The lowest horizontal structural beam of a building that rests directly on the foundation or ground.
From ground + sill (Old English 'syll,' from Proto-Germanic 'syljō'). Architectural term used since medieval times to describe the foundational beam.
The groundsill is where termites love to attack and where moisture loves to hide, making it the most inspected beam in home buying—thousands of house deals have fallen through because of what inspectors find right here.
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