Weep Holes

[John Allingham]

Aren't weep holes supposed to be in the bottom course of bricks?

[Bob Elliott]

Yes,they are.
I also recommend pest screens.

They should be just above the foundation with some exposed moisture barrier.

Do not see many with key slots now in days where the simply leave out the mortar , but that part is fine.

[Larry J. Michael]

Yes, they should.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Originally Posted by jallingham

Aren't weep holes supposed to be in the bottom course of bricks?

No, not actually........ depending on the type of foundation and floor height they can be several feet above grade... I have seen them correctly installed as high 4 feet or more.

Rule of thumb is that they are just at the foundation sill plate.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jhaynes

No, not actually........ depending on the type of foundation and floor height they can be several feet above grade... I have seen them correctly installed as high 4 feet or more.

Rule of thumb is that they are just at the foundation sill plate.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

Never heard that one .
Do you have any documentation to back that up?

There is a cavity of one inch behind that brick siding and if up higher than the foundation (weeps) the water would build up and cause issues.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Many years ago about 1970 they used hemp instead of weep holes , Of course hemp is hard to see and it looks like the Brickie did a poor job .

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Originally Posted by belliott

Never heard that one .
Do you have any documentation to back that up?

There is a cavity of one inch behind that brick siding and if up higher than the foundation (weeps) the water would build up and cause issues.

Bob, you did not carefully read my answer or you don't understand the concept of a pier and curtain foundation which we have all over the place here in the south................ if you still disagree please explain for the crowd why a GC would put weep holes below the sill plate on a pier & curtain foundation. The flashing turn down at the sill plate which is often 24 inches to 48 inches above grade depending on the slope of the lot............ I will be glad to send you pictures if need for clarification and even blue prints........ I have built hundreds of homes from Ohio, Va, Ind., Ky and NC.........the location of weep holes in virtually every application is near the foundation sill plate (regardless if its a slab, crawl, or basement) as well as above windows and doors of a brick veneer.


regards

Jeff

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Jeff is right Bob, that is very common in some geographic areas like here.
It allows steps in the exposed foundations the minimize the concrete exposure and some of the bricks below the weep holes will be slushed in with type S mortar. Flashings are usually right below the sill plates, normally one brick high.
Similar to this detail here.
This detail shows the flashing at sill height which is not a good idea, because there is always the possibility of wicking and voids underneath the flashing that would allow leakage at the box sill level.
The standard here is one course of brick lower to prevent that.



Hope this helps.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Marcel, the only correction that I see needs to be done to the picture is that the flashing should be BEHIND the felt or approved wrap....not infront.

Jeff

[John Allingham]

Good graphic Marcel. That explains it.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jhaynes

Bob, you did not carefully read my answer or you don't understand the concept of a pier and curtain foundation which we have all over the place here in the south................ if you still disagree please explain for the crowd why a GC would put weep holes below the sill plate on a pier & curtain foundation. The flashing turn down at the sill plate which is often 24 inches to 48 inches above grade depending on the slope of the lot............ I will be glad to send you pictures if need for clarification and even blue prints........ I have built hundreds of homes from Ohio, Va, Ind., Ky and NC.........the location of weep holes in virtually every application is near the foundation sill plate (regardless if its a slab, crawl, or basement) as well as above windows and doors of a brick veneer.


regards

Jeff

I would like a diagram.
Thanks.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Jeff is right Bob, that is very common in some geographic areas like here.
It allows steps in the exposed foundations the minimize the concrete exposure and some of the bricks below the weep holes will be slushed in with type S mortar. Flashings are usually right below the sill plates, normally one brick high.
Similar to this detail here.
This detail shows the flashing at sill height which is not a good idea, because there is always the possibility of wicking and voids underneath the flashing that would allow leakage at the box sill level.
The standard here is one course of brick lower to prevent that.



Hope this helps.

Oh there it is.
Thanks Marcel, I will check it out and see what I missed here.

[John Allingham]

It's a good graphic but it's my understanding that most bricks don't do well below grade.

[Sean Fogarty]

We must have an epidemic here then cause I have never looked at a house built without the brick being below grade.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Originally Posted by jallingham

It's a good graphic but it's my understanding that most bricks don't do well below grade.

Not necessarily.....if you manage the moisture you will be fine......however most builders (good builders) will seal it and if necessary do a french drain.
I always seal the foundation from the footer up to grade.

The diagram is good however it is important that the moisture barrier OVERLAPS the flashing where it turns over onto the brick. Some builders will tape the joints however that is not proper.

regards

Jeff