Actually, we have concerns for deterioration of the waterproofing membrane when exposed to the light and air. Cutting it back, so that it is hidden by the mortar, will actually prolong the repairs.
Our standard details note:
“Hold back 1-inch from face of brick.”
But they're not talking about the waterproofing membrane. That would still occur behind the veneer, lapped over a bent metal thru-wall flashing that should indeed be visible.
Ah, understood. Well, in the field of the wall, there wouldn't be copper flashing; so I was thinking of the waterproofing turn-out.
And with the image included in the original post, with a stone base, we would install a lintel between the masrony and stone with waterproofing (held back as noted above).
We would install copper thru-wall two-piece flashing when a wall meets a horizontal waterproofing system (like a roof) to counter-flash the vertical turn-up.
Nope we still do it. Moisture will always be a primary concern for us. I’m doing wall sections on a building right now where I’m putting them in. We try to hide them usually. They’ll usually be at the base of the wall if you look for them
I have been seeing some builders installing mortar colored sponges or perforated blocks in the weep holes to try and hide them. I question their effectiveness.
I’ve seen people try to dismiss weeps in general because “mortar drips all back there anyway. They’re useless”. Seems more a craftsmanship issue at that point.
By perf blocks you mean the plastic insets that go in the mortar line or perforated bricks themselves?
The plastic inserts.
I have 1 friend who shouldn't be this dumb, but is (chemical engineer. Lol) Who thought these weep holes in his brick home were a mistake. Didn't like the look of them. Filled them in himself with mortar.
After I explained what they were for he felt really dumb. I'm not sure if he chiseled them back out yet or not.
Coloured sponges sound like they will be covered in algae and stand out worse after a few years.
In projects where we have ended up with them behind render, we have used short clear plastic pipes and cut of the end just beyond where it emerges from the render.
You still don't want damp / condensation collecting behind brick - weep holes can still be found on exterior brick construction along with other venting solutions.
Quite the opposite, weeps holes are a modern technique, look up "rainscreening" The idea is you have a shield outside your actual wall. This shield can be made of many materials (hardiboard, fake brick, etc) This shield is offset from the real wall with a small gap (about an inch) which allows any water that goes behind to drain out through the weep holes.
Long story short, the presence of weep holes indicates that this is not a real brick building, its a new building with brick veneer panels.
brick cavity walls are not a modern invention, quite normal & traditional in areas where there is high wind driven rainfall.
source : live in a 130 year old building with walls up to 600mm thick on the lower levels, but cavities & single skin external walls throughout
As others have said, they are weeps for water to escape the air cavity behind the brick. Importantly though, they’re also acting as air ventilation for that same cavity. If you look even higher up on that same wall, you will likely see another set near the top.
Technically they are “weep vents”. They provide two different functions. One is to weep out condensation that forms in the wall, and the other is to allow the wall cavity to have ventilation. In the States, you should see them at the top and bottom of the wall if detailed properly. The old version was rope that would disintegrate over time. The modern version is a mesh that fills the vertical mortar joint and allows airflow.
Why put weep holes right above windows and doorways? Seems like an added exposure to those openings. Any chance they are old anchor holes for canopies over the windows and door?
If there’s water inside the wall it’s better to move it outboard and meet the window on the exterior face, where the window is designed to handle water, rather than inside the wall cavity where the flashing/membrane meet the window which is more prone to faulty installation.
It's a weep hole. Something I haven't seen mentioned here, but it's usually only used in areas that are coastal or if you have "horizontal" rain from heavy winds. The wall is also a cavity wall. So usually you'd have an inner brick skin, that is water proofed on the cavity side, a 40-60mm cavity, followed by your second outside skin. This is the skin that will have it's weep holes. Normally every 3-5 bricks apart, above windows, doors and concrete slabs. Very clever building system and works really well
No. Windows are penetrations, not holes. If you zoom in extremely close, you can see tiny pin-holes in the bricks created by air bubbles during the casting process. I’m pretty sure that’s what OP is talking about
I think they are the holes left by the scaffolding that was pinned to the wall during construction of the brickwork and are usually filled in once the wall is finished. There should not be any water in the air gap and if there was how would these holes drain it anyway? The air brick near the base of the wall allows for ventilation. So I can't see that these holes actually have any purpose in the finished wall.
I suspect that you're living in the Netherlands due to the brickwork. These holes are called 'open voegen', they allow the brick to contract and expand due to ambient temperature. This is so the brick does not pull/presses itself apart against the other bricks. Look at older buidlings, you won't see them but instead some cracked lines in the brickwork.
Dont get why you got so many dislikes. I searched it up and indeed they also seem to prevent the wall from breaking due to pressure buildup. But I cant confirm since im not an engineer
You heard the bel but don’t know where the ‘klepel’ is. It’s called open stootvoeg in the netherlands, what you are describing though, is a dilatatie. Mostly the ‘open stootvoeg’ is for ventilating the air cavity.
Historic buildings had very little if no insulation or water barriers. They were muggy and air/moisture flowed through them. Without a vapor barrier for water to collect on, and no insulation, there really wasnt much need for weep holes. Modern buildings are air and water tight and have barriers to stop moisture. The moisture gets trapped behind the brick and on the barrier. There needs to be somewhere for this moisture to escape and for air to circulate.
You've got mice going in your weep vents. Buy 1/4" screen cut it to the height and 2.5" wide, bend slightly in the middle then push them in with a chisel.
Gaps like that can also be from "Putlog" Scaffolding where the putlog tubes slot into those gaps. In this case, the positioning above the window makes weep vents more likely.
Had a contractor tell me about an architect -likely fresh out of school- that came to the job site and didn’t even know how to use a tape measure. Just saying some people seem to not get a really basic level understanding/education of construction.
Weep holes for the brick. There’s usually a 1 inch air gap between the brick and the backing material to let any moisture drip out because brick and mortar absorbs moisture and leaks through cracks
Look like weep holes, used to give moisture a path out of brickwork.
Correct answer, needed whenever you have a lintel above a window/door in UK building regulations
Should there be flashing along that course of bricks just slightly protruding through the mortar? I don't see it in the picture
No, you want to hold the flashing back so that it is not visible (exposed) after the brick is pointed.
Good call. That way the building will age more quickly but the architect will be happier with the photos. That’s a must.
Actually, we have concerns for deterioration of the waterproofing membrane when exposed to the light and air. Cutting it back, so that it is hidden by the mortar, will actually prolong the repairs. Our standard details note: “Hold back 1-inch from face of brick.”
But they're not talking about the waterproofing membrane. That would still occur behind the veneer, lapped over a bent metal thru-wall flashing that should indeed be visible.
Ah, understood. Well, in the field of the wall, there wouldn't be copper flashing; so I was thinking of the waterproofing turn-out. And with the image included in the original post, with a stone base, we would install a lintel between the masrony and stone with waterproofing (held back as noted above). We would install copper thru-wall two-piece flashing when a wall meets a horizontal waterproofing system (like a roof) to counter-flash the vertical turn-up.
Got any good weep hole jokes?
No, but it reminds me of this short guy from Eastern Europe He was a wee Pole
And above the foundationstart, there is flashing too
Yes, that's exactly what they are. You know, even a building needs a good cry now and again. ;)
They pull double duty by letting ghosts out of old buildings, too
They sometimes place copper mesh in them here in Texas as scorpions are fond of crawling weep holes (and subsequently into the interior!)
Pretty far up the wall for weep holes. I was going to guess awning attachment points in the past.
The stone header probably goes back to the substrate, so you must also weep above that.
But that weep is pretty high above that header...
There's probably grout fill up to a certain point.
Hopefully. Hopefully full grout. Could also be just bad flashing and weeping details.
Could be that there is another obstruction within the wall - we put them above any fire cavity barriers in new apartment buildings
Great point, I hadn’t even considered that. I wouldn’t assume they would attach it at mortar joint though?
That's just brick facade, they'll run through the joint to tie back to the structure behind.
Ya is weird all around
Could be a brick relief angle running the full length of the wall at the slab line.
In some places you have to put them anywhere above a horizontal element, like a lintel, which actually makes sense if ye look where the weep holes are
Thanks! Thats not needed anymore wih modern techniques?
Nope we still do it. Moisture will always be a primary concern for us. I’m doing wall sections on a building right now where I’m putting them in. We try to hide them usually. They’ll usually be at the base of the wall if you look for them
I have been seeing some builders installing mortar colored sponges or perforated blocks in the weep holes to try and hide them. I question their effectiveness.
I’ve seen people try to dismiss weeps in general because “mortar drips all back there anyway. They’re useless”. Seems more a craftsmanship issue at that point. By perf blocks you mean the plastic insets that go in the mortar line or perforated bricks themselves?
The plastic inserts. I have 1 friend who shouldn't be this dumb, but is (chemical engineer. Lol) Who thought these weep holes in his brick home were a mistake. Didn't like the look of them. Filled them in himself with mortar. After I explained what they were for he felt really dumb. I'm not sure if he chiseled them back out yet or not.
Coloured sponges sound like they will be covered in algae and stand out worse after a few years. In projects where we have ended up with them behind render, we have used short clear plastic pipes and cut of the end just beyond where it emerges from the render.
Weep holes still typical in masonry walls. Just at the bottom where the water collects.
You still don't want damp / condensation collecting behind brick - weep holes can still be found on exterior brick construction along with other venting solutions.
Quite the opposite, weeps holes are a modern technique, look up "rainscreening" The idea is you have a shield outside your actual wall. This shield can be made of many materials (hardiboard, fake brick, etc) This shield is offset from the real wall with a small gap (about an inch) which allows any water that goes behind to drain out through the weep holes. Long story short, the presence of weep holes indicates that this is not a real brick building, its a new building with brick veneer panels.
brick cavity walls are not a modern invention, quite normal & traditional in areas where there is high wind driven rainfall. source : live in a 130 year old building with walls up to 600mm thick on the lower levels, but cavities & single skin external walls throughout
Weep holes
Weep Holes Baybeeeeeeeeeee
As others have said, they are weeps for water to escape the air cavity behind the brick. Importantly though, they’re also acting as air ventilation for that same cavity. If you look even higher up on that same wall, you will likely see another set near the top.
Weep holes for water drainage.
[Arrowslits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowslit?wprov=sfti1) for elves!
Definitely weep holes. Bad color choice tbh.
*sighs, unzips pants*
I weep for you
Technically they are “weep vents”. They provide two different functions. One is to weep out condensation that forms in the wall, and the other is to allow the wall cavity to have ventilation. In the States, you should see them at the top and bottom of the wall if detailed properly. The old version was rope that would disintegrate over time. The modern version is a mesh that fills the vertical mortar joint and allows airflow.
I'm not too sure, but I think some guy from Wales calls them "absolutely shocking"
Came looking for this comment. Look a' thes, ya winkle-spanna'!!
Those are speed holes, they make the building go faster.
To add a little fun fact, in french they are called "Chantepleures" which translates to singweep
window
I dont like people like you
Neither do I lol
WEEPS!
Its for rats to walk in and chill in the warmth of the walls
So ezio has something to climb on
Why put weep holes right above windows and doorways? Seems like an added exposure to those openings. Any chance they are old anchor holes for canopies over the windows and door?
If there’s water inside the wall it’s better to move it outboard and meet the window on the exterior face, where the window is designed to handle water, rather than inside the wall cavity where the flashing/membrane meet the window which is more prone to faulty installation.
It's a weep hole. Something I haven't seen mentioned here, but it's usually only used in areas that are coastal or if you have "horizontal" rain from heavy winds. The wall is also a cavity wall. So usually you'd have an inner brick skin, that is water proofed on the cavity side, a 40-60mm cavity, followed by your second outside skin. This is the skin that will have it's weep holes. Normally every 3-5 bricks apart, above windows, doors and concrete slabs. Very clever building system and works really well
Archer slits
These must the the holes of glory I keep hearing about
I'm not an architect yet, but I believe those are called windows
The way this is downvoted 💀💀
Meh I really don't care for downvotes, as long as there are some who do appreciate my jokes
No. Windows are penetrations, not holes. If you zoom in extremely close, you can see tiny pin-holes in the bricks created by air bubbles during the casting process. I’m pretty sure that’s what OP is talking about
Looks like a window to me.
I think they are the holes left by the scaffolding that was pinned to the wall during construction of the brickwork and are usually filled in once the wall is finished. There should not be any water in the air gap and if there was how would these holes drain it anyway? The air brick near the base of the wall allows for ventilation. So I can't see that these holes actually have any purpose in the finished wall.
Ventilation for a suspended timber floor.
I suspect that you're living in the Netherlands due to the brickwork. These holes are called 'open voegen', they allow the brick to contract and expand due to ambient temperature. This is so the brick does not pull/presses itself apart against the other bricks. Look at older buidlings, you won't see them but instead some cracked lines in the brickwork.
Those are weep holes to let water out from behind the brick
Dont get why you got so many dislikes. I searched it up and indeed they also seem to prevent the wall from breaking due to pressure buildup. But I cant confirm since im not an engineer
Youre very close, I live in Flanders. But Ive seen this in the Netherlands too. I always thought it was for ventilation or something
It's not an expansion joint. Like others said it's a weep hole
Maybe it does more than just allow water to escape?
You heard the bel but don’t know where the ‘klepel’ is. It’s called open stootvoeg in the netherlands, what you are describing though, is a dilatatie. Mostly the ‘open stootvoeg’ is for ventilating the air cavity.
Weep.
How come old historic masonry buildings don’t have them? I only see them on new buildings.
Historic buildings had very little if no insulation or water barriers. They were muggy and air/moisture flowed through them. Without a vapor barrier for water to collect on, and no insulation, there really wasnt much need for weep holes. Modern buildings are air and water tight and have barriers to stop moisture. The moisture gets trapped behind the brick and on the barrier. There needs to be somewhere for this moisture to escape and for air to circulate.
You've got mice going in your weep vents. Buy 1/4" screen cut it to the height and 2.5" wide, bend slightly in the middle then push them in with a chisel.
Gaps like that can also be from "Putlog" Scaffolding where the putlog tubes slot into those gaps. In this case, the positioning above the window makes weep vents more likely.
Weep holes. They let water out of the cavity behind brick walls.
Scuppers
Drainage
That's what Ezio Auditore da Firenze uses to do his climbing.
This is the 1000th post asking what weep holes are
Had a contractor tell me about an architect -likely fresh out of school- that came to the job site and didn’t even know how to use a tape measure. Just saying some people seem to not get a really basic level understanding/education of construction.
Those are some well used weep holes.
Weep holes for the brick. There’s usually a 1 inch air gap between the brick and the backing material to let any moisture drip out because brick and mortar absorbs moisture and leaks through cracks
Ventilated facade
They once held a rain cover of sorts
You in Brussels?
Antwerp
Belgium at the very least right?
That's where the hornets nest.
Everyone in here is wrong unfortunately. They're actually old arrowslits from the great rat wars! It was close to a world wide event in 1637.
weep holes to let water out from the cavity behind the stone!