Weep holes protect a brick structure’s building envelope from moisture accumulation by allowing water in the wall cavity to escape.

However, you must cover the weep holes with a screen that will keep tiny termites, larger rats, and dangerous embers and sparks from passing through, like Polygaurd’s TERM Weep and Vent Barrier.

What is the Purpose of a Weep Hole?

Porous brick siding allows moisture to infiltrate and get trapped behind the brick walls, which can lead to mold and severe structural damage.

Therefore, builders put weep holes (small openings) in brick walls of external masonry walls to create a path for water trapped in the building envelope to drain.

The weep holes also provide wall cavity ventilation. Drainage and ventilation help prevent the growth of structurally damaging and unhealthy mold and leaks into a home or building.

What is a Weep Hole in Brick?

Typically builders place weep holes at the bottom of brick exterior walls. They look like vertical gaps in the mortar joints between bricks. As gravity pulls water down to the bottom of the wall, the weep holes allow water to exit just above the foundation. You’ll also find them above windows, doors, and any openings.

What is a Weep Hole in a House Window?

Builders also put weep holes on the inside window tracks to prevent water from sitting on the sill and causing rot. Typically they look like black rectangular flaps with a horizontal sliver in the middle. The flaps stop or minimize water infiltration, but allow water that does to exit.

Weep Hole Maintenance

You must adequately maintain the weep holes to ensure they properly function. Tips for maintaining weep holes include:

• Never paint, seal, paint, or caulk over weep holes. Filled holes trap water, which will force it inside and can damage your home’s structure.
• Keep plants at least 18 inches away from weep holes.
• Clear debris or dirt from the weep holes.

The Problems with Weep Holes

Weep holes help keep the building envelope dry and free of damaging mold. Unfortunately, they also create a path for termites and other pests to access the structure. In addition, pinhead size embers can also make their way into weep holes, and quickly spread fire through a building – particularly problematic in wildfire-prone regions. Weep holes require adequate aperture-size weep-hole grated covers or screens to prevent the infiltration of nasty pests and dangerous embers.

Termites live almost everywhere, and with subterranean termites causing about 95 percent of the damage, Polyguard recommends a weep hole cover with a screen aperture size of 1/55th of an inch or smaller to protect against subterranean termites, like Polygaurd’s TERM Weep and Vent Barrier.

When adequately constructed as part of a masonry wall, the stainless-steel, corrosion-resistant TERM Weep and Vent Barrier excludes passage of all sizes of pests and embers. The stainless-steel mesh’s strength and the melt bond between the screen and the frame will resist every pest, from the tiniest termites to large pests like rodents, snakes, and scorpions.

The TERM Weep and Vent Barrier includes a stainless-steel mesh screen with 0.017″ openings melt-bonded to a 3/8″ x 1 ½” x 4″ rectangular PETG plastic frame.

Builders can use TERM Weep and Vent Barriers as part of the Polyguard pesticide-free TERM Barrier System for new construction. When properly installed as part of the building envelope, the TERM Barrier System can block almost all pests for the brick building or home’s lifespan. The system also can significantly minimize the need for pesticide treatment.

Polyguard TERM Water and Termite Barrier

Polyguard TERM waterproofing with non-chemical termite barriers offers a physical method to create a termite-proof barrier under the building.

The Polyguard TERM Barrier Systems Division specializes in sustainable pest barriers without pesticides to protect against termites, energy, radon, and moisture in one building envelope solution. It blocks termites and water when correctly constructed as part of the building envelope and allows for quick and straightforward application with just a few tools and materials.

The TERM termite barrier application for the below-grade walls includes seven components:

1. Peel and stick TERM Foundation Barrier protects concrete foundations against termites and water
2. Polyguard 650 WB liquid adhesive to improve adhesion
3. Preformed corner boots for outside and inside corners
4. TERM Flashing Moisture|Termite Barrier for energy sealing and insect resistance
5. Asphalt/rubber-based Polyguard 650 Mastic Polyguard provides superior adhesion to the Polyguard 650 Waterproofing Membrane, wood surfaces, structural concrete, and masonry.
6. Polyflow 15P applies over the waterproofing membrane to direct moisture into the drain core. It can limit hydrostatic pressure when connected to our high-capacity collector and outlet drainage system, Totalflow™.
7. Term® Water|Termite Sealant stops intrusion at slab penetrations.

Installing the Polyguard Term barrier requires only a couple of tools: a utility knife, measuring tape, a caulking gun, a hard wall roller, and (2) lambswool rollers.

Protecting Weep Holes with TERM Weep and Vent Barrier

TERM Weep and Vent Barriers, as part of Polyguards pesticide-free TERM Barrier System, will protect your brick structures from termites, mice, and embers. When installed as part of the building envelope, the TERM Barrier System can block almost all pests for the structure’s life. The system also can significantly minimize the need for pesticide treatment.

To inquire about TERM Weep and Vent Barriers for your next new home or building project or additional information on the TERM Barrier System products, don’t hesitate to contact the Polyguard professionals today!

Protecting below-grade insulated concrete form (ICF) walls (crawl space, slab, or basement) from termites requires an application of superior ICF waterproofing, like TERM Water|Termite Barrier.

Termites can’t compromise the strength of a below-grade ICF wall, but they can burrow through, undetected by coverings of siding, wood, paint, stucco, etc. Eventually, the termites will make it up the structure’s walls, roof, and floors, reaching and damaging the untreated wood.

For the long-term integrity of all the building components in an ICF structure, its foundation needs protection against termites. Building codes often ban below-grade rigid foam without an approved protection method in heavily infested areas, like the southeast United States, California, and Hawaii.

Where Termites Live

Termites live almost everywhere, with subterranean termites causing about 95 percent of the damage. Subterranean termites live in soil to avoid extreme temperatures while maintaining access to vital moisture. They attack any source of cellulose within a foraging distance of their colony. They feed on or near the ground on wood, cardboard, paper, and fiberboard. The destructive and aggressive East Asian Formosan subterranean termite, which entered the U.S in the 1940s, can multiply and destroy wood structures faster than other native subterranean species.

Protecting an ICF Home from Termites

Protecting an ICF home from termites involves implementing both preventive maintenance and physical methods, like applying a termite-resistant waterproofing membrane.

Preventive Maintenance to Prevent Termites

Homeowners can take several preventive steps to prevent termites from infesting their property:

1. Replace weather-stripping and loose mortar near and around windows and basement foundation.
2. Minimize moisture in and around the house. Termites need water to thrive.
3. Repair leaking water pipes, exterior AC units, and faucets.
4. Drain the water away from the home with functional gutters, splash blocks, and downspouts.
5. Inspect the foundation for mud tubes, uneven or bubbling paint, and hollow-sounding wood – all signs of termites.
6. Monitor all exterior wood for any indication of change, including door frames and windows.
7. Maintain an 18-inch gap between all wood portions of your house and the soil.
8. Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home.
9. Schedule annual professional termite inspections.

Physical Methods of Termite Protection

Common physical methods of termite control include partial protection with termite shields and collars and full-foundation physical barriers that create a termite-proof barrier under the building, like Polyguard TERM waterproofing with non-chemical termite barriers. 

Polyguard TERM Water and Termite Barrier

Polyguard TERM waterproofing with non-chemical termite barriers provides an outstanding water and termite protection solution for ICF homes.

The Polyguard TERM Barrier Systems Division specializes in sustainable pest barriers without pesticides to protect against termites, moisture, energy, and radon in a single building envelope solution. It effectively blocks termites and water when properly constructed as part of the building envelope, and allows for fast and straightforward application with just a few materials and tools.

The TERM termite barrier application for the foundation includes seven components:

1. Peel and stick TERM® Foundation Barrier protects commercial and residential ICF and concrete foundations against water and termites. Globally used since 1970, TERM Foundation Barrier, Polyguard foundation waterproofing membranes; NAHB’s Home Innovation Research Labs certified it as point-worthy for the National Green Building Standard™.
2. Preformed corner boots for inside and outside corners
3. Polyguard 650 WB liquid adhesive to enhance adhesion
4. TERM® Flashing Moisture|Termite Barrier provides waterproofing, energy sealing, and insect resistance.
5. Asphalt/rubber-based Polyguard 650 Mastic Polyguard provides excellent adhesion to the Polyguard 650 Waterproofing Membrane, structural concrete, masonry, and wood surfaces.
6. Term Water|Termite Sealant prevents infiltration at slab penetrations.
7. Polyflow 15 P applies over the waterproofing membrane to direct moisture into the drain core. It can minimize hydrostatic pressure when connected to our high-capacity collector and outlet drainage system, Totalflow™.

Installing the Polyguard Term non-chemical termite barrier requires only a few tools: measuring tape, utility knife, hard wall roller, (2) lambs wool rollers, and a caulking gun.

Installing TERM Foundation Barrier

1. Prep the ICF wall

• Check ICF foundation wall conditions and concrete footer
• Needs above freezing temperatures
• Remove debris
• Clean wall and concrete footer
• Seal any crack over ⅛-inch

2. Detailing

• Apply Polyguard 650 WB Liquid Adhesive to surfaces you plan to put the Term Flashing Barrier or corner bootsInstall corner boots
• Install corner boots
• Install Term Flashing Barrier
• Flash projections with an extra ply of barrier

3. Prime the surface

• Apply Polyguard 650 WB Liquid Adhesive on all concrete and ICF wall surfaces, and allow to cure until tacky (20-30 minutes)

4. Install the barrier

• Pull the release liner at the top, and adhere to the ICF wall
• Overlap the side seams by 2-inches and then use the roller to seal the seams
• Install barrier over the footer
• When installing a Term Underslab Barrier, make sure it ties 100 percent to the Term Foundation Barrier on the footer

5. Seal penetrations

• Apply 650 Mastic to all seams

6. Install drainboard

• Install Polyguard drain mat Polyflow 15P over the installed Term Foundation Barrier
• During installation, adhere to the drain mat with adhesive, like Polyguard LT

Why ICF Walls Need Polyguard TERM Waterproofing/Termite Barrier

TERM waterproofing with non-chemical termite barriers is an excellent solution to blocking termites in below-grade walls. Since 1999, entomology scientists and Polyguard have collaborated to create a non-pesticide, waterproofing/termite physical barrier. Our products prevent termites from entering a house through a foundation, along with bath traps, slab penetrations, joints, or cracks or joints in the floor, spaces where concrete slab intersects with exterior sheathing, across the horizontal floor surface, and cold joints.

Don’t hesitate to contact Polyguard® today for more on how to protect ICF homes against termites.

TERM waterproofing with non-chemical termite barriers offers a superior solution to blocking termites in subfloors. Since 1999, Polyguard and entomology scientists have worked together to develop a non-pesticide, waterproofing/termite physical barrier.

Our product stops termites from entering a home or building through slab penetrations, bath traps, cracks or joints in the floor, spaces where concrete slab intersects with exterior sheathing, across the horizontal floor surface, cold joints, and foundation.

Termites pose a significant threat to the integrity and value of your home or building. Therefore, protecting your investment requires the implementation of termite prevention methods (like the Polyguard non-pesticide physical termite barrier) and immediate remediation if you discover termites.

Termite Damage

Each year, termites cause up to $5 billion in damages in the U.S., affecting our houses, commercial buildings, decks, boats, trees, and more, making termite prevention and control necessary. Termites will weaken and warp the structural frame or building. Signs that you have a termite problem include:

• Sticking or not opening and closing properly windows and doors
• House settling, causing the floor to sink
• Water-like damage on your ceiling
• Bubbling behind paint and wallpaper
• Honeycomb-like denting (caused by tunneling termites) on the surface of your hardwood baseboards, window, and door frames

Termites can also damage the inside of your building or home, eating anything that contains cellulose: books, clothing, cardboard, etc. In addition, termites will attack wood fences, outbuildings, firewood piles, and other wood that is exposed to the outdoors.

Types of Termites

Nearly 2,800 species of termites live on the planet, but only a few cause us problems: Subterranean, Formosan subterranean, Drywood, and Dampwood termites.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termite groups or colonies live underground in loose, damp soil
and survive on wood. They represent 95 percent of the termite damage in North America. A colony of subterranean termites can include one million members, eating up to 15 pounds of wood per week, destroying home foundations, support beams, insulation, plastic pipes, and more.

Subterranean termites form structures by building mud tubes that provide a moist, protective passageway from one location to another from the ground to deck posts, door frames, porch steps, cracks in the foundation, or brick mortar.

Subterranean Termite Damage

Termites often damage a house or building long before the owners realize they have a full-blown infestation. Termites and moisture damage look similar – buckling wood, and swollen ceilings and floors. Home and building owners should immediately begin remediation when they see signs of subterranean termites.

• The presence of mazes within the furniture or walls
• The smell like mildew or mold
• Mud tubes or tunnels made from termite saliva, soil, and wood, typically located near the foundation of a structure

Formosan Termites

The highly destructive Formosan subterranean termites arrived from China possibly in infested wooden railroad stakes. A single Formosan subterranean termite colony may contain several million termites. These termites infest wood and other cellulose-based goods, like boats. While most commonly found in Louisiana, the risk also exists in New Mexico, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Formosan termites enter structures where the wood touches the soil, and they travel through mud tubes from the ground to wood, often entering through openings created by unsealed joints or cracks. Swarmers may also infest roofs and other above-ground spots.

Signs of Formosan Termites Include:

• Swarmers near lights, doors, and vents
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• A grain pattern in the wood, caused by feeding termites

Drywood Termites

Drywood termite colonies typically live above ground, inside walls, door and window frames, and furniture and trees, feeding on wood from the inside out. Drywood termites get into houses and buildings by flying through unscreened vents in the attic or foundation, cracks in the window and door frames, soffits, and roof sheathing.

Drywood Termite Damage

Drywood termite-infested wood may look fine from the outside but be crumbling from within. Signs of drywood termites include:

• Swarmers or flying adults, often occurring during the fall and summer
• Termite fecal pellets
• Cracks in veneer
• Visible, maze-like tunnels

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites build their colonies in damp, decaying wood, mainly impacting the Pacific coast, the deserts of the Southwest, and southern Florida. They mostly threaten homes with moisture and plumbing issues. Dampwood termites get into homes or buildings through swarmers or infested lumber.

Signs of Dampwood Termite Infestation Include:

• Termite fecal pellets
• Dead swarmers
• Soft spots in the wood

TERM Termite Barriers for Residential and Commercial Construction

Polyguard Products specialize in protecting commercial and residential surfaces and structures from moisture, water, chemicals, corrosion, radon, and other unwanted substances, including termites.

The TERM Barrier Systems Division of Polyguard Products specializes in sustainable pest barriers without pesticides. TERM means Termites, Energy, Radon, and Moisture prevention in one building envelope solution. The TERM termite barrier applications include nine components:

1. Term Termite Sealant at Slab Penetrations

TERM® Water|Termite|Sealant Barrier applies with a caulking gun or smoothing tool, and protects against water and termites. Chemical and metal-free, Term Termite Sealant can stop termite entry by:

• Sealing slab penetrations, seams, and gaps
• As a part of the TERM Full Bath Trap Barrier to stop termites, rodents, fire ants moles, etc. from getting underneath bathtubs at ground level
• Detailing small gaps and tears found during inspection or construction on horizontal or vertical portions of the TERM building envelope pest barrier system

2. TERM Full Bath Trap Barrier

Polyguard’s TERM™ Full Bath Trap Barrier is a combination barrier that blocks termites, fire ants, mice, rats, and moles from entering through bath traps (blockouts) in a concrete slab, a common open door for pests. Contractors install the non-chemical barrier after pouring the concrete slab and completing the rough plumbing.

TERM Particle Barrier for Bath Traps

After completing the rough plumbing, TERM Particle Barrier installs in the bath trap cavity. The barriers include particles too large for the termites to move, yet too small to crawl through the aggregates. TERM Particle Barrier provides a sustainable alternative to the past method of placing heavy termiticide application used around slab penetrations before pouring the concrete slab.

3. TERM Sill Plate Barrier

The TERM® Sill Plate Barrier is an adhesive sealant that prevents termites from accessing wood framing through concrete cracks or joints in the floor, which can be significant access points for subterranean termites. Used in conjunction with TERM Flashing Barrier, it bonds to the subfloor, and blocks termite access to the sill plate.

TERM Sill Plate Barrier installed underneath the sill plate provides several benefits:

• Is a non-chemical barrier to subterranean termites
• Provides wood, water, and vapor proofing against moisture from the concrete
• Contributes towards a tight building envelope
• Stops foraging insects, such as ants and cockroaches from entering at gaps between the sill plate and unlevel slabs
• Provides supplemental protection to wood framing sodium borate treatment

4. TERM Flashing Moisture|Termite Barrier

The TERM® Flashing Moisture|Termite Barrier is a peel-and-stick barrier that provides waterproofing, energy sealing, and insect resistance. Contractors apply TERM Flashing Moisture|Termite Barrier where the horizontal concrete slab intersects with exterior sheathing, a frequent entry point for termites found on the slab’s outside or foundation wall. TERM® Flashing Moisture|Termite Barrier also prevents moisture and energy leaks at the slab and sheathing intersection.

5. TERM Wood or Tile Floor Underlayment Barrier

TERM® Wood Floor Underlayment Termite Barrier includes a 40 mils thick composite membrane of polyethylene backing and TERM Sealant Barrier, with a ½-inch extended edge that provides a complete overlap seal at the edge.

Polyguard winds the elastomeric, self‐adhesive barrier on cores with a disposable silicone‐coated release sheet that installers remove immediately before application.

When installed properly, TERM® forms a complete seal across the entire horizontal floor surface, blocking almost every entry point that a subterranean termite can find.

In addition, the barrier also provides several other significant benefits:

• Protects wood underlayment and laminate flooring
• Acts as a moisture barrier to protect wood flooring from moisture damage caused by moisture vapor underneath the slab
• Self‐healing properties of the sealant component enable it to create a seal around any nails driven through the barrier during installation
• Creates a non-structural barrier to block termites and water
• Provides sound-absorbing and insulating qualities to create a quiet and warm floor

6. TERM Particle Barrier for Termites

TERM® Particle Barrier for Termites includes precisely-sized particles that form a non‐chemical barrier to Formosan and Eastern subterranean termites, significantly reducing the termiticides needed to protect homes and buildings. The particles stop termites from climbing up the side of the exposed concrete.

7. TERM Isolation Joint Barrier

The TERM© Isolation Joint Barrier, used in conjunction with TERM Particle Barrier, seals isolation joints (cold joints) that occur in the gaps where patios, driveways, and sidewalks connect with the structure, spaces where termites can infiltrate.

8. TERM Foundation Barrier

For twenty years, builders have applied TERM® Foundation Barriers to concrete or insulated concrete foundation walls to stop water and termite intrusion.

9. TERM Underslab Barrier

The TERM® Underslab Barrier provides the base component of the TERM Barrier System. It is a system that significantly lessens the need for pesticides during the structure’s lifetime.

Why Apply Polyguard TERM Non-Pesticide Physical Termite Barriers?

Polyguard TERM Non-Pesticide Physical Termite Barriers provide a superior solution to blocking termites, energy, radon, and moisture infiltration in one building envelope solution. Preventing termites from accessing your home or building will protect the value of your structure and save thousands of dollars and hours of repair.

Don’t hesitate to contact the Polyguard® professionals today for more on keeping termites out of subfloors.

Concrete slabs and foundation walls will inevitably crack, allowing entry of water, contaminants, and termites The best concrete waterproofing blocks water before it reaches the concrete joints or cracks, thus protecting the building envelope from water damage. Above grade, flashings (pictured below) and air barriers block moisture and air leaks, improving air quality and providing energy savings.

Additionally, building envelope barriers can be upgraded to function as a non-chemical physical termite barrier, which is increasingly important in the Southeast, Southern California, and Hawaii where destructive Formosan termites are infesting more and more regions.

Because the slab construction process is very destructive, you need an extremely puncture-resistant waterproofing barrier. Both Polyguard Underseal waterproofing, and Polyguard TERM® Underslab Water and Termite Barrier have over 230 pounds of puncture resistance.

USGBC and LEED Considerations

Polyguard’s waterproofing, building envelope, and termite barriers contribute to sustainability and increase the life of the structure.

Polyguard physical termite barriers not only eliminate structural damage, extending building life, but also block entry of termites and almost all other pests, The result is less disruptions for occupants, and a reduced need for poisonous termiticide and pesticide treatments.

HPD’s provide transparency of product ingredients. Polyguard waterproofing, air barrier, and termite barrier products will quality for USGBC LEED MR credit Building Product Disclosure and Optimization.

Polyguard building envelope materials have no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) except for some of the liquid adhesives used on exterior concrete to prepare the surface.
Pokyguard systems also use a solvent-free water-based primer which is replacing solvent-based primers in many applications.

LEED V4 standards call out the implementation of IPM (Integrated Pest Management). “Nonchemical pest preventive measures, either designed into the structure or implemented as part of pest management activities.”. TERM Barrier System products allow you to design non-chemical termite and pest barriers not just in several locations, but around most points of the building envelope.
LEED AQ Credit 5 offers another credit opportunity, as both underslab products have been shown to block transmission of pesticide residuals, as well as radioactive radon.
LEED also has ID1 Innovation in Design credit. Polyguard’s TERM Barrier systems will qualify for this credit.
Polyguard’s building envelope products are designed to stand up to the harshest of conditions and have been proven through 50 years of use.

Other Benefits of Underseal Underslab Water and Termite Barrier Membranes

• Superior puncture resistance of 230 pounds,15 times greater than the resistance of Class A Vapor Barriers
• Eliminates water leaks.
• Creates a solid adhesive and mechanical bond with the concrete slab to prevent water migration between the concrete and membrane
• Installs easily due to its conformability to irregular surfaces on the job site.
• Offers full-adhering, watertight laps at all joints.
• If a crack develops in the slab or base material, the barrier’s stress-absorbing and elongation properties will maintain a watertight seal.

Poly Wall Home Stretch Waterproofing

Poly Wall® Home Stretch™ Waterproofing Membrane is specifically engineered for use with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) technology. It is also excellent for use on poured concrete foundation walls, to contribute significantly to durable construction and healthy indoor environments.

TERM – Non-Chemical Termite Barriers & Waterproofing

Polyguard professionals are here to answer your questions on selecting the best moisture barrier for protecting concrete slabs and floors. Contact us today!