Construction

Question 1

Flemish v English Bond brickwork? 

Answer 1

Flemish = Stretchers and headers alternatively on each row
English = Stretchers and headers in alternative lines

Question 2

What is a solid wall? 

Answer 2

Two bricks wide, no gaps in between, alternative headers and stretchers

Question 3

How thick is a solid brick wall? 

Answer 3

9 inches (230mm)

Question 4

What is a cavity wall?

Answer 4

• Two leaves of brick work
• 11 inches thick with plaster
• Cavity wall ties in between
• Gap of 50-75mm

Question 5

From external inspection only, how can it be determined if a brick wall is of solid or cavity construction? 

Answer 5

• Presence of headers for solid wall
• Absence of headers for cavity wall

Question 6

What are cavity wall ties? 

Answer 6

• Used to join two leaves of cavity wall together
• Ties have drop feature to prevents water from crossing from teh outer to inner wall leaf (protects from moisture)

Question 7

What are the different types of cavity wall ties? 

Answer 7

• Butterfly
• Vertical twist
• Triangular

Question 8

What size is standard brick? 

Answer 8

215x102x65mm

Question 9

What size is a standard block? 

Answer 9

440x100x215mm

Question 10

What are rafters? 

Answer 10

Beams that are angled upwards and meet on top of the gable at the ridge beam

Question 11

What are purlins? 

Answer 11

Horizontal beams on teh roof used for structural support

Question 12

What is a roof truss? 

Answer 12

Structure that consists of wood or steel joined din a triangular shape that supports the weight of the roof

Question 13

What are the different types of roof truss? 

Answer 13

Monopitch
Asymmetrical
Attic truss

Question 14

What is a building frame?

Answer 14

• Structural framework or skeleton on that supports the whole building
• Usually steel or reinforced concrete

Question 15

What are 4 common forms of foundation? 

Answer 15

Trench/strip footings, raft, pile , pad

Question 16

What is trench or strip footing foundation, and what are they used for? 

Answer 16

Shallow foundation that avoids bricklaying below the surface by filling trench with concrete

Question 17

What is a raft foundation and when are they used?

Answer 17

Shallow, slabs reinforced by concrete slabs of uniform thickness

Question 18

What is a piled foundation and when are they used? 

Answer 18

Long, slender reinforced concrete cylinders used for large structures

Question 19

What is a pad foundation? 

Answer 19

Generally shallow, pads support single point loads liek columns and frames

Question 20

What is efflorescence?  

Answer 20

White marks caused by salts in brick works

Question 21

What is spalling? 

Answer 21

Surface of brick starts to crumble due to freeze thaw action

Question 22

How is damp measured? 

Answer 22

Damp meter  

Question 23

How do you identify rising damp? 

Answer 23

Does not go above penetrating damp, damp over that is penetrating damp

Question 24

How do you prevent damp penetration?  

Answer 24

Ensure gutters are cleared of leaves
Damp proof course

Question 25

What is the difference between a damp proof membrane and a damp proof course? 

Answer 25

• DPM stops damp coming through the walls
• DPC is built into brickwork to stop damp rising up mortar joints