Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Moisture under patio. Looking for suggestions.

I live in a 1937 cottage that has a brick and block foundation. The house is wood, covered in shake shingle. Around most of the house, the wood is elevated about 18 inches from the ground, however, under the front patio, there is dirt under the concrete that contacts about 12 feet of the sill beam.

Well, yesterday, I found out the hard way that this has been a point of entry for termites. :madhell: It's also slightly damp, which only added to the termite feast.

My question: is there any way to vent underneath the patio to reduce moisture? Unfortunately it's surrounded in brick. My other thought was to break up the concrete top and lay pressure treated decking on top. This would allow me to gain access to the dirt underneath to remove it, and would leave it open to be able to air out.

Your thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.

You are going to have to remove the patio and excavate the dirt away from the foundation. Soil should never be above the sill plate. It will direct water into or under the foundation. If you have crawl space or basement, you need to check for moisture issues. Yes, termites are attracted to moist areas more often than dry areas. An exterminator will not be able to adequately treat the area without better access.

You may need to do some grading and resloping of the area to improve drainage. Check gutters and downspouts in the area to make sure they are clear and carry water away from foundation. Splash blocks are not effective for carrying water far enough away from foundation. Downspouts are best hooked up to drains that drain into dry wells. The only way to know what goes on with the runoff and drainage is to go outside during a heavy downpour.

Patios that are not sloped properly to direct water away from foundation can also send water pouring toward the foundation. Gap where concrete patio joins the foundation often goes neglected and unsealed.