Cavity-wall construction with insect barrier

1. An improved mortar-and-debris-catching device for use above grade in a cavity-wall construction having weep holes, comprising:

(a) a water-permeable body having circuitous non-linear pathways therethrough yielding a first-average opening size that is large enough to permit water to pass therethrough, but small enough to substantially prevent mortar and other debris from passing therethrough, said body presenting a discontinuous upper surface at least in part, when placed in a cavity of the cavity-wall construction above grade to cover at least one weep hole; and

(b) a water-permeable barrier material provided on said body, said material yielding a second-average opening size that permits water to pass therethrough, while forming a barrier to insects which are of an effective size that is smaller than said first-average opening size, wherein said second-average opening size is at least an order of magnitude smaller than said first-average opening size, wherein said second-average opening size is smaller than said effective size, and wherein said second-average opening size defines an area between approximately 0.01 mm 2 and approximately 10 mm 2 .

2. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said second-average opening is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than said first-average opening size.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second-average opening size defines a one-dimensional length between 0.01 mm and 10 mm.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said effective size defines at least one of a volume, a cross-sectional area, and a one-dimensional length.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the effective size defines a one-dimensional length between 0.01 mm and 10 mm.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said body defines a first density, wherein said barrier material defines a second density, wherein said second density is at least twice that of said first density.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 , wherein said body and barrier material are formed of the same material.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said barrier material includes a plurality of circuitous non-linear pathways.

9. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said barrier material is a non-water absorbent randomly oriented fibrous material.

10. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said barrier material is a fabric material.

11. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the portion of said body and said barrier material cooperatively have a thickness dimension substantially the same as that of said cavity between an inner wall and an outer wall defining said cavity.

12. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said material further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of an insect repellant and an insecticide.

13. An improved weep-hole device for use above grade in a cavity-wall construction having weep holes, a weep hole defining a cross-sectional area, comprising:

(a) a water-permeable body having circuitous non-linear pathways therethrough positioned within said weep hole above ground, said body yielding a first-average opening size that is large enough to permit water to pass therethrough, but small enough to substantially prevent mortar and other debris from passing therethrough; and

(b) a water-permeable barrier material on said body, said material substantially spanning the cross-sectional area of said weep hole, said material yielding a second-average opening size that (i) permits water to pass therethrough, and (ii) forms a barrier to insects which are of an effective size that is smaller than said first-average opening size, wherein said second-average opening size is at least an order of magnitude smaller than said first-average opening size, wherein said second-average opening size is smaller than said effective size, and wherein said second-average opening size defines an area between approximately 0.01 mm 2 and approximately 10 mm 2 .

14. The device as defined in claim 13 , wherein said second-average opening is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than said first-average opening size.

15. The device as defined in claim 13 , wherein said body defines a first density, wherein said material defines a second density, wherein said second density is at least twice that of said first density.

16. The device as defined in claim 13 , wherein said material is a fabric material.

17. The device as defined in claim 16 , wherein said body defines an exterior surface, and wherein said barrier material is provided on the exterior surface of said body.

18. The device as defined in claim 13 , wherein said material further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of an insect repellant and an insecticide.

19. An improved mortar-and-debris-catching device for use above ground in a cavity-wall construction having weep holes, comprising:

(a) a water-permeable body having circuitous non-linear pathways therethrough yielding a first-average opening size that is large enough to permit water to pass therethrough, but small enough to substantially prevent mortar and other debris from passing therethrough, said body presenting a non-linear upper surface at least in part when placed in a cavity of the cavity-wall construction above ground to cover at least one weep hole; and

(b) a water-permeable barrier material provided on said body, said material yielding a second-average opening size that permits water to pass therethrough, while forming a barrier to insects which are of an effective size that is smaller than said first-average opening size, wherein said second-average opening size is at least an order of magnitude smaller than said first-average opening size, wherein said second-average opening size is smaller than said effective size, and wherein said second-average opening size defines an area between approximately 0.01 mm 2 and approximately 10 mm 2 .