Even if you used the code as a basis of the requirement for weep holes, you would be surprised to learn that weep holes were nor mandated in the single family code until 1983 CABO, mandated by the 1985 Kentucky Building Code. Home inspectors are calling out missing weep holed on house built before 1985.
Weep holes have been required by the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) building code since at least 1992, and they're recommended by the Brick Industry Association (BIA).
Weepholes shall be provided in the outside wythe of masonry walls at a maximum spacing of 33 inches (838 mm) on center. Weepholes shall be not less than 3/16 inch (5 mm) in diameter. Weepholes shall be located immediately above the flashing.
Brick weep holes, also known as brick breather holes or brick weeps, are small openings that you will find on most bricks homes or buildings. These openings are intentional and created to help protect the building against damage caused from the build up of moisture inside the wall cavity.
Yes, Australian building codes mandate weep holes in masonry to ensure proper drainage and ventilation, safeguarding structural integrity and preventing moisture-related issues in buildings.
No, many windows don't have weep holes. They're not usually found in wooden window structures. But you can expect to find weep holes in many vinyl windows and aluminum models and any window type that slides or rests in an outer frame that has a bottom track.
Without masonry weep holes, or if the existing drainage system is blocked or broken, capillary action can result in the water becoming trapped inside the cavity wall.
As an alternative to weep holes, most new construction will connect the drainage zone to a perforated drainage pipe located behind the base of the wall outfalling to a manhole.
Why are there no weep holes? The reasons vary, but the house's builder forgot to include them, or the homeowners didn't want them. Sometimes homeowners don't want weep holes because they retract from the house's appeal – think smoothly rendered brick houses.
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.
Blocking your window weep holes predisposes the window structure to water damage, rust, and corrosion ultimately reducing your window's lifespan.
It's essential that weep vents are placed at regular intervals along the base of the wall at the ground floor, below the DPC level, and must also be provided as part of any cavity tray run, including roof abutment trays, over lintels and continuous cavity tray systems, such as gas protection barrier systems.
It is difficult to add weep holes after the walls are constructed. If the weep holes are drilled, they will typically puncture the flashing. This is true even if a special guide is placed on the drill. If the hole does not go all the way through the mortar then it will be ineffective.
Do I Need To Plug Weep Holes During a Flood? No. Unless your home is a submarine the exterior materials along with doors and windows are not watertight and will succumb to the flood waters.
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.
Absolutely, they are essential for preventing moisture damage and ensuring the structural integrity of brick constructions.
Some brick homes may not have weep holes. This can be the case with an older home or if a previous owner mistakenly caulked over them.
Problems With Weepholes
If weep holes are left unprotected in brick walls they provide access to the wall cavity for rodents and insects. Swarming bees and European Wasps love creating nests in cavities.
Functionality: Whether tile insert drains contain weep holes depends on the specific design and intended use.
Start by marking the wall where the weep holes will be drilled, usually around 60 inches from end to end and 6 inches from the ground. Drilling the Holes: Using a power drill with a half-inch carbide drill bit, drill holes at the marked spots, about two inches deep. The diameter of the holes should be around 25mm.
The easiest way for pests to invade your home.
However, that is exactly the access that most pests have into most homes…and its all because of weep holes. Weep holes serve a good purpose for your home. They are designed to release unwanted moisture.
After the blocks become filled with water they leak into the basement. The basement waterproofing weep holes drain the water from the blocks below the floor level. Only by drilling into every single core of every single block does it become possible to drain the entire wall.
Even if you used the code as a basis of the requirement for weep holes, you would be surprised to learn that weep holes were nor mandated in the single family code until 1983 CABO, mandated by the 1985 Kentucky Building Code. Home inspectors are calling out missing weep holed on house built before 1985.
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.
Furthermore, if you block your weep holes in an attempt to solve that problem then you will prevent the drainage of that water and the airflow needed to completely dry the cavity. This will likely cause catastrophic problems.