| Home inspectors cite wood to earth contact as a | | | | manufactured for ground contact, so having it touch |
| condition that will, eventually, lead to decay of the | | | | the earth is not necessarily a defect. However, |
| wood. Sometimes, the wood that is in contact with | | | | pressure treated wood in contact with the soil will |
| the soil is pressure treated lumber that is designed | | | | last much longer if all soil contact is eliminated. Putting |
| for that purpose. This article gives advice on what | | | | pressure treated lumber on a concrete pier will make |
| could be considered appropriate uses for pressure | | | | it last longer. |
| treated lumber. | | | | A logical means of evaluating the situation, that |
| Wood to earth contact is one of the most | | | | makes sense for the home inspector, follows: If |
| frequently cited concerns in a home inspection report. | | | | pressure treated lumber is being used in a crucial role, |
| Often, clients ask about wood to earth contact and | | | | and it is in contact with soil, then the inspector |
| how it applies to pressure treated lumber. In the | | | | recommends removal of the soil. For example, if a |
| world of construction, pressure treated lumber is | | | | structural post under the house is buried the risk for |
| advertised as having a long life (some say 40 plus | | | | extensive damage, the result of rot, cannot be |
| years) even with direct earth contact. The | | | | ignored. Another example: Outside columns that |
| manufacturers soak the lumber in chemicals that | | | | support high decks should be kept well away from |
| penetrate into the wood from the outside surface. | | | | soil. High decks can come down if the columns rot. |
| The most vulnerable area to future rot is where the | | | | Now, if an inspector finds a couple pressure treated |
| builder cuts the wood -- such as to length and then | | | | 4x4's, for support of a handrail, sunk into the earth |
| that end is dropped in a hole for use as a fence post. | | | | at the steps from a low deck, that is a relatively |
| In theory, if an end is cut and buried, a topical wood | | | | minor concern. Usually the inspector will probe the |
| treatment should be applied at the cut. In practice, | | | | lumber at the ground level and, if it is sound, not |
| this lumber does last a very long time. There have | | | | think or say much about it. No grading is applicable, |
| been instances of fence posts, that were installed 20 | | | | since the posts are sunk into the ground, in part to |
| years before, being dug up and they looked as good | | | | make the rail steady. Pressure treated lumber is |
| as they did the day they were buried. On the other | | | | commonly used in simple outdoor applications and, |
| hand, depending on soil conditions, sometimes the | | | | down the road, any repair should be simple to do and |
| wood will not meet the advertised expectations for | | | | the area easy to access. Should there be a problem |
| longevity. | | | | at some point, a workman who is affordable can |
| Pressure treated lumber, and what a home inspector | | | | perform the repair and no structural damage is likely |
| should say about it when it touches soil, is an issue a | | | | to have occurred. That makes this an appropriate |
| home inspector wrestles with. Fact: The wood is | | | | use of pressure treated lumber. |