Snakes in the house...

16 years ago

I've noticed that there is mortar missing from vertical joints between the bricks on the lower part of our house (about the level of the foundation). It appears that these gaps are intentional. They are evenly spaced and the mortar isn't crumbling -- it appears that those spaces were never filled. I assumed they were there to treat termites or allow moisture to escape or some other good purpose.

This evening, I was rounding the corner of the house and saw a snake coming out of one of those gaps. When I screamed, he retreated back into the house. I'm confident (well, fairly) that we don't actually have any snakes inside the living quarters, but obviously he is behind the brick. When he started slithering out again, my husband (after scaring the snake back in) filled the hole with wasp & hornet spray -- it's all that was handy. That was about an hour ago, and now the snake is just sitting there with his head sticking out of the hole. In the unlikely even that wasp spray is an effective poison for snakes, I'd rather he not die inside the brick.

Anyway, are those gaps in the mortar necessary? I really want to caulk them closed. I hate snakes. Granted this is a small snake, but it's still like a nighmare to me.

Featured Answer

billmauldin_yahoo_com

15 years ago

Rats, mice and lizards will get in the house thru weep holes, and snakes can go ANYWHERE they can go. Usually they will end up in the attic. I know, I bought a house to flip and it had many snakes in the attic (over 3 ft. long)I solved the problem by installing BugOut vent covers on all the weep holes. Since then, I also put them on my personal home.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

annzgw
16 years ago
Those areas are called weep holes and allow the area between brick and framing to breathe.

I suggest you leave the poor snake alone. He's probably eating insects, and if he's large enough....mice, that you have in the area. I doubt he's going any further than the opening in the brick since there is framing/sheathing & insulation behind the brick.
Having said that, he probably didn't survive the wasp spray.
weedyacres
16 years ago
ROTFL!! Sorry, I couldn't help laughing at your adventure. Snakes in the weepholes...who knew? Yeah, they let the water out that get through the brick and runs down the air space in between the brick and the sheathing. Don't plug those up.

I did, however, find these weep hole covers online that are designed to keep snakes and rodents out of your weep holes.

Here is a link that might be useful: weep hole covers
Related Professionals
Daytona Beach Home Remodeling · Saint Joseph Home Remodeling · Cincinnati Home Remodeling · Show Low Home Remodeling · Sterling Home Remodeling · Owensboro Kitchen Remodelers · Portsmouth Kitchen Remodelers · Westerly Kitchen Remodelers · Los Angeles Kitchen Remodelers · Forrest City Bathroom Remodelers · Lexington Bathroom Remodelers · Bartlesville Bathroom Remodelers · Galveston Bathroom Remodelers · Davenport Bathroom Remodelers · Moline Bathroom Remodelers
quandary
Original Author
16 years ago
annz, I know that you are right. Intellectually I know that this little snake is not only harmless to me, but is actually beneficial, but I still cannot stand the thought of snakes within the walls of my house.

I will definitely be purchasing weep hole covers -- thanks weedyacres for the link. I watched that video in absolute horror -- I had no idea that this is a common problem, and furthermore, who knew Sean Connery had gone from James Bond to doing infomercials for weep hole covers! It's a crazy world we're living in.

There are also weep hole covers that you adhere to the brick with caulk and they open and close like a tic tac box. I'm not sure which would be better...

Here is a link that might be useful: bug out weep hole covers that open
wi-sailorgirl
16 years ago
I'd be selling the house. I can't deal with snakes
vampiressrn
16 years ago
YIKES!!! I don't want snakes or rodents in my house or under it. Good thing you saw the creature and now have a solution.

My 91 year old Mom lives in a big country home in the mountains of San Diego. There are tons of rattle snakes on her property...our whole family was good with a hoe. Recently she went in her bathroom and saw the curtains moving by the sliding glass door that goes to the pool. It was a diamond backed rattle snake...she closed the door so it wouldn't get in the rest of the house and decided to face off with it. She ended up grabbing a toilet brush and beating it to death while it was striking at her. NOW THAT IS MOXY!!!!
Sue Brunette (formerly known as hockeychik)
16 years ago
I'll never forget my little run in with a snake. I went downstairs to do some laundry and found a garter snake on the floor. It totally creeped me out. I just hate snakes. Especially when you see them where you shouldn't. It was mid January in MN! We ended up with a few in the basement that winter. They were coming in through cracks in the foundation/cement block wall. My husband made up a little noose on a pole(kind of like what the dogcatcher would use to grab an animal. Of course, while he was out of town I found another snake. I had to force myself to use the pole and nab the snake. But I was so freaked out that instead of just tossing the snake out the basement window, I let the entire contraption fly. Good thing I didn't need to use the pole again because I wasn't going anywhere near that snake again-even if it was now a snake popsicle! That spring my husband made sure he sealed even the tiniest cracks in the foundation and that seems to have done the trick. Thank goodness.
krycek1984
16 years ago
Snakes would sometimes come into our basement. I didn't care but my partner hated them. I just told him to ignore them. Outside, I had to kill a couple that were too aggressive.

If you have a cat, no need for a snake. The cat will catch all matter of vermin within no time.