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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
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Housing - Renovation: Purpose of vent?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeDec 15th 2019
     
    There is a wall vent about six inches down from the eaves of my 1930s semi bungalow, very close to the party wall, matched by the same on the neighbouring side. It is the only one high up; the others all vent the under floor void. I understand that the walls are solid brick -that's according the original plans and home report (though my neighbour thinks there is a cavity). I have taken the inside wall back to the original plaster and there is no sign of the vent ever coming right through as there is no plaster patch. Nor has there been a fireplace in this room.

    What could this vent be for?
  2.  
    We had exterior vents in a 1900 cottage and they vented the cavity. If possible I would put a endoscope camera in the vent and have a look.
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeDec 15th 2019
     
    I've just had a look at the construction around the under floor vents and there is no cavity. That's at the rear of the building, but I assume the construction is the same at the front where the high up mystery vent sits.
  4.  
    Posted By: PeterStarckIf possible I would put a endoscope camera in the vent and have a look.

    +1
    Or otherwise remove the vent cover to see what happens.
    Is the building rendered or do you have facing brickwork? Anything other than stretcher bond implies a cavity wall.

    Ask the neighbour if they have a clue as to the purpose of the vent.
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeDec 15th 2019
     
    No bricks visible on the outside as it's all rendered. Looking at the sub-floor vents doesn't give an inexperienced me much idea of the bond. The plans show a solid wall, 9 inches thick. And there is only the one upper vent to the whole house. Neighbour has no suggestions.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeDec 15th 2019
     
    I suspect that was there to ventilate the room, it might vent into the eaves box.

    No longer needed so can be closed up.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeDec 15th 2019
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryAnything other than stretcher bond implies a cavity wall.

    Is that the case? I thought stretcher bond was relatively modern, invented when accountants overruled designers? Surely even (especially?) solid walls will have bricks directed into the wall? Are you confusing terms?
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeDec 15th 2019
     
    Stretcher bond tends to suggest a cavity wall
  9.  
    Posted By: djh
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryAnything other than stretcher bond implies a cavity wall.

    Is that the case? I thought stretcher bond was relatively modern, invented when accountants overruled designers? Surely even (especially?) solid walls will have bricks directed into the wall? Are you confusing terms?

    Yes confusing myself here. I meant stretcher bond = cavity wall, anything else probably not cavity wall. (I did have a cavity wall with flemish bond constructed with snapped headers)
  10.  
    My late 19thC solid-brick-walled house has stretcher bond, meaning that it has 'cavity wall ties' too, the only point being that it does not have a (fillable) cavity. Of course it has a cavity - most 'solid' walls do - but 10-20mm, not 50. Equally, I visited a house with a surveyor and, before we left the car, he said 'solid wall'. Everything else about it screamed cavity wall. He had seen the 'headers' and concluded it was 'solid'. They were 'snap headers' and it had a 50+mm cavity.

    Edit: Crossed posts with P-in-H

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