I am in a wheelchair and building a new home. I would like to raise the grade above my sill plate and ribbon board to help level out my lot. What can I put on the sill plate and ribbon board to protect it from rotting out since it would be in contact with the ground?

Nothing. What does your architect suggest?

Grade is actually more often than not, above the sill. Thats assuming you are talking about the sill plate on top of the concrete foundation wall. When we use 18 - 20" deep floor trusses, it's tough not to. In those instances we used pressure treated plywood and coil stock on top of the plywood. Coil stock can come in different widths - we use the widest we can find, usually 24" wide. Obviously if you can you should match the color to the siding. You say you are in a wheelchair then this is what you would need to do between the house and garage as well as you will want the floors at the same elevation. I wouldn't recommend bringing the grade higher than about 3 inches lower than the floor elevation though. Good luck

JayinMinnesota:

Thank you for the help. What is Coil Stock? I have found Grace makes a product called Grace Vycor Plus, & Grace Vycor v40. Grace said I could also use their Grace Detail Roofing Membrane. I am worried about using those Grace products and trapping moisture inside on the sill plate and ribbon board. My two big concerns are water and termites.

As for my garage I have a ramp built inside to get me down to the garage level but your are correct, I will need to raise the grade on the outside of the gargae also.

MiamiB212. You need to find a contractor that has a CAPS certification. These folks have had special training for those who are againg and or those who have handicaps such as the one your describing. You can find these folks either by going on the AARP web site or contact the National Home Builders Assocation located in Georgia.
They understand how to construct and modify homes for those who have needs such as yours.

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiB212:
JayinMinnesota:

Thank you for the help. What is Coil Stock? I have found Grace makes a product called Grace Vycor Plus, & Grace Vycor v40. Grace said I could also use their Grace Detail Roofing Membrane. I am worried about using those Grace products and trapping moisture inside on the sill plate and ribbon board. My two big concerns are water and termites.

As for my garage I have a ramp built inside to get me down to the garage level but your are correct, I will need to raise the grade on the outside of the gargae also.

I can't vouch for that vycor product, I've never used it. Coil stock is this product -

http://doitbest.com/4294967203-Coil+Stock.dib

Incidently, any builder worth his weight should know what to do in instances like this. If yours doesn't, then it may be time to re-think things.

As far as the garage goes, I would take to your builder to see if it is possible to raise the floor level up to the same level as the house. This would eliminate the need for a ramp altogether and make that transition much easier.

Out of 10 houses we build nowadays - 9 will have the garage elevation the same as the house. It makes outside grading much much easier as well.