What are weep holes above windows?
‘ Weep holes are typically found in the outer masonry leaf of cavity walls, just above the flashing. They can also be found above windows, doors or other penetrations. They should be provided at regular intervals so as to allow any moisture collected by cavity trays to escape.
What is purpose of weep holes?
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 are weep holes in a retaining wall?
Weep holes allow water to escape from behind the wall. These holes should be regularly spaced in the horizontal direction. Retaining walls with a height greater than a few feet should also have weep holes that are regularly spaced in the vertical direction, forming a grid pattern.
How do weep vents work?
Weep vents provide essential ventilation for the internal wall cavity and drainage of water that may have entered the cavity through condensation, building damage or capillary action. Left unmaintained, weep holes can provide access for wasps and bees.
Is it OK to cover weep holes?
— Todd J., Newport News, Va. Whatever you do, do not fill those weep holes. They’re an integral part of the drainage system to keep water from building up behind the brick. If allowed to contact any untreated lumber, this water will cause serious wood rot, mold and, eventually, structural problems with your home.
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 often should weep vents be installed?
Vents are required at 450mm intervals and each opening should have at least 2 weep holes.
What happens if water gets in your weep holes?
As the water passes through the wall, it falls down the back of the wall and, if the weep holes are open, the water passes through them back outside.
What happens if you cover weep holes?
What happens if you don’t have weep holes?
Badness happens when your walls don’t have weep holes. Without weep holes, water has only one place to go – inside your home’s walls, leading to mold, rot, and unpleasant, expensive structural issues.
Where do I drill a weep hole?
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 makes the weep hole at the lintel?
The flashing, when there is one at the lintel, can be and most likely is polyethylene 6 ml. that is cut before the iron and under the masonry. Flashing and capillary breaks are applied on brick shelf’s that tie into wall openings if the building is commercial or large residential.
Where are weep holes supposed to be in a building?
are typically found in the outer masonry leaf of cavity walls, just above the flashing. They can also be found above windows, doors or other penetrations. They should be provided at regular intervals so as to allow any moisture collected by cavity trays to escape. The recommended distance between is 450mm.
Where are the weep holes in brick veneer?
In a brick veneer wall that rests on a steel lintel, the weep openings are made immediately above the horizontal projection of wall bottom flashing.
Where are the weep vents on a door?
Weep Vents. Weep Vents create weep holes which are required over lintels to discharge collected water that may form at the window/door head. Each vent sits in the masonry perp end.
