Working Doc

Materials

The detail where house siding meets the ground is important:

Splashing of rain - if there is exposed dirt - house will get splashed and dirty, or continued exposure to water at this detail will tend to rot the house if water-sensitive materials such as wood are used. Aesthetically - dirty collar around the bottom of a house is not aesthetic.
Moisture prevention - do not create a cavity under the siding that traps humidity. See comment 1 at [3]