What are masonry weep holes?
Weep holes are holes or gaps along the bottom of the brick veneer which allow water to drain out from the wall. These holes also serve to provide ventilation in the air gap behind the brick veneer. Ventilation can help to dry out the interior wall layers after a weather event.
What is the purpose of weep holes in masonry?
So what exactly is a weep hole? A weep hole is a passage for water to escape a building envelope. Weep holes serve an important purpose of a home; they allow the home to “breathe” as some say. Since there are many chances for water to enter the home, weep holes allow for water exit.
What is a weep hole in concrete?
In concrete block or hollow masonry foundation walls, weep holes are drilled along the bottom of the wall to provide an exit path for water trapped within the wall. They are generally used in conjunction with a drainage channel or drain tiles placed around the perimeter of the floor.
What purpose do weep holes serve?
Weep holes are open gaps left between some bricks in external masonry walls. They serve two important purposes: Ventilation of the internal wall cavity – Without ventilation, mildew, dry rot and damp reduce the life of the internal wall studs and other building materials within the cavity.
How are weep holes made?
Some weep holes are created by placing hollow circular tubes at the bottom of a mortar joint and leaving them in place after adding mortar to the rest of the joint.
Where are weep holes required?
Therefore, weep holes are at the bottom of brick veneer, just above the top of the foundation, and directly above the termination point of any flashing installed behind the brick. Weep holes also should be located above doors, above and below windows, and above any other openings in the brick wall.
Are weep holes really necessary?
Though homeowners naturally want to block pests, weep holes should not be sealed with caulk or mortar. The holes are still necessary to drain water and to ventilate the air space.
How are weep holes installed?
Weep holes must be placed di- rectly above flashing and should be spaced about 16 to 24 inches o.c. maximum. The most common types of weep holes are open head joints, louvered vents, rope wicks, tubes, cellular vents, or a combination of these. Figure 1. Louvered vents often are used to keep insects out of cavities.
Where do weep holes lead?
These spaces between bricks are vital to allow moisture to escape from your wall cavity and to and provide ventilation. So, it’s essential to keep them clear. But, this means they provide direct access to pests. The weep hole leads to the wall cavity – a nice, dry safe place for pests to set up home.
How are weep holes constructed?
Open head joints are easy to form. Mortar is left out of the joint, leaving an open channel that is 3/8 inch wide by course height by veneer depth. PLASTIC TUBES Hollow plastic tubes also are used to form weep holes. The most common ones are 1/4 or 3/8 inch in diameter by 3 1/2 to 4 inches long.
What is weep cord?
Cotton Weep Cord is a solid braided rope utilizing 100% cotton fiber with no synthetic fibers or polish used in the construction. Cotton weep cords are used to absorb moisture left behind in the building process to prevent masonry from weeping.
What do you use for weep holes?
Small pieces of steel wool (just pull it apart) or pieces of a plastic scrubber can be pushed into the entrance of a weep hole to keep unwanted critters out. Both items will effectively block the weep holes while still allowing air to filter in and water to seep out.
How often do you need a weep hole in masonry wall?
Mark the planned weep hole locations with chalk or a pencil. On an exterior retaining wall, weep holes can be located every 4 to 8 feet, depending on the extent of the water buildup and seepage. If the wall is fairly short and the ground behind it does not remain damp long after a rainfall, holes every 8 feet may prove sufficient.
Should I fill weep holes?
While you should never fill weep holes with solid material—such as caulk, wood, or mortar—you can put strips of fiberglass screen wire or scouring pad in the weep holes to keep insects out. Watch this video to find out more.
What are basement weep holes?
A basement weep hole is a small opening that will allow water to drain directly into your basement waterproofing system . To insert weeping holes, the concrete flooring around the interior perimeter of your basement will be removed to allow space for an interior water drainage system.
Are weep holes required in a brick house?
Weep holes are absolutely necessary in a brick veneer. Moisture is present in the cavity between the brick veneer and the sheathing/framing, and this moisture must be provided with an exit.