Sub-Floor Timber Proximity to Ground (Conducive Condition)
Sub-Floor Timber Proximity to Ground (Conducive Condition) is a high-severity soil & foundation defect SURE inspectors have documented across 8 inspection reports.
Causes
- Design/construction allowing sub-floor timber to be close to the ground
- Building constructed too close to ground
- High finished ground levels
- Original construction
- Construction design
Symptoms to look for
- Timbers observed near ground level in sub-floor (as a high-risk factor, despite limited access to sub-floor)
- Sub-floor timbers observed to be close to ground level
- Sub-floor timber framing touching the ground
- Sub-floor timbers are close to the ground
- Sub-floor timber near ground
Remedies
- Further inspection is recommended for the inaccessible sub-floor to determine the full extent of risk and potential damage
- Implement recommendations to reduce proximity or install barriers to lower the overall risk factor
- Improve clearance between timbers and ground
- Modify ground levels or implement a barrier.
- Implement termite management
Get an inspector through this property.
Findings in this category skew high severity. If you are under contract, we can usually book inside the cooling-off window. Every inspection includes 12 months of free advice.
Curated entries in Soil & foundation
- Curated 1–4/5Trees in Close Proximity to Dwelling
Large trees within the foraging radius of the dwelling - typically any tree within 3 m for small species, or within 10 m for large eucalypts - introduce two distinct risks: root-driven soil moisture fluctuation that causes differential footing movement on reactive clay, and a direct termite foraging corridor between a timber food source in the crown or root system and the building structure. Neither defect is always present, but the proximity constitutes a conducive condition that warrants ongoing monitoring.
- Curated 2–5/5Reactive Clay Soil Movement Affecting Foundation
Seasonal expansion and contraction of reactive clay soils causing cyclical foundation movement, wall cracking, and floor level changes. Prevalent in Sydney Western Suburbs and some Perth clay zones. Severity depends on soil class (H, H1, H2, E) and footing design adequacy.