I want to put pressure treated 8″X8″ wood up against our house which is cedar sided so that I can build up the ground level at that point. What do I do so that there will be no rot in this area?
Rob
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Anytime you place something against a structure that provides a place for moisture and/or debris to accumulate and inhibits air circulation, you invite decay and bugs.
This can be landscape plants too close to the house, things propped against the house, garbage cans or wood piles up against the house, or (if I'm understanding you correctly) a pressure treated board forming the inside of a planting bed against the wood siding part of the house.
Other than suggesting a pretty thorough flashing project (which may or may not be effective), I would suggest you try to keep the backboard of your bed away from the building a few inches so you can keep the area between the house and the bed free of debris for 6 inches or so below the foundation, or lower the elevation of your bed so your siding remains high and dry.
Jules Quaver for President 2004
Two rules here.
1) You should have at least 8" of foundation exposed above grade.
More if you live in snow country.
B) Any plantings and such should be kept at least 1' away from the building.
actually however tall a plant will be at maturity is the distance it should be planted from the house.
A House needs room to "breath", close plantings make it hard to do maintenance and can hide or exacerbate moisture problems.
Maybe this is not the case in Arizona but in the Great Wet North we see myriad problems from this.
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!