Why cladding needs a gap above the ground

In short: Masonry too close to the adjacent ground on a Box Hill property, and what that lets in.

What the clearance does

It keeps masonry and cladding out of ground moisture and leaves a visible zone where termite activity would have to show itself.

Cladding to ground clearance below the minimum on a Box Hill house, alongside subfloor dampness in the same property.

Landscaping. Soil, paving or a new path gets built up against the wall years after the house was finished.

Moisture wicking into the wall, and a concealed path for termites that bypasses the inspection zone.

Cutting levels back rather than anything structural. It is usually landscaping work and it is worth doing.

Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Box Hill. Licensed building practitioners.

More pre-purchase guides for Box Hill

20 May 2026 · 7 min read

The least pleasant part of an inspection, and regularly the most useful.

17 June 2026 · 5 min read

The exclusions are why the inclusions can be relied on.

1 July 2026 · 6 min read

Most of them are moisture, and most of them are fixable.

Questions Box Hill owners ask about this

How much clearance is required?

The standard sets a minimum height above the adjacent finished ground. The report gives the measurement rather than an impression.

Is this a defect or maintenance?

On an established home it is usually a maintenance consequence, but it is reported because of what it enables.

Does it mean there are termites?

No. It means a path exists and the inspection zone has been compromised, which is a different and fixable problem.

Who should fix it?

A landscaper for the levels. If evidence of activity is found, a licensed pest controller for that separately.