What is a cavity tray? Your guide to this essential damp-proofing component
If a survey has revealed that your home doesn’t have a cavity tray above a window or door – or that the existing one has failed – you might be wondering what exactly this is, and why it matters enough to hold up your project.
A cavity tray is small, tucked away and easy to overlook – until it’s missing or not fit for purpose.
In this guide, we’ll explain what a cavity tray does, why it’s important, which properties are most likely to need one, and what happens if yours needs to be replaced or fitted.
What is a cavity tray?
A cavity tray is a damp-proofing component fitted within a cavity wall – the gap between the external and internal layers of brick or blockwork. It’s typically made from a flexible, waterproof material such as polyethylene or PVC.
Cavity trays are most commonly found:
- Above window and door openings, sitting just above the lintel
- At roof abutments, such as where a roof meets a wall
- Above concrete slabs, beams, airbricks and pipes that cross the cavity
Why is a cavity tray important?
With a cavity wall, wind-driven rain can work its way through the outer layer of brickwork and into the cavity behind it. Ordinarily, that moisture simply runs harmlessly down inside the cavity.
The problem arises above a window or door, where the cavity is interrupted by the lintel. Without something to catch and redirect the water ingress, it can pool on top of the lintel and eventually run through to the internal wall and into your home.
This is exactly what a cavity tray is designed to prevent. It sits above the window or door, sloping outward across the cavity and performs two functions:
- The cavity tray collects any water running down inside the cavity
- It then diverts it back outside through small gaps in the brickwork, known as weep holes, rather than letting it soak into the inner wall
Without a cavity tray – or with one that’s damaged or blocked – water can find its way through, leading to:
- Damp patches on the wall or ceiling directly above the window
- Bubbling paint or softening plaster
- Mould growth
- Longer-term structural deterioration if left unresolved
Which homes are likely to be missing a cavity tray?
This usually depends on when your property was built and any alterations that have taken place since.
- Pre-1920s homes: usually of solid wall construction, so cavity trays don’t apply in the traditional sense – although if a cavity wall extension has been added since, that new section will need a cavity tray.
- 1920s–1940s homes: built as cavity wall construction became increasingly common, but detailing – including cavity trays – wasn’t always consistent, and regulations were far less rigorous than today.
- 1950s–1970s homes: cavity wall construction is standard, but a significant number were built or altered during this period without adequate cavity trays above openings, particularly where windows were subsequently replaced without one being installed.
- Homes with replacement windows or doors fitted before more rigorous building regulations: may also be missing a cavity tray, even if the rest of the wall’s damp-proofing is sound.
In summary: the older your property, or the more times its windows and doors have been altered, the more likely it is that a cavity tray is missing, damaged or was incorrectly installed.
What’s involved in fitting a cavity tray?
If your survey shows you need a cavity tray fitted, our team will carry out the work as part of your window or door installation. This involves:
- Carefully removing a small section of the external brickwork above the opening
- Fitting the cavity tray, correctly angled to direct water outward
- Creating or clearing weep holes in the brickwork so water can drain away
- Making good the brickwork to match the surrounding wall
The job requires precision and expertise – and it’s one that we are very experienced in looking after for our clients. Cavity tray installation is designed to protect your home from a problem that’s far more disruptive (and costly) to fix once water ingress and damp has caused an issue.
Frequently asked questions
Why wasn’t this identified before I received my quotation?
Cavity trays sit hidden inside the wall, and when we initially come to quote we don’t undertake a structural survey. Their condition can only be properly assessed once a structural survey takes place and the opening can be examined more closely.
Does a missing cavity tray always cause damp straight away?
Not necessarily. Depending on the aspect of the wall and exposure to weather, it may take some time before issues appear. This doesn’t mean there is no risk – it’s usually a matter of when, not if, an unprotected opening will allow water through.
Is this the same issue as a missing lintel?
These issues are related but different. A lintel supports the structural load above an opening, whereas a cavity tray manages water within the cavity above that lintel. Both can be picked up during the same structural survey, and it’s possible for a property to need one, both or neither.
How do I know if my home already has a cavity tray?
It’s not something you can usually check yourself. Cavity trays are hidden within the cavity wall and weep holes can be quite subtle and not immediately obvious. A structural survey is the most reliable way to confirm whether a cavity tray is both present and in good condition.
Can I leave it and see if a problem develops?
We wouldn’t recommend it. Once water ingress begins, the resulting damp, mould and plaster damage is usually more costly and disruptive to put right than fitting a cavity tray at the time of your window or door installation.
Does this apply to both windows and doors?
Yes. Any opening that interrupts the cavity wall, whether it’s a window or a door, needs a cavity tray above it to manage water correctly.
Speak to our team
Cavity trays are one of those details that make a real difference to keeping your home damp-free. If you have any questions or concerns about a cavity tray issue identified during your survey, our experienced team is on hand to help.
Please call us on 01444 45 71 45 or visit our welcoming Haywards Heath showroom.