Are the “tear ducts” in your house clogged or covered up? Can your house have a good “cry?” The brick or masonry veneer on your home is designed to have something called “weep holes” to allow water, condensation, and moisture to drain and dry out from inside the walls.
It is not uncommon for some to think these holes need to be closed, so they will fill them in with caulk or mortar. These weep holes are intentionally built into the exterior wall at the bottom of the wall and above windows and doors for a very specific purpose. They are to allow a flow of air into the exterior wall cavity to dry out moisture from condensation, rain, etc.
The most common problem covering up weep holes is that the grading surrounding the perimeter of the home is built up too high, thus dirt and vegetation are clogging up the weep holes. The flower beds might be beautiful with a fresh layer of mulch, but another problem has been caused by covering up the weep holes. Vines and other plants may even grow through the weep hole (or under siding) and up into the wall cavity.
If dirt is covering the weep hole, too much moisture and dampness will remain inside the wall and especially on the sill plate. Sprinkler systems will often be spraying water into the weep holes which constantly keeps the interior of the exterior wall system wet. This will cause rapid decay, thus damaging the bottom support of the wall system which carries the load of the studs. The retained moisture constantly inside the walls is also a fertile environment for forms of mold to grow.
Beautiful decks or sheds added to a house are often built up right next to a house and cover up the weep holes or are level with them. Leaves and debris will fill these cavities and retain dirt and moisture constantly. Sill plates will decay rapidly under these conditions.
Over time, dirt and grading can shift with rains and erosion. The grading and structures surrounding the perimeter of your house should be 4” – 6” lower than the brick or siding.
Take a walk around the perimeter of your home. Can you see 4” – 6” of your foundation? Are your weep holes covered up? Is the sprinkler system constantly spraying water into the weep holes?
Check the sprinkler system around your home and see if any heads need to be adjusted to stop spraying water into the weep holes of your house.
If the perimeter of your home could talk, it would be asking you to keep the weep holes clean, dry, and clear so that they can function properly.
Make sure that while the landscapers are keeping your yard and flower beds beautiful that they don’t build up the grading too high around your home.
This brings up another related subject for another article. The grading around your home should also slope away from your house—6 inches within the first 10 feet. This may be difficult to impossible around your home. Do the best you can!
If you do your own yardwork, it may be time to pull our your tools and give the perimeter of your house a “facelift.” Lower the dirt and grading so that the face of your foundation is “lifted up” from the ground the proper distances and so the weep holes can breathe.
You may even hear your house say “thank you” and “ahhhh” in relief!
