When trenching or rodding building exteriors, soil should be saturated to which level?

Saturating the soil to the top of the footing is essential in trenching or rodding building exteriors for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to ensure that the area around the foundation is properly treated, allowing for better effectiveness of pest control measures, particularly for wood-destroying pests like termites. By saturating the soil to this level, it allows for the appropriate penetration of any chemical treatments applied, ensuring that they reach the critical area where pests may gain access to the structure.

Furthermore, saturating to the top of the footing allows for thorough moisture distribution, which can also help in controlling factors that contribute to pest infestations, such as humidity and moisture availability. This practice minimizes the chance of leaving untreated gaps that pests could exploit.

Understanding the correct saturation point is vital for pest control professionals, as inadequate saturation can lead to ineffective treatments and increased risk of pest activity in and around the building. In contrast, saturating soil either at the ground surface or at other levels may not provide adequate protection or could lead to oversaturation issues that complicate treatment effectiveness.