150mm between the cladding and the garden
Ground built up against a house hides termite entry and invites moisture.
In short: Cladding too close to soil and ground sloping to the house, recorded in Gables.
The clearance
Cladding should finish at least 150mm above finished soil so the slab edge and any termite activity stay visible.
What we recorded
Gables handovers in mid 2025 found cladding too close to the soil, still not corrected at reinspection.
Ground falling the wrong way
On another Gables home the soil sloped steeply towards the garage wall, sending runoff at the house.
Landscaping later
New gardens and paving often raise the ground after handover. Keep the clearance in mind when landscaping.
The fix
Lower and regrade the soil so it falls away, and keep mulch and beds back from the walls.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Gables. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
