Thread: What do you call this?

Rope, string, wick? Why is it there?


Thanks,
Rick

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I call it a weep hole.

Why would there be rope in there and why so high? The others were open and just above the foundation.

Is that a line of flashing in the morter joint at the base of this course?

Rick:

It is, as Bruce pointed out, a weep wick. The plastic below this course of bricks is the flashing for the brick ledge.

Aaron

From the Brick Industry Association:

What is the best weep system?
Weep systems in use include wicks, oiled rods, weep tubes, open head joints, and vents. BIA does not advocate one type of weep system over another. Wicks should be spaced at 16" o.c. with the remainder of the weep systems spaced at 12" o.c. Rope wicks can be made from cotton sash cord. Drainage materials used at the bottom of the cavity are most effective for open type of weep holes like open head joints, weep tubes, etc., however it could be used with rope wicks.
It is important to maintain a clean, open cavity for weep holes to function properly. If mortar droppings are anticipated, then it is best to detail a drainage material that will catch any mortar like pea gravel or mesh.

Originally Posted by Dom D'Agostino

From the Brick Industry Association:

It is important to maintain a clean, open cavity for weep holes to function properly. If mortar droppings are anticipated, then it is best to detail a drainage material that will catch any mortar like pea gravel or mesh.

This ( MORTAR NET ) is a new product I've been seeing use recently. Of course, though, it has always been installed upside down and first and the masons have to remove it and install it right side up - does not work upside down.

One reason for a wick type weep hole is the weep wick is designed to wick up moisture from the cavity and expose it to the exterior atmosphere where it can more easily evaporate.

Old masons used sections of rope where the weep holes go in the brickwork. After they have laid several courses of brickwork, these sections of rope were pulled out and you had a weep hole. Now they just leave out the mortar between the ends of the brick batts. ps. the rope will not come out after the mortar has set. Also these sections of rope are too small for a proper weep hole.

Don Merritt
Germantown, Tennessee