ASK DANNY: What Should I Do About These Weep Holes?

Hi, Danny,

I was flooded during [Hurricane] Harvey and one side near the living room — which the wall has windows almost to the floor — is where most of the water came in.

My contractor says it will not hurt to completely seal as there [are] enough [weep] holes on either side of the house. At this point, [it] is approximately 25 feet across.

Do you know of a good permanent filler for these holes?

Patti LeClear

Hi, Patti,

It’s never a good idea to seal brick weep holes because they’re there for a very important purpose: allowing moisture to escape from between the brick wall and your stud wall.

However, if you decide to do so, I would recommend using mortar to match your existing mortar.

A much better alternative would be to work with a landscape contractor, who can divert the water and prevent it from being able to rise and enter the house at that point.

While you should never fill weep holes with solid material—such as caulk, wood, or mortar—you can put strips of fiberglass screen wire or scouring pad in the weep holes to keep insects out.

Thanks for your question.

Danny

Watch and Learn: Sealing Weep Holes in Brick Walls

Danny explains the purpose of weep holes that often appear vertically near the bottom of brick homes. Watch video.