Weep hole

Weep holes or "weeper holes" are small openings left in the outer walls of masonry construction as an outlet for water inside a building to move outside the wall and evaporate. The term was coined by archaeologist C. Leonard Woolley after finding evidence of weep holes in ziggurats. The plastic "weeps" used in modern masonry construction for moisture protection are based on the same principles as these ancient structures.

When raising the exterior grade around a masonry structure, particularly brick buildings, look for the weep holes near the base. It is important not to raise the grade above the weepholes unless you have waterproofed over them, as the moisture which inherently sits in the soil will seep back into the building via the weepholes.

Modern weep holes employ weep hole screens in order to prevent the ingress of snakes, insects, & other small animals into the masonry cavity. The weep hole screens are typically constructed of flexible nylon or plastics.