08/21/2026
Friday’s Contractor’s Corner
🧱 Those Little Holes in Your Brick Are There for a Reason — Don’t Seal Them
🟢 DIY Friendly
If you’ve ever noticed small open gaps along the bottom of the brick on your home, you might assume the mortar fell out or somebody forgot to finish the job.
In many cases, those openings are weep holes — and they’re supposed to be there.
Brick isn’t completely waterproof. Wind-driven rain and moisture can make their way behind a brick veneer, so the wall system needs a way for that moisture to escape.
That’s where weep holes come in.
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🏠 Today’s Tip
Take a walk around the exterior of your home and look near the bottom courses of brick, especially just above the foundation.
You may see small, regularly spaced openings in the vertical mortar joints.
If you find them:
1. Don’t fill them with mortar.
2. Don’t seal them with caulk.
3. Don’t spray expanding foam into them.
4. Check that dirt, mulch, paint, or debris isn’t blocking the openings.
They may look unfinished, but an intentional weep hole should remain open so moisture behind the brick has a path out.
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❓ Why It Matters
Blocking weep holes can interfere with the wall’s ability to drain and dry properly.
Trapped moisture behind brick can contribute to:
• Damp wall materials
• Rotting wood or sheathing
• Mold and mildew conditions
• Deterioration of building materials
• Moisture finding its way farther into the wall assembly
The problem is that you may never see what’s happening behind the brick until damage has already developed.
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💰 Today’s Savings
This one may cost you absolutely nothing.
Simply knowing that these openings are intentional can keep you from “repairing” something that wasn’t broken in the first place.
While you’re walking the house, clearing leaves, soil, or other debris away from existing weep holes can also help them continue doing the job they were designed to do.
Sometimes preventative maintenance is knowing what not to fix.
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👷 Pro Tip
Not every missing piece of mortar is automatically a weep hole.
Intentional weep holes are generally located in predictable areas and tend to follow a pattern. A random cracked, deteriorated, or missing mortar joint higher on the wall could be something completely different.
If you’re unsure, don’t automatically fill the opening.
Figure out why it’s there first.
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💬 Quick Poll
Before today, did you know those little openings in brick could actually be intentional?
👍 Yep — I knew what they were.
😮 I’ve seen them but had no idea.
🧱 I probably would’ve filled them.
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👀 Next Friday’s Contractor’s Corner
That little crack around your tub or shower might look harmless, but knowing where caulk belongs — and where it doesn’t — can prevent moisture problems and unnecessary repairs.
Next Friday, we’ll take a look at a few common caulking mistakes homeowners can catch themselves.
📞 Need Help With a Home Project?
Iron & Manna Property Services
📱 (940) 279-3770
📧 [email protected]
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