Do we need "airbricks"?

[JP_]

Why are airbricks needed? Can I not just remove a brick and put something like this mesh on the inside wall? Should be easier to keep clean, surely - nothing small can crawl into the gaps and move open for air movement.

 

[Tigercubrider]

mesh can be damaged. You could end up with far bigger things under your floor.
But if you want to maintain insect proof holes, sure, just add mesh over the air brick, inside or out.
The house that I grew up in had small sheets of perforated zinc pushed up against the brick and held in place with a stick.

Just don't restrict the air flow too much.

 

[^woody^]

Cavity wall?

 

[JP_]

No, just solid. And floor is raised, so no periscope things needed either.

 

[John D v2.0]

Simplicity and robustness.
Air bricks just build into the wall and stay in place without fixings like any other brick. And they cost a couple of pounds at most. The look neat enough too and don't really degrade.
Why make things complicated when you're building, but for retro fit just do what's best.

 

[^woody^]

Yeah go for it then. It will be lovely. A bit like Grand Design. Only without the grand, and without the design. But you never know, a hole in the wall and some mesh on the front room wall just might catch on.