Minimum
England
Sole plate DPC height in a timber frame wall
150 mm
Measured from finished external ground or paving level to the underside of the sole plate DPC
Every figure for this topic is on one page: Cavity trays and DPC: where are they needed and how high?
Read the full answerThe damp-proof course beneath a timber sole plate must sit high enough above finished ground that splash and standing water cannot reach the timber.
Basis in regulation
How to check it on site
Check before the frame is loaded — once panels are up the DPC line cannot be adjusted. Photograph each elevation against a levelled datum.
Common failure
Ground raised later by landscaping, bridging the DPC and wetting the sole plate.
Effective from 22 August 2026. Last updated 23 August 2026. This is our editorial summary of publicly available regulation, not building control approval or a warranty determination.