Weep Holes. What Do They Do?

by David Campbell

Weep hole are those little voids in the mortar between every 4 or 5 bricks on the bottom course of bricks. Most people don’t even notice them. Others think the mortar fell out or the mason did a bad job laying the brick. Current building code requires them for the air circulation they allow behind the wall. Bricks can hold a lot of moisture. Especially during a driving rain, they can soak up several ounces of water. The water actually soaks all the way through them from front to back. People assume bricks are waterproof but they are far from that. This moisture has to go somewhere as it evaporates.

The brick mason will install the bricks with about a 1 inch gap between the back of the bricks and the studded wall. The weep holes provide a way for air to get in at the bottom and circulate up the airgap and out the top under the soffit. The brick wall is not sealed to the studded wall at the top so air can escape here. This constant circulation keeps the studded wall behind the brick free from mold and the negative effects of accumulating moisture.

So, next time you see a weep hole don’t be tempted to fill it in – it’s supposed to be there!

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