Scottish Elises

We have these all over the outside walls of the house from 8ft AGL. We are looking at getting the house painted as it appears as if it only has an intermediate wash, probably due to Jenkinson's wife hoofing it off with the builder.

However does anybody know the purpose of them as I have not seen them before. They do not look very attractive and I would like to cover them up, but I presume that they must have a purpose.



tut

Pretty sure they are air vents for the cavity wall.

http://rts.vents.co.uk/blog/venting-and ... ber-frame/

To vent cavity spaces to prevent dampness.

Thanks guys, they are called Weep Hole Ducts. Does anybody else have them on their house as I do not recollect seeing them?

In that case I presume that I should not paint over them but will have to live with them.

tut

I think most modern houses now have these. Our house (13 years old) has them, but not as many - maybe 5 or 6 along the whole width of the wall so they aren't so obvious. I wouldn't block them off, but getting a small brush and painting the plastic on the inside the same colour as the wall would render them almost invisible from a distance.

Yep I have some on both gables.

Yeah I have seen these on several new builds, sometimes painted over.

Thanks again.

Would you say that the walls have not been given a final coat of paint but that they are just covered with a wash. I know Jenkinson was looking at getting them painted possibly with Lighthouse paint, but did not go ahead with it as he was a pikey git.

tut

Could just be whitewash which would need redoing every couple of years especially in your exposed position.

You could whitewash or get the walls rendered. Rendering will be more expensive but you can get coloured/ white chips that are self coloured so it wouldn't need to be done again. Whereas whitewash will need refreshed although frequency depends on how exposed to the elements the house is and if it's done well it should last for a good few years.

I think you should use this: http://www.paintmyproperty.com/self-cleaning-paint.html looks like it would save having to clean or paint all the time.

Just realised It has the quite an appropriate name being recommended on this forum.

It looks as if it has to be applied by the Company who are in Hemel Hempstead.

tut

Tut, my house is about 6 years old and has a coloured rough render applied. The ventilation slots are normal and remain visible. Your house looks like it has been prepared for painting to me. If it was to have a render applied it would need a 'scratch coat' applied' first so the render could bind to the wall.

I was actually looking at straight painting as the surface is good, Dulux Weathershield Smooth seems to be the recommended paint. The other option is to leave it as is as long as that does not affect its protection as it has been like that for nine years.

tut