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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.
What is the spacing of a weep hole?
Weep holes should be placed immediately above all flashing and be spaced no more than 24 in. (600 mm) on center when open head joints are used, and no more than 16 in.
How many weep holes do I need?
Vents are required at 450mm intervals and each opening should have at least 2 weep holes.
How high off the ground should weep holes be?
The height of the DPC or weep holes must not be less than 150 mm in areas where there is adjacent land (Soil etc) to protect for ground movement. It can be reduced to 75 mm in areas where there is concrete/pavement that slope away from the wall.
Is it OK to put steel wool in weep holes?
Weep holes are often left unsecured which, of course, offers no protection against foraging pests. Corrugated plastics and steel wool pieces are also used to deter pests. Steel wool needs to be recharged, as rodents will pull the material from the weep hole to gain access, or to use the steel wool in nests.
Can I fill in weep holes?
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.
Can mice enter through weep holes?
The weep hole leads to the wall cavity – a nice, dry safe place for pests to set up home. It’s obvious that small pests such as cockroaches and spiders can crawl through weep holes, but vertebrate pests such as lizards, snakes and even mice can also squeeze through a normal weep hole.
Should weep holes be covered?
Weep holes should not be sealed to keep pests out. 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 big should weep holes be in a retaining wall?
For large walls, around 6 ft. or taller, incorporate 3- to 4-in. dia. weep holes every 3 to 4 feet. If your wall is smaller than that, make your holes more like 1-1/2 in.
How do you keep ants out of weep holes?
Filter material such as that used for fish ponds would allow moisture to escape but would prevent even small ants from getting through. If you are having a new brick home built, you should ask to have plugs put into the weeper holes during construction.
How do you identify a weep hole?
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.
Can snakes get into house through weep holes?
Rats, mice and lizards will get in the house thru weep holes, and snakes can go ANYWHERE they can go. Usually they will end up in the attic.
What are weep holes in a house?
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.
Why is there gaps in brickwork?
Those gaps are called “weep holes” — a building code requirement that drains water out of brick exterior walls. Typically, behind the brick is a 1.5-inch cavity or air space and then the wood structure. Some homes with brick cavity walls do not have weeps.
Where do mice usually enter homes?
Mice enter homes through cracks and holes found in walls, floors and foundations. Homeowners commonly do not recognize mouse holes until other signs of infestation appear. Due to their body shape, mice are capable of fitting through holes much smaller than appear likely.
How small of a hole can a rat go in?
Small rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter, about 0.96 inches, and mice can squeeze through a hole that is ¼ inch in width. This must be put in consideration while rat-proofing your out houses.
Can you cover weep holes with concrete?
You could concrete over them but if you get mould, rising damp, termites or other issues that can be avoided (these may happen anyway but less chance of it without the higher concrete) then you would need to accept it. The step down won’t be a big issue IMO. Re: Covering Weepholes?Jun 4, 2011.
How do I build drainage behind retaining wall?
For proper drainage, the first 12 inches of space behind a retaining wall should be filled with crushed stone or gravel. This is so that when water gets into the space, it does not become bogged down in soil but instead can flow down the wall to the drains or weep holes.
Do you need weep holes at DPC level?
There isnt normally a cavity tray at dpc level, unless in instances where the likes of a Radon Barrier is required, which should overlap inner wall, cavity and outer wall. You would then need a cavity tray above with weep holes.
