Special offer

A Hole is not Always a Hole

By
Home Inspector with Safe House Property Inspections

This was an interesting observation at a recent Virginia Beach home inspection. As I was walking down the exterior brick veneer wall I noticed a pattern of colored caulk.

sealed weep holes at virginia beach home inspection

Virginia beach home inspector finds weep hole issue

About every three feet the home owner had sealed the weep holes for the brick veneer wall. Weep holes are provided to allow the cavity between the brick veneer and the wall framing to ventilate and allow moisture to escape.

Weep hole example

So remember that just because you find missing mortar at your brick wall that those gaps serve a purpose and you are not benefiting the structure by sealing them up.

Brad Baylor
ERA Coup Agency - Milton, PA

LOL - That's a good one.  I wonder if he thought to himself, geez, that's wierd, and they're all spaced evenly apart!

Oct 01, 2012 07:16 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Lol, Troy, you'd think that someone would notice the pattern and figure out that they are supposed to be there (maybe look it up on the internet or ask someone about them). Did he also plug up the big hole at the top of his chimney as well?

Oct 01, 2012 07:22 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

I've seen this too.  Guess no one told the homeowner the holes served a very good purpose and by filling them they left themselves open to some nasty water damage.

Oct 01, 2012 07:23 AM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!
I'll bet you advised them to open them back up!!
Oct 01, 2012 07:59 AM