ICA Module 1 Questions 42-107 Flashcards
Rise is usually _____ inches maximum, & tread depth is typically __inches minimum.
Rise Max 7 3/4” & Tread Depth Min 10”
Minimum dimensions for landings are often stated as:
3 feet by 3 feet
Explain why the absence of a landing may be a safety hazard
A person can fall down stairs when coming out of door
Spalling
Crumbling or Flaking
Best way to check for wood rot in a wooden stair stringer
Probe with screwdriver
carpet on wood porches be bad because:
Holds moisture
Guardrails on porches, decks & balconies are required more than ___ inches above grade
30
Openings between railing spindles should not be greater than __ inches
4
Why should spindles be vertical and not horizontal
So a child can not climb them
Railings on stairways should be between __ inches & __ inches above the stair nosing
35” and 36”
Guardrails should be at least __ inches high
42”
Why shouldn’t you align a beam with a gutter to check for sag?
Gutters Slope
What is the requirement for beam end bearing masonry?
3”
How might paint indicate that a beam has slipped out of its pocket?
No paint where beam originally was
Beams should be mechanically fastened to their support members
True
Joists are usually spaced __ or __ on center.
16” or 24”
The metal brackets used to support joists are called:
Joists Hangers
What 2 inspection techniques can you use to check for sagging joists?
Visual Inspection & stand on deck & bounce
What is the correct way to attach a ledger board to a wood frame structure?
Bolts or Lag Screws
Describe the proper way to flash a ledger board installed over siding
On top of ledger board & Behind siding
What is the biggest problem with cantilevered decks?
Maintaining a weather tight joint where boards pass through the wall
plywood or waferboard sheets poor choices for porch or floor decking because..
They can swell
There should be no supply or return registers from heating/cooling ductwork in a garage because
Gas fumes
Most garage floors are not structured T/F
True
Garage floors that are suspended & have storage or living space:
Should be investigated by a specialist
A good concrete garage floor slab is usually at least __ inches thick & has __ inches of gravel beneath.
3 inches thick & 5 inches beneath
Which way should a garage door slope
Out of door opening
A hollow sound on a garage floor indicates:
Settling in substate
Authorities discourage floor drains in garages because:
Spilling of gas & oil can go into public sewer systems
the diameter of a garage drain exit pipe should be at least ___ inches:
3 inches
The end of a drainpipe in a driveway drain turn down because:
Stops debris from clogging pipe
Automatic garage door openers have to be strong because they lift the weight of the door. T/F
True
5 problems to look for on a typical sectional garage door:
- Rot
- Insect damage
- Paint/Stain/Cracking
- Sagging
- Rust
- Denting
It is best to test a garage door opener from inside or outside the garage:
Inside
If the vehicle stops 2” short of the garage floor, there is a problem with the:
Opener
What is the recommended way to test the automatic reverse on a garage door opener?
Put 2” block in middle of garage door on floor of the opening
The commonly recommended slope for ground around a house is:
1/2” per foot—–PRETTY DAMN SURE
Bad grading will always cause wet basements T/F
False
Dramatic slope is likely less important if the ground is sand or asphalt:
Asphalt
Describe a foundation drainage material:
Plastic
To work well, a foundation drainage layer requires:
Drainage Tile??
3 possible implications of poor lot grading:
- wet basement/ crawl space
- foundation damage
- siding damage
What is used to keep soil away from a basement window?
Window well?
Why are porous surface materials near a house a potential problem?
water can find its way in
5 clues to look for concerning ravine or sloping lots:
*vegetation growing everywhere
*Are trees vertical
*Cracks in the walls of house
*Retaining wall sloped back
*Bands of freshly exposed top soil
state the function of gutters & downspouts
disperse water away from house
Gutters are also called __ or __.
Downspouts are also called __, __, or __.
Troughs or ease troughs
Rain water leaders, or conductor pipes
Gutters & downspouts are sometimes left off in northern areas because:
Snow & ice can pull them off building
Steep roofs may have a large surface area but a small __. This means that their gutters need to be bigger/smaller than you might expect.
Horizontal projection
Smaller ??
Roof shingles should not project more than how many inches over the inner edge of the gutter?
1”
Gutter leaks are most common at___
The elbow, seams
What can cause copper gutters to develop pinhole leaks?
corrosion
A house with integral gutters is more prone to ice damage if it has a steep roof. T/F
False
A typical gutter slope is:
1:200 (1” every 17’)
What can happen to roof material if a dormer has gutters but no downspout?
discoloration & premature lifespan of roof
3 advantages of downspouts discharging above grade:
1- easy access to repair
2- can see if they are working properly
3- less expensive to repair/replace
3 disadvantages of downspouts discharging into drains underground:
1- costly repairs
2- hard to see if they are function properly
3- hard to access
3 disadvantages of downspouts discharging into drains below grade:
1- tough to inspect
2- expensive to repair
3- basement flooding
Simple solution to problems with a below-grade downspout pipe:
Cap & install above grade downspout pipe
Top of the gravel in a window well should be how far away from the window frame?
6”
Risks associated with an improperly draining sidewalk:
Moss/ponding causing slippery conditions, water draining back towards home
4 possible problems that can arise from a large tree growing too close to a house:
1- slab cracking
2- scratch siding
3- moss on house
4- limbs falling on roof
What might a long stretch of new sod running from the front of the house to the street indicate?
Recent main line being replaced
What would you tell a client about a retaining wall that is leaning over but not broken, cracked or damaged?
Keep an eye on it
Why might you install insulation on the back of a retaining wall and under the topsoil behind the wall?
Prevent clogging
Ideally, weep holes in a solid retaining wall are at least ____ inches in diameter and not more than ____ feet apart.
4” in diameter & 10’ apart
Why should all the risers in a set of steps be uniform?
So you don’t trip
