The mudsill, also known as a "sill plate," is the first wood layer laid on top of the foundation wall. It acts as the home's framing's anchor point. To begin, they installed a sill seal, which acts as a capillary barrier between the wood and concrete. This prevents any water from getting to the interior floor joists. Next, they placed two inches of gravel over the sill seal. This allows for proper drainage while keeping out large debris such as sticks and leaves that could damage the house's exterior finish if not removed. Finally, the mudsills are covered with a thin coat of asphalt-based mortar. This provides extra support for the weight of the roof and reduces settling over time. Mudsills can be made of wood or concrete. Concrete mudsills are available in different colors, shapes, and sizes. They're usually formed in place by pouring concrete into forms attached to the outside of a building site. The formwork creates the desired shape. Once the cement has cured, it's topped off with additional layers of wood or other materials if needed. On the other hand, wood mudsills are manufactured in a factory and then shipped to the building site. They typically consist of two parallel beams that are spaced apart so they'll fit inside the hole dug for the foundation. The ends of each beam are tapered so they'll fit together nicely.