One hundred and fifty millimetres, and why it is not negotiable
The gap between your brickwork and the ground does two jobs.
In short: Weep holes required, or present with clearance under the figure the standard asks for.
The drainage job
Water gets into every cavity wall. Weep holes let it drain out and let the cavity dry.
The inspection job
The clear gap between the weep holes and the finished ground is the zone where termite activity would have to become visible before it reaches the frame.
What we recorded
Weep holes required outright on Austral handovers, and elsewhere present but with clearance under 150 mm.
Where the figure comes from
The standard sets the clearance above finished ground, with a lesser figure permitted over graded paved surfaces. The report says which one applies.
How it gets lost
Landscaping and paving added after the brickwork, usually with the best intentions.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Austral. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
