Structure

Question 1

Which full-height studs are nailed to jack studs?

Answer 1

King studs

Question 2

What are the short studs over window and door frames called?

Answer 2

Cripple studs.

Question 3

The first horizontally placed lumber that goes on top of the sub-floor material is called?

Answer 3

The Sole / Bottom plate

Question 4

A vertical masonry member that can serve as either a vertical beam or a column or both, is called?

Answer 4

A pilaster

Question 5

Jack studs are sometimes called what?

Answer 5

Trimmers.

Question 6

Jack studs may be replaced when this is attached to the king stud?

Answer 6

A steel header hanger.

Question 7

What is the bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation and sometimes called a mudsill?

Answer 7

A sill plate.

Question 8

Slab-on-grade foundations are popular in areas where there is a high?

Answer 8

Water table

Question 9

Between the sill plate and foundation wall there should be metal?

Answer 9

Termite flashing

Question 10

On a slab-on-grade foundation, there’s usually gravel and this between the ground and concrete?

Answer 10

A vapor retarder.

Question 11

A large vertical foundation crack or signs of ongoing movement could indicate what?

Answer 11

Serious settlement

Question 12

These small cracks are less of a concern than settlement crack?

Answer 12

Shrinkage cracks.

Question 13

Vertical cracks are not typically known to be caused by this?

Answer 13

Freezing soil.

Question 14

Diagonal cracks in a poured concrete foundation that are fairly uniform in width or are hairline-type are caused by what?

Answer 14

Shrinkage

Question 15

How far above grade should wood siding and sill plates be?

Answer 15

6 inches

Question 16

Diagonal cracks that are wider at the bottom than at the top, may indicate what?

Answer 16

Settlement.

Question 17

These may affect the foundation or underground drainage pipes and could raise the soil level too high against the foundation.

Answer 17

Roots

Question 18

Diagonal cracks over windows indicate what?

Answer 18

A weak header.

Question 19

The maximum slope of a lot should roughly be what?

Answer 19

1-in-2.

Question 20

Diagonal cracks in a poured concrete foundation that may allow water entry, do not constitute a structural?

Answer 20

Defect

Question 21

When an attached garage slab does this, it will often pull away from the home and leave cracks?

Answer 21

Heaves or settles

Question 22

This may be caused by pressure on the outside of the foundation wall below grade, improper back-filling, or expansive soil and frost?

Answer 22

Horizontal cracking

Question 23

Cracked and crumbling parge coating is usually caused by what and needs to be noted?

Answer 23

Moisture intrusion

Question 24

Weep Holes are typically spaced apart horizontally along the bottom of the brick veneer wall at what intervals?

Answer 24

24 inches and 36 inches

Question 25

A crack that forms a V-shape may indicate heaving from what?

Answer 25

The footing.

Question 26

If the middle top of an exterior wall is pushed out, this may indicate what?

Answer 26

Roof spreading

Question 27

Tiny cracks that follow the plaster surface that look like spider veins may be indicative of what kind of problem behind the plaster itself?

Answer 27

A moisture problem

Question 28

Joists should not be cantilevered more than a _____ or_____ , whichever is smaller?

Answer 28

1/4 of its length or 3 times its width.

Question 29

This shape of crack would be reported as a major structural concern and defect with correction and further evaluation by a structural engineer?

Answer 29

V-shaped.

Question 30

These holes may also be above a header lintel of a window or door?

Answer 30

Weep holes

Question 31

Cracks larger at the bottom that form an upside-down V or pyramid shape indicates what?

Answer 31

Settlement or drooping in the middle.

Question 32

Brick veneer that is more pronounced near the middle of the wall and then disappears at the ends may be an indication of what?

Answer 32

Inward Bowing at the top of the Foundation

Question 33

A crack in a mortar joint should be repaired and monitored for indications that it is still?

Answer 33

Active.

Question 34

How much can brick veneer stick out past the foundation wall and still be considered acceptable?

Answer 34

Up to a 1-inch.

Question 35

Are hair-line cracks in a basement's concrete floor considered a serious structural defect?

Answer 35

No

Question 36

Sill plate bolts should have what size washers?

Answer 36

2-inch

Question 37

Crawlspaces access openings must be a minimum of what size?

Answer 37

18 x 24

Question 38

Columns and posts must be pressure-treated if closer than this to the soil?

Answer 38

8 inches

Question 39

A crack with no dust or debris, or a crack in a painted wall with out paint in it are signs of what?

Answer 39

An active crack.

Question 40

What is the minimum size for a collar tie?

Answer 40

1x4 (nominal)

Question 41

Any observed indication or evidence of a roof leak must be reported as in need of what?

Answer 41

Correction.

Question 42

What is the maximum spacing for collar ties?

Answer 42

4 feet on center.

Question 43

Diagonal cracks that grow in width, especially ones that are wider at the bottom than at the top, indicate?

Answer 43

Settlement.

Question 44

Columns and Posts must be constrained to?

Answer 44

Their footings.

Question 45

Cracked tiles are usually the result of the sub-floor not being?

Answer 45

Rigid enough.

Question 46

It is difficult to tell if slab-on-grade cracks indicate a structural problem, so all such cracks should be?

Answer 46

Noted and reported.

Question 47

In crawlspaces, the grade (soil) should be at least how many inches below the bottom of the floor joists?

Answer 47

18-inches

Question 48

In crawlspaces, the grade (soil) should be at least how many inches below the bottom of beams?

Answer 48

12-inches

Question 49

Horizontal cracks are caused by this on the outside of the foundation wall below grade?

Answer 49

Pressure

Question 50

T/F The longer a crack has been there, the less of a structural issue it is.

Answer 50

True

Question 51

As a general rule, any cracks in concrete walls or concrete slabs that are this size may be an indication of serious problems that require evaluation by a licensed professional engineer.

Answer 51

1/4-inch wide or wider

Question 52

When there are observed indications of water intrusion or penetration through the foundation wall, what should be recommended?

Answer 52

Further evaluation by a qualified contractor

Question 53

If the sill plate on top of concrete foundations isn't made from treated wood, it should have what between them?

Answer 53

Sill sealers or separators between them.

Question 54

A crawlspace opening less than 18-inches should be reported as a what?

Answer 54

Restriction

Question 55

Any portion of a masonry chimney located in the interior of the building (such as an attic space) should have at least this amount of air-space clearance from combustibles?

Answer 55

2 inches

Question 56

In the first 10 feet, the ground surface should slope a minimum of how much?

Answer 56

6 inches

Question 57

Sill plate anchor bolts maximum spacing is what?

Answer 57

6 feet on center.

Question 58

The arrangement of windows and doors in a building is called?

Answer 58

Fenestration

Question 59

The max length for notches in a joist is?

Answer 59

1/3 width of board.

Question 60

What is the minimum thickness of drywall required on the walls and ceilings of an attached garage?

Answer 60

1/2-inch drywall

Question 61

Notches should not be cut into what part of the span?

Answer 61

The middle third.

Question 62

A foundation wall penetration should be reported if signs of this exist?

Answer 62

Leakage

Question 63

When lowering a basement floor, if the soil is excavated only to the bottom of the footing, it may result in loss of this?

Answer 63

Lateral support for the footing.

Question 64

How much bearing should a joist have on wood or metal?

Answer 64

1 1/2 inches

Question 65

How much bearing should a joist have on masonry?

Answer 65

Not less than 3 inches