a house i am interested in has holes drilled all around the external walls about a foot from the ground. the holes are empty. could this be from a chemical damp proof course, or ventilation? if a chemical damp proof course was carried out, why are the holes not filled? could it be from flooding?
2007-01-31 09:48:51 · 19 answers · asked by tess 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
i doubt that it is from cavity wall insulation because the holes are EMPTY!
2007-01-31 09:57:46 · update #1
some of the holes do have like plastic caps over them but some seem to have come off. is that how a finished chemical damp proff course should look?
2007-01-31 09:58:57 · update #2
i also dont think it was cavity wall insulation because the holes are all at the same level, about a foot from the ground.
2007-01-31 10:00:29 · update #3
Depending if you live in a termite area... Could very well be hole that were drilled to inject poison. These holes should have been capped with latex caulk that could be punctured for future applications.
Edit...
Check with the past owners - this should be fairly simple. With hole that close to the ground and equally close spacing; I am sure that it is for SOME sort of insect control (carpenter ants, termites, roaches... whatever.)
2007-01-31 10:00:16 · answer #1 · answered by badnessdc 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Could be because when an older house (baloon frame) is insulated in the attic, and weather proofed, not as much air flows through house carrying out humidity. In an older house without a vapor barrier in the walls, the water then tries to leave through the walls, causing all of the exterior paint to blister off the boards. In extreme cases, you can go along popping the blistered paint and get water spraying/dribbling out. This means that the house requires repainting every summer. One solution is to drill holes and allow the walls to breathe. They should have little louvered caps in them so the mice don't enter the walls.
With baloon frame construction, originally there was a connection between the basement through the walls all the way to the attic. If you ever have a fire in the basement, the firefighters will see your stone foundation, and half will head to the basement, while another crew will head directly to the attic. If the fire isn't in the attic by the time they get there, it will be very soon.
I think you will find that the insulation in the attic has a vapor barrier, and that it also covers over the holes where the walls enter the attic. This insulation was not installed when the house was built.
Of course, you might have a house built 5 years ago, in which case my answer is complete foolishness.
2007-01-31 10:30:19 · answer #2 · answered by Bryan 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Damp proof course by the sound of the level the holes are at. Looks like the builders just didn't finish the job off. You should pay close attention to any other work carried out as this may be true of other jobs.
2007-01-31 13:09:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
There are three reasons why holes are in your wall, Ist cavity wall insulation but normally drilled into the mortar not the brick. 2nd. Damp course injected into the brick (poor worker not filling them in) 3rd New wall ties special rods that automatically tie bricks together also poor workmanship
2007-01-31 11:58:01 · answer #4 · answered by erichoare@btinternet.com 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The holes are probably from cavity wall insulation. The insulation of external walls is done by pumping the insulation into the cavity through holes drilled in the outer surface.
I don't think the holes need to be capped, otherwise I expect they would have been. They are there to afford ventilation.
If it bothers you, check with a local builder. Better safe than sorry.
2007-01-31 09:56:37 · answer #5 · answered by Faceless 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
it is most likely to be an injected damp proof if its in the UK these holes should have been filled if you can look on the inside wall and see if that has been drilled as sometimes it is injected from both sides
2007-01-31 21:30:45 · answer #6 · answered by 808fl 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
well obviously training the dogs is not an option, nor is putting some tabasco sauce on the post to stop that behavior so get a hammer drill and a new mailbox and mount that thing to the wall
2016-05-23 23:53:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be from termite treatment. In any case you should hire a home inspector to check out the house. Suprises sure ruin the joy of buying a house.
No I'm not a home inspector. I just know people that didn't have it done and regretted it.
2007-02-03 20:58:49 · answer #8 · answered by mountainriley 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is most probably from putting a dpc in. They drill the holes and inject a waterproof fluid into the wall.
2007-02-01 03:43:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If the house is a brick veneer the holes are there to let air circulate between the brick and the interior wall. They are know as weep holes, they also let moisture out that is caused from the air cavity sweating during the hot months.
2007-01-31 10:02:20 · answer #10 · answered by fire10c 1 · 1⤊ 4⤋