Why Are There Holes in My Brick Wall?

Left is a properly vented weep. Right is a residential Weep with no vent. Both are correct

You are walking around your house when you notice gaps in the mortar near the bottom of the brick wall. Then you see something crawling into one.

Well, that can't be right. 😶

Maybe the bricklayer missed a few joints. Maybe the builder never finished. Either way, you have a tube of caulk in the garage, and this looks like a problem you can solve before lunch.

Hold that caulk gun.

Those openings may be weep holes, and closing them can interfere with the way your wall handles water. Before you repair something that was built that way on purpose, it helps to understand the assignment.

What Are Weep Holes?

Weep holes are small openings that let water drain out from behind brick veneer. You will often find them near the base of a wall, just above the flashing that directs water outside.

Some look like deliberately empty vertical mortar joints. Others have manufactured inserts, small tubes, or wicks. Their appearance depends on how the wall was built.

They may also appear above windows, doors, or other locations where flashing collects water. A pattern of openings near the bottom of the brickwork is a clue, but an isolated missing joint should not automatically be dismissed as a weep hole.

The important distinction is that a planned drainage opening has a purpose. A damaged mortar joint may need repair. They are not interchangeable.

But How Does Water Get Behind Brick?

Brick is durable. That does not make a brick wall waterproof.

Rain can enter through the brickwork, particularly during wind-driven storms. A properly built brick veneer wall accounts for that possibility instead of assuming the exterior will stop every drop.

On many modern homes, the brick is an outer layer attached to the structure with ties. Behind it is a drainage space, along with a water-resistive barrier protecting the wall behind the masonry.

Flashing collects water and directs it toward the weep openings.

Think of the system as a route: water gets behind the brick, travels down, reaches the flashing, and leaves through the openings.

Each part has to do its job. A hole in the wall cannot make up for missing flashing or a cavity packed with mortar.

Why Plugging Them Is Bad

From the outside, filling a weep hole can look like careful maintenance. The joint looks finished. The opening is gone. You can put the caulk gun away feeling productive.

Unfortunately, looking finished and working correctly are two different things.

Caulk, mortar, spray foam, and other solid fillers can block the outlet the wall needs. If water reaches that area and cannot drain as intended, moisture problems may follow.

That does not mean one plugged opening guarantees a rotten wall tomorrow. It means you have interfered with a system designed to manage water, usually without being able to see what is happening behind the brick.

A repair should improve the wall’s performance. Making a drainage opening disappear does not meet that standard.

What About Bugs? 🪳

This is where homeowners have a fair complaint. An opening that lets water out can also give insects access to the space behind the brick.

But seeing an insect enter a weep does not, by itself, prove it has a direct path into your living room. The cavity behind the veneer and the interior of your home are different spaces.

The answer is to address the pests while preserving drainage.

Weep screens or vents may help limit insect access when they fit the opening and are installed correctly. Choose products intended for masonry weeps.

Do not improvise by stuffing the joint tightly with whatever is handy. Packing an opening until nothing can pass through it defeats the purpose, even if the packaging calls the material a pest barrier.

If insects are also appearing indoors, have their entry points investigated. If you suspect termites, arrange a qualified pest inspection. Blocking the visible opening is not a substitute for identifying the problem.

A wasp does not get to redesign your house.

Your Landscaping Can Block Them, Too

A weep does not have to be filled with caulk to become obstructed.

Soil, mulch, leaves, or a new flower bed can cover low openings. A patio added later can also change the conditions around the base of a wall.

Look at the relationship between the brick, the weeps, and the surrounding ground. Are the outlets exposed? Is mulch piled against them? Does water collect near the wall after rain?

Keep visible openings clear of surface debris. Avoid pushing tools deep into the cavity, where you could damage concealed materials.

Pretty landscaping should not require the house to surrender its drainage.

What If I Cannot Find Any?

Do not immediately assume your house was built wrong. Weeps can be difficult to recognize, and older solid masonry walls may handle moisture differently from modern brick veneer.

But do not assume everything is fine, either.

If you cannot identify drainage openings, especially where you also see interior dampness, persistent staining, or deteriorating masonry, have the wall evaluated.

Preferably by a professional masonry company that can do repairs if needed such as www.tillemasonsmasonry.com.

Drilling holes into random mortar joints is not automatically a solution. A new opening needs to work with the actual flashing and drainage space. It can also damage concealed flashing if done carelessly.

The useful question is not simply, “Where can we put a hole?”

It is, “How was this wall built, and where is the water supposed to go?”

A Note for Contractors

Explain weeps before the homeowner decides they are unfinished work.

A short conversation at the walkthrough can prevent a well-intended repair later. Show the owner where the openings are, explain their purpose, and point out why mulch and sealant need to stay out of them.

Homeowners cannot protect a detail they have never been taught to recognize.

Leave the Water an Exit

Weep holes are a small detail with an important job. They help a brick veneer wall release water that gets behind its exterior.

If pests are using them, address the pests. If the drainage system is failing, investigate the system. If you are unsure whether an opening is intentional, ask before filling it.

That little gap may be one of the few things on your house doing exactly what it was hired to do.

Have a masonry question about your home? Explore the homeowner resources at TexasBricklady.com or book a consultation. Understanding the problem is the first step toward choosing a repair that makes sense.