Exterior Flashcards
Which of the following soils can support the least load-bearing pressure?
a. Silt with high compressibility
b. Poorly graded gravel
c. Poorly graded sands
d. Sedimentary Rock
a. Silt with high compressibility
Garage door operators may fail to operate for any of the following reasons EXCEPT
a. improper installation
b. the auto reverse sensitivity being set too low
c. poor door adjustment
d. tripping of the GFCI receptacle
b. the auto reverse sensitivity being set too low. If the auto-reverse sensitivity is set too low, the auto-reverse mechanism will not be very sensitive at all. This will not prevent the garage door from operating, but will perhaps prevent it from stopping and reversing automatically.
In crawl spaces, how much venting is needed?
a. 1 square foot for every 1500 square feet with in vent opening located within 3’ of every corner
b. 5 square foot for every 1500 square feet with in vent opening located within 5’ of every corner
c. 2 square foot for every 1000 square feet with in vent opening located within 3’ of every corner
d. 3 square foot for every 900 square feet with in vent opening located within 3’ of every corner
a. 1 square foot for every 1500 square feet with in vent opening located within 3’ of every corner
In general, the grading around a building should be positively sloped for how many feet away from the building?
a. 5 feet
b. 50 feet
c. 10 feet
d. 25 feet
c. 10 feet
Under which of the following conditions is a two-coat stucco system acceptable on the exterior of a building?
a. If the system is installed over masonry and concrete
b. If the system is installed in an arid climate
c. If the first coat is allowed to cure for a minimum of three days before the second coat is applied
d. If the sand-to-cement volume ratio is higher than three for the finish coat
a. If the system is installed over masonry and concrete
Asbestos concrete was used in which decade?
a. 1950s
b. 1940s
c. 1960s
d. 1930s
a. 1950s
Most problems with concrete are caused at the time of installation. What single factor causes most of these?
a. The concrete has insufficient thickness
b. Too much water is added.
c. Too much Portland cement is added.
d. Too little Portland cement is used.
b. Too much water is added
While inspecting a crawl space, you should probe for decay if the _________ is dark in appearance.
a. King joist
b. Floor joist
c. Masonry wall
d. Bearing wall
b. Floor joist
How long should the minimum fire rating for a garage door be?
a. 5 minutes
b. 15 minutes
c. 20 minutes
d. 30 minutes
c. 20 minutes
When are porch railings required?
a. When the home will be owned by someone with children under 10.
b. When the porch is more than 30” above ground
c. When the porch is in the front yard
d. When the porch is built on a concrete slab.
b. When the porch is more than 30” above ground.
What is the thickness of one ply stucco?
a. 1/4”
b. 1/2”
c. 5/6”
d. 3/8”
d. 3/8”
How high should ignition sources be above the ground in garages?
a. Minimum 10”
b. Minimum 12”
c. Minimum 16”
d. Minimum 18”
d. Minimum 18”
How far above grade should weep screeds for stucco end?
a. 2”
b. 4”
c. 8”
d. 10”
c. 8”
Rebar is made in 1/8 increments. Therefore; #4 rebar is…
a. 4/8ths or 1/2
b. 3/4ths
c. 5/8ths
d. 1/4
a. 4/8ths or 1/2
How much air space is between brick veneer and wall?
a. 1”
b. 2”
c. 3”
d. 4”
a. 1”
Venting for flood zoned crawl spaces should be
a. 1 sq inch for every 3 sq ft
b. 1 sq inch for every sq foot
c. 2 sq inches for every 3 sq ft
d. 1 sq inch for ever 5 sq ft
b. 1 sq inch for every sq foot
What is the thickness of brick veneer walls?
a. 10”
b. 12”
c. 6”
d. 8”
d. 8”
Why must building footings extend below the frost line?
a. Because the footing could crack when the soil around it freezes and expands if it is not below the frost line
b. so that the soil around the footing does not freeze, expand, and cause the footing to shift
c. Building footings are not required to extend below the frost line unless the building is located in a very cold climate
d. So that the water in the concrete will not freeze and cause spalling in the footing.
b. So that the soil around the footing does not freeze, expand, and cause the footing to shift
What type of foundation has a large amount of reinforced steel and is known as a floating foundation?
a. Pier-and-grade beam foundation system
b. “Inverted T” spread footing foundation
c. “Battered” foundation footing system
d. Mat foundation slab
d. Mat foundation slab
How far apart must metal ties be in brick veneer?
a. 16”
b. 20”
c. 24”
d. 28”
c. 24”
What is the minimum allowed slope of graded soil next to a building’s foundation, according to the International Residential Code (IRC)?
a. 5”/10’
b. 5”/12’
c. 6”/12’
d. 6”/10’
d. 6”/10’
How far above grade should a concrete slab extend?
a. At least 4”
b. At least 6”
c. At least 8”
d. There is no minimum requirement.
c. At least 8”
How far should shrubbery be trimmed from house?
a. 6”
b. 1’
c. 2’
d. 3’
b. 1’
You are required to inspect all of the following EXCEPT?
a. Driveways
b. Patios
c. Adjacent Walkways
d. the neighbors sidewalk
d. the neighbors sidewalk
All of the following are common tools used by home inspectors EXCEPT ?
a. Marble
b. Flashlight
c. Awl
d. hammer
d. hammer - Commontools used by home inspectors include marbles used to determine if floors slant or are level, flashlights used to see in dark areas, and awls can be used instead of screwdrivers to search for wood decay.
Why do home inspectors keep magnets on hand during inspections?
a. To make sure the furnace of refrigerator doors work properly
b. To verify mirrors in the home are authentic
c. To test plumbing pipes for iron material
d. To post notes for the owner
c. To test plumbing pipes for iron material - Home inspectors keep magnets on hand during inspections to test plumbing pipes for iron material. Iron plumbing pipes should be replaced because there are better materials available. In particular, copper piping became a popular alternative in America in the 1960s.
Please mark what does the acronym EIFS stand for
a. Exterior insulation for security
b. Exterior insulation and finish system
c. Exterior installation for security
b. Exterior insulation and finish system.
EIFS is a siding material that
a. Is used in commercial buildings only
b. Looks like stucco but lacks a wire mesh
c. Can be installed on top of a modified bitumen membrane
d. Can be installed on top of a masonry surface
b. Looks like stucco but lacks a wire mesh
A typical exterior inspection includes an examination of the shutters, if they are part of the structure.
a. True b. False
b. False
Ivy is taking over part of an exterior wall of the home. How do you BEST address this in your report?
a. Conclude it may damage the exterior wall.
b. Conclude it may eventually decrease the home’s value
c. Conclude it may affect the home’s interior temperature.
d. Conclude it may discolor the exterior wall.
a. Conclude it may damage the exterior wall - Ivy is taking over part of an exterior wall of the home. You address this in your report by concluding it may damage the exterior wall. Ivy and other vegetation can damage exterior walls by getting into the stucco or growing behind siding, which allows moisture to seep in and do even more damage. You can also recommend it be removed so current damage can be assessed and repaired.
When describing the siding of a home, which of the following is an appropriate response?
a. It looks to be about 25 years old and should be replaced. It looks to be about 25 years old and should be replaced.
b. It looks to be about 25 years old and needs to be repainted.
c. It is made of aluminum and has multiple missing nails.
d. It is made of aluminum and has been painted an ugly green.
c. It is made of aluminum and has multiple missing nails. - When describing the siding of a home, an appropriate response is that it is made of aluminum and has multiple missing nails. In addition to describing the siding material as required, the fact that there are missing nails indicates there are deficiencies in the siding. Without the nails, the wind can get behind the siding and lift it away from the home’s exterior. Moisture can get behind the siding and cause damage to the home.
Which of the following are you required to inspect during your inspection of the home’s exterior?
a. Sheds
b. Docks
c. Fences
d. Carport
d. Carport - During your inspection of the home’s exterior, you are required to inspect the carport. Other types of outbuildings such as sheds do not have to be inspected. Fences and docks are not required inspection areas since they are not connected to the home and cannot damage the home’s structural integrity.
What is the expected service life of vinyl siding?
a. 10 years in humid climates
b. 15 years in cool climates
c. 20 years in dry climates
d. 25 years in all climates
d. 25 years in all climates - The expected service life of vinyl siding is 25 years in all climates. Vinyl siding is a type of cladding made out of plastic that is installed on the exterior of homes. It is highly durable and a viable alternative to aluminum siding.
Common problems with any exterior cladding include all of the following EXCEPT
a. water penetration
b. too close to window openings
c. too close to grade
d. planters against the wall
b. too close to window openings - Siding being close to window openings is not a problem.
Joists should have an end bearing of at least
a. 1”
b. 1.5”
c. 3.5”
d. 6”
“b. 1.5”” - Joists should have an end bearing of at least 1 1/2 inches.
Beams should be mechanically fastened to their supporting members.
a. True b. False
a. True - Beams should be mechanically fastened to their supporting members, not merely resting on the tops of columns or pillars.
Most garage floors are not structural.
a. True b. False
a. True - Most garage floors are not structural.
Bad grading will always cause wet basements.
a. True b. False
b. False - Some grading conditions are less-than-ideal but do not result in problems, for example, where sandy soils carries the water very effectively.
Asphalt shingles are installed on walls the same way as roofs.
a. True b. False
b. False - Asphalt shingles are installed differently on walls than on roofs.
Asbestos cement shingles should be removed from homes.
a. True b. False
b. False - Asbestos cement shingles do not need to be removed from homes.
A house with integral gutters is more prone to ice damming if it has a steep roof.
a. True b. False
b. False - A house with integral gutters is more prone to ice damming if it has a low-slope roof.
Wall cladding materials should be six to eight inches above grade.
a. True b. False
a. True - To protect the cladding system and the structure from water damage, masonry should be at least six inches above grade and most other sidings should be at least eight inches above grade.
Synthetic stucco (EIFS) has good drying potential.
a. True b. False
b. False - Poor drying potential is one of the main causes of problems with synthetic stucco.
The single-biggest problem with cantilevered decks is excess deflection or bounce.
a. True b. False
b. False - The single-biggest problem with cantilevered decks is maintaining a weather-tight joint where the joists pass through the house wall. These joints typically move as a result of expansion and contraction caused by changes in moisture and temperature.
Plywood is a good material choice for outdoor floors, such as on a porch.
a. True b. False
b. False - Plywood, waferboard, and other manufactured wood products generally are not successful in outdoor applications where they are installed horizontally or wetted regularly.
An exterior inspection includes all of the following EXCEPT
a. trim
b. driveways
c. soffits and fascia
d. fences
“d. fences - Fences are not included in the exterior inspection.
Which of the following is FALSE? Exterior cladding is intended to
a. protect the structure from water damage
b. protect the interior from water damage
c. provide reasonable security
d. provide insulation
d. provide insulation - Exterior classing does not usually insulate the home.