How to address deck covering the weep holes?

jeeves

Hi. So I bought this house and the front deck has been built by the previous owner covering the weep holes (pointed out by the arrows), which is against the building code. Without getting rid of the whole deck, or lowering it all the way to the ground (to comply with the 75mm clearance) is there another solution? How much clearance does a weep hole need on its sides (it’s 100mm in front)? Any advice or any ideas would be appreciated! Cheers!

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jeeves. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about weep holes.

It looks like the deck might not have enough ground clearance to lower it enough to comply with the 75mm clearance rule, which could explain why it was built above the weep holes. As for the specific clearance required on the sides of the weep holes, this is detailed in the Building Code of Australia, so I'd recommend consulting with a builder for the most accurate advice on whether this deck setup meets the regulations, as they will have access to the code.

Typically, covering a weep hole would mean that it’s blocked or rendered unusable. In your case, it may just be that the last board of the deck is butted up against the weep holes, and if the joists underneath aren’t obstructing them, the weep holes might still be functioning. However, to be sure, it’s important to get a professional opinion to ensure you’re in compliance with the building code.

One potential solution could be to remove the last boards of the deck to see if the joists have the required setback. If they do, you might be able to finish the deck with the necessary gap to the wall, which would allow the weep holes to remain functional and in line with the regulations.

It’s definitely a good idea to consult a professional builder to ensure that the deck is compliant with the code and that any solutions you implement will be effective and safe.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell