Chapter 2 - Exteriors Flashcards
(108 cards)
0
Q
List 10 exterior wall surface materials that you’ll commonly find.
A
Brick, stone, concrete, stucco, EIFS, metal and vinyl siding, asphalt shingles, wood siding, cement-based siding, clay and slate shingles, plywood, hardboard, and OSB (orientated strandboard), fiber–cement siding
1
Q
List three main functions of exterior cladding.
A
- protect the structure from water
- provide reasonable security
- enhance the appearance of the house.
2
Q
List six common problems that are found on all types of wall systems.
A
- Water penetration
- too close to grade
- too close to roof surface at the bottom of the siding
- planters and gardens against the wall
- vines
3
Q
List seven common problems with masonry walls.
A
-efflorescence
-spalling
-cracking
mortar deterioration
-missing weep holes or flashings
-mechanical damage
-bowing walls
4
Q
Describe efflorescence. What is it?
A
Efflorescence is a whitish powder salt deposit that is associated with water moving through masonry. Water dissolves salts from masonry or mortar and deposits them on the surface as Crystal when evaporating.
5
Q
Expanding, rusting steel lentils over windows and doors often cause cracks in what direction in masonry walls?
A
Horizontal cracks
6
Q
Stucco is made of _______, _______, and _______.
A
Cement, aggregate and water.
7
Q
What is the problem with having aluminum in contact with stucco?
A
It oxidizes (deteriorates).
8
Q
List three functions of a weep screed.
A
- provides a finished edge
- allows drainage
- prevents water from being drawn up into the wall
9
Q
List five common problems with conventional stucco.
A
- cracks, crumbling, loose, or bulging
- incompatible flashings
- mechanical damage
- rusted lath or trim
- no weep screed
10
Q
What is the problem that people are experiencing with EIFS?
A
Water is getting into the wall system at penetrations causing structural damage.
11
Q
What is a kickout?
A
A flashing used where a wall extends beyond a roof, to shed roof water away from the stucco.
12
Q
List three causes of problems that are unique to EFIS compared to conventional stucco.
A
- lack of building paper acting as a backup moisture barrier
- no drainage plane
- poor drying potential
13
Q
List six factors that may suggest concealed problems with an EFIS application.
A
- high wind exposure
- high rainfall area
- small or no overhang
- lots of penetrations
- attention to detail at openings is poor
- horizontal stucco surfaces
- poor caulking maintenance
14
Q
List 10 areas outside to check for evidence of problems with EIFS installations.
A
- exposure
- roof\wall connections
- gutters
- chimneys
- door and window openings
- openings for electrical conduits, receptacles, lights, telephone wires, cable television, air conditioning refrigerant lines, pipe penetrations including hose bibbs, shutters, house numbers, etc.
- vent openings
- railing and deck connections
- cracks, bulges, peeling, fungus, exposed reinforced mesh or metal trim
- evidence of repairs – this can include patching or painting
15
Q
List five areas on the interior to check for evidence of problems with EIFS installations.
A
- stains on walls, floors, and ceilings
- rusting carpet tack strip
- peeling paint
- damaged flooring
- elevated moisture levels and drywall and\or subflooring
16
Q
List two areas in basements and crawlspaces to look for the respect to problems on the EFIS installations.
A
- mold or rot on joists, sills, rim joists, and subflooring
- stains on foundations coming from sill area
17
Q
What is the effect of vines growing on wood siding?
A
Vines on wood siding will hold water and reduce drying potential
18
Q
For each of the choices below, circle the siding that would perform better.
A. 12-inch-wide board - or - 6-inch-wide board
B. 3/4-inch-wide board - or - 3/8-inch-wide board
C. Smooth board - or - Rough-textured board
D. 6-foot-long board - or - 12-foot-long board
A
A. 6-inch-wide board
B. 3/4-inch-wide board
C. Rough-textured board
D. 6-foot-long board
19
Q
How many layers of wood shingles are typically used in a siding application?
A
Two (double layer)
20
Q
List five common problems with conventional wood siding (boards, shingles, or shakes).
A
- Rot
- splitting
- warping
- paint\stain problems
- loose
21
Q
Hardboard is a type of _______ board.
A
Fiber
22
Q
List four common problems with plywood, OSB, and hardboard.
A
- rot, swelling, and delamination
- buckling or cracking
- loose
- mechanical damage
23
Q
What is the life expectancy of vinyl and aluminum siding?
A
More than 40 years
24
List seven common problems with metal and vinyl siding.
- buckled or wavy
- loose
- flashing and caulking defects
- mechanical damage
- discolored
- metal siding not ground
- rust
25
Why shouldn't metal siding be grounded?
So the house shell cannot be electrically charged.
26
Asbestos cement shingles should be removed from houses.
True or False
False
27
What is the most common problem with asbestos cement shingles?
Mechanical damage because the siding is brittle.
28
List three common problems with modern fiber-cement shingles.
- mechanical damage
- missing paint or caulking
- nailing problems
29
How far should wood siding be kept above grade level?
6 inches
30
List two common problems to look for on the exterior of exposed foundations.
- cracks
| - spalling
31
Where are soffits and fascia typically found?
At the rafter ends.
32
What materials are commonly used for soffits and fascia?
- wood
- aluminum
- fiber-cement
- hardboard
- OSB
- plywood
- vinyl
33
What are the issues surrounding a double layer of soffit material (e.g., aluminum over wood)?
- damage on the original layer cannot be detected
| - soffit vents can be covered up, rendering them ineffective
34
List four common problems with soffits and fascia.
- loose or missing pieces
- rot
- damaged
- paint or stain needed
35
List seven different things you would want to evaluate with respect to doors and windows.
- appearance
- condition
- operability
- security
- energy efficiency
- comfort
- water leakage
36
List 12 common problems with doors and windows.
- rot
- damage
- paint/stain problems
- caulking and flashing problems
- putty (glazing compound) problems
- sill slope
- deteriorated sills
- frame deformation
- storms and screens missing or damaged
- cracked or broken glass
- condensation between panes
- vines
37
Give three examples of where flashings would typically be found on exterior walls.
- over windows or doors
- at bottoms of walls
- at horizontal siding joints in panel type siding
38
List six common problems with caulking, trim, and flashings.
- missing flashings
- ineffective or incomplete flashings
- loose
- rust
- rot
- caulking missing or ineffective
39
List three mechanisms by which water may get into wall systems from the building exterior.
- rain driven by wind
- rain running down the wall (gravity)
- water wicking into the wall (capillary action)
40
Why should all the risers in a set of steps be uniform?
Uneven risers are a trip hazard.
41
Rise is usually _______ inches maximum, and tread depth is typically _______ to _______ inches minimum.
Rise is usually 7 3/4 inches maximum, and tread depth is typically 10 inches minimum.
42
The nosing is usually _______ inch(es) deep.
3/4" to 1 1/4"
43
Minimum dimensions for landings are often stated as _______ feet by _______ feet.
3 feet by 3 feet
44
Explain why the absence of a landing may be a safety hazard.
An outward opening door can knock someone off the stairs.
45
Describe spalling.
Spalling is the crumbling, flaking, chipping, or shaling of the surface of the masonry.
46
What is the best way to check for rot in a wooden stair stringer?
Probe the wood with an awl or screwdriver.
47
Why can carpet on wood porches be bad?
It prevents close inspection, and holds water against the wood, causing rot.
48
Guardrails are typically required on porches, decks, or balconies more than _______ inches above grade.
30 inches
49
The openings between railing spindles should not be greater than _______ inches.
4 inches
50
Why should spindles be vertical, not horizontal?
Horizontal spindles are climbable.
51
Railings on stairways should be between _______ inches and _______ inches above the stair nosing depending on your area.
Railings on stairways should be between 34 inches and 38 inches above the stair nosing depending on your area.
52
Guardrails should be at least _______ inches high.
36 inches
53
Why shouldn't you align a beam with a gutter to check for sag?
Gutters slope so they always look off level.
54
What is the requirement for beam end bearing on masonry?
3 inches
55
How might paint indicate that a beam has slipped out of his pocket?
If the beam has been painted and there are unpainted parts visible at the supports, this may indicate movement of the beam.
56
Beams should be mechanically fastened to their supporting members.
True or False
True
57
Joists are usually spaced _______ inches or _______ inches on center.
Joists are usually spaced 16 inches or 24 inches on center.
58
The metal brackets used to support joists are called _______.
Joist hangers
59
What two inspection techniques can you use to check for sagging joists?
- bounce on the deck
| - scan the deck with your eye at deck level
60
Two ways to attach a ledgerboard to a wood-frame structure are:
Lag bolts every 24 inches or multiple nails every 16 to 24 inches.
61
Describe the proper way to flash a ledgerboard installed over siding.
Flashing extends from under the siding, over the top of the ledgerboard, and down.
62
What is the biggest problem with cantilevered decks?
Rot is found where the joist penetrate the wall.
63
Why are plywood or waferboard sheets poor choices for porch or deck flooring?
They absorb water readily and rot.
64
Why should there be no supply or return registers from heating/cooling ductwork in a garage?
To prevent fumes from entering the house.
65
Most garage floors are not structural.
True or False
True
66
Garage floors that are suspended and have storage space below (circle one)
A. can be adequately assessed by a home inspector.
B. should be investigated by a specialist.
B. should be investigated by a specialist
67
A good concrete floor slab is usually at least _______ inches thick and has _______ inches of gravel beneath it.
A good concrete floor slab is usually at least 3 inches thick and has 5 inches of well compacted gravel beneath it.
68
Which way should garage floors slope?
To drain (usually towards the door).
69
What does a hollow sound on the garage floor indicate?
Settled soil under the slab. The slab is now suspended.
70
Why do many authorities discourage floor drains in garages?
Because automotive fluids can find their way into municipal sewers.
71
The diameter of a garage drain exit pipe should be at least _______ inches.
3 inches
72
Why should the end of the drain pipe in a driveway drain turn down?
To reduce the amount of debris that gets into the drain pipe.
73
Automatic garage door openers have to be strong because they lift the weight of the door.
True or False
False
74
List five problems to look for on a typical sectional garage door.
- difficult to open or close
- rot or insect damage
- paint or stain problems
- rest or denting
- automatic opener problems
75
It's best to test a garage door opener from (inside/outside) the garage. (choose one)
From inside
76
If the vehicle door stops 2 inches short of the garage floor, there is a problem with the _______.
Adjustment of the closing limit
77
What is the recommended way to test the automatic reverse on a garage door opener?
With a 2 inch block of wood placed in the doors path
78
What is the commonly recommended slope for ground around the house?
6 inch drop over the first 10 feet away from the foundation
79
Dramatic slope is likely less important if you ground surface is:
Sand
Asphalt
Asphalt
80
Bad grading will always cause wet basements.
True or False
False
81
Briefly describe a common foundation drainage material.
A black plastic dimpled membrane that acts to relieve hydrostatic pressure in the soil.
82
To work well, a foundation drainage layer requires _______.
Perimeter drainage tile.
83
Three possible implications of poor lot grading are _______.
- wet basements and crawlspaces
- damage to foundations
- damage to siding materials, in severe cases
84
What is used to keep soil away from a basement window?
A window well
85
Why are porous surface materials near a house a potential problem?
The earth below them may be impervious, and slope towards the house.
86
List five clues to look for concerning ravine or sloping lots.
- is there vegetation growing over the whole surface?
- are there bands of freshly exposed top soil?
- are there tree trunks vertical?
- is there cracking in the walls on the ravine side of the house?
- are retaining walls leaning out over the ravine?
87
Briefly state the function of gutters and downspouts.
Gutters and downspouts carry water from the roof away from the building, protecting the cladding system and the foundation.
88
Gutters are also called _______ or _______. Downspouts are also called _______, _______, or _______.
Gutters are also called troughs or eavestroughs. Downspouts are also called rain water leaders, leaders, or conductor pipes.
89
Why are gutters and downspouts sometimes left off in northern areas?
Because of ice damming problems.
90
Steep roofs may have a large surface area but a small _______. This means that their gutters (need to be bigger/can be smaller) than you might expect. (Circle one)
Horizontal projection
Gutters can be smaller.
91
Roof shingles should not project more than _______ inches out over the inner edge of the gutter.
1 inch maximum projection.
92
Gutter leaks are most common at _______.
Seams and changes in direction.
93
What can cause copper gutters to develop pinhole leaks?
Corrosive action from leaves or needles from trees.
94
A house with integral gutters is more prone to ice damming if it has a steep roof.
True or False
False
95
A typical gutter slope is _______.
1 inch drop over 200 inches run
96
What can happen to roof material if a dormer has gutters but no downspouts?
Localized discoloration and premature wear occur below the gutter
97
List three advantages of downspouts discharging above grade.
-easy to repair or replace
-easy to know if the downspouts and
gutters are working properly
-with a proper extension, the landscaping is not damaged
98
List three disadvantages of downspouts discharging above grade.
- traffic problems at building corners
- they must be moved or lifted to cut grass
- if drainage is poor, the water can pool near the house
99
List three disadvantages of downspouts discharging into drains below grade
- tough to inspect
- repair is expensive
- they may go into the floor drains on old houses which can flood the basement if the floor drain trap is clogged, collapsed, or broken.
100
State a simple solution to problems with a below-grade downspout pipe.
Redirect the downspout to discharge water above grade with an extension away from the building
101
The top of the gravel in a window well should be _______ inches away from the window frame.
6 inches
102
What are the risks associated with an improperly draining walkway?
Moss or ice, which are trip hazards. Surface damage of the material itself, and water penetration into the building if the surface is against the house.
103
List four possible problems that can arise from a large tree growing too close to house.
Trees may:
- damage the siding
- prevent air and sunlight from drying the siding
- heave or push in the foundation
- damage roofs
104
What might a long stretch of new sod running from the front of the house to the street indicate?
A new water or sewer line
105
What would you tell a client about a retaining wall that is leaning over but not broken, cracked, or damaged?
It is impossible to tell from a single visit if the wall is in danger of collapse. Leaning walls with no cracks or buckling should be further investigated by specialist.
106
Why might you install insulation on the back of a retaining wall and under the topsoil behind the wall?
This is done for frost control.
107
Ideally, weep poles in a solid retaining wall are at least _______ inches in diameter and not more than _______ feet apart.
4 inches in diameter, and not more than 10 feet apart.
