Why Should Mulch Not Be Against Brick Siding

I just purchased a home where the landscaping bed is up against the brick front wall.

Why should mulch not be against brick siding.

The home is about twenty five years old. However contact with the ground is not a good thing it is the pathway to destruction via moisture and insects. The main reason for placing mulch is its ability to hold in moisture and insulate against colder temperatures. Making the situation worse is a downspout pouring water right into the pile.

To preserve your home s exterior siding and foundation you must ensure that dirt dense vegetation mulch or anything the can hold moisture against your home is properly cleared away. Yes it does happen but not nearly as often as one may think especially with proper installation. How to install mulch around a house. Choose colored mulch that complements the exterior colors of your home in the brick stone stucco and siding.

For example brownish red pine mulch goes well with brick houses says jeremy becker owner of firefly landscapes in kansas city. Termites do not attack this type of material for that reason. Mulch is fluid meaning it moves with wind rain doggies and kitties running through it. While mulch around the foundation of your home may look appealing giving it a well groomed appearance it can cause some unexpected problems if not done with the proper care.

No rolled plastic from a box store. There is some disagreement over whether mulch should be allowed direct contact with your foundation. Mulch near your home makes foundation plantings look neater and cuts down on weeds but it can harbor unwanted pests near your home. This is heavy duty stuff.

You can see where the mulch touching the siding blocked the painters. Dirt and mulch are seen here piled against the structure. It comes in 1 8 and 3 16 widths that are 4 tall and 10 or 16 long. I removed mulch touching the siding before installing the drip edge.

Use commercial grade metal edging for drip edges. If you wish to be totally free of worry regarding termites then this is the correct answer for you. In fact doing so may actually damage the brick second repointing brick should be put in context. Ideally one should maintain at least six inches of distance from the top of the garden bed to the bottom of the siding.

The planting bed extends about 3 feet from the house and is constructed with timbers that hold the dirt and mulch up against the brick. In fact a homeowner will probably have to replace their siding entirely long before repointing becomes an issue. The reason for this clearance requirement is that while moisture will rot wood and damage other siding even if the ground isn t holding water against. Some experts advise against it altogether you certainly should not allow such contact if a termiticide was applied to the soil along the foundation when your house was built.

The home is about twenty five years old.