of treatment do you recommend?

Have you opened the siding to see what you have in the way of damage.

 

[3onthetree]

Dig the soil down so there is a minimum 4" of concrete exposed. Better is 6"-8" if you have the depth.

 

[dml247]

I dug down and it looks like there is at least 6 inches of concrete under the wood. One side of the garage is stuccoed. One side is up against grass, and the final side is near the retaining wall. There is damage at two different corners, which allow entry into the structure. Pics attached.

For the retaining wall, one includes a huge rock that just a few inches away from the structure. I tried to dig behind it and move it back but was unable to. That will make it difficult to replace the lower siding.

 

[Nealtw]

You can protect the bottom of the wall with a primer and peel and stick down onto the foundation and up the wall.

 

[dml247]

Wonderful. What product is that?

 

[Nealtw]

Wonderful. What product is that?

There are a few products and they all work with the same primer.



https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bakor-blueskin-weather-barrier-9-inch/1000403476


The primer comes in a paint on by the gallon, a lifetime supply
or a spray that can cost a bunch too.



https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bakor-aquatac-primer/1000403421


https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bakor-blueskin-ultra-primer-425g/1000403480

 

[Nealtw]

Wonderful. What product is that?

Some houses get a concrete step against the front of the house, we cover the wood and it then cover that with galvanized sheet steel both tucked behind the house wrap . You could do the same and leave off the bottom piece of siding.

 

[dml247]

This is very helpful, thank you. So, I should dig down through the soil and expose the concrete foundation around the structure, paint on the primer, and then peel and stick the blue skin on both the foundation and the wood just above it.

I'm not sure I understand the next step, and the steel.

 

[b.rooster4321]

I agree blue skin is very good product we use it a lot and commercial buildings after that time you can you put your siding up preferably the non-wood siding vinyl or hardy board type


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nealtw]

This is very helpful, thank you. So, I should dig down through the soil and expose the concrete foundation around the structure, paint on the primer, and then peel and stick the blue skin on both the foundation and the wood just above it.

I'm not sure I understand the next step, and the steel.

The blueskin wants to be behind other flashing or something to protect it.
Sheet steel works for that and instead of putting siding right to the ground you can go with wider steel and start the siding one board up