Building Materials and Methods (Chapter 18)

Concrete and masonry basement wall thickness depends on lateral earth pressure and _____. a) vertical load to be supported b) wishes of the builder c) weight of the foundation material d) none of the above

a) vertical load to be supported

Batter boards are placed approximately _____ feet outside of the footing line.

4

Where part of the footings bear on rock, remove approximately _____ inches of the rock and replace with compacted sand to equalize settling.

6

__________ measurements check the position of the corners for accuracy.

9-12-15 diagonal

Concrete slabs are normally placed on a base of compacted sand _____ inches thick. a) 4 to 6 b) 5 to 7 c) 6 to 8 d) 9 to 10

a) 4 to 6

The actual size of an 8 x 8 x 16 concrete block is _____ inches. a) 7-5/8" x 7-5/8" x 15-5/8" b) 8" x 8" x 16" c) 8-5/8" x 8-5/8" x 16-5/8" d) 9" x 9" x 18"

a) 7-5/8" x 7-5/8" x 15-5/8"

The floor joists or trusses of an all-weather wood foundation are placed on the _____. a) double top plate of the foundation wall b) inside of the foundation wall c) basement floor slab d) none of the above

a) double top plate of the foundation wall

Posts used in post foundation can be made of _____. a) masonry b) steel c) pressure-treated wood d) all of the above

d) all of the above

To protect against water damage to basements in wet or poorly drained soils, _____. a) install a check valve in the floor drain to keep water from flowing in through the drain b) reinforce the floor slab to resist uplift from groundwater pressure c) install a sump pump to remove any water that seeps in d) all of the above

d) all of the above

A _____ point is needed to determine the depth of excavation and foundation wall height. a) rod b) stake c) clearance d) control

d) control

Only when soil tests prove that the earth is adequately compacted to properly sustain a building should _____ be placed in dilled or regarded soils.

footings

A thin coat of plaster applied over the foundation wall for damp-proofing is called a(n) _____.

parge coat

Sidewalks, driveways, footings, and basement floors require on part cement, _____ parts sand, and five parts aggregate.

three

When using an all-weather wood foundation for a basement, _____. a) the site is excavated 12" deeper than the regular depth b) a basement sump is installed in poorly drained soils c) no foundation drainage is necessary d) all of the above

b) a basement sump is installed in poorly drained soils

The trench excavated for a structure with a crawl space should be _____" deep. a) less than 10 b) at least 12 c) 9 d) 6

b) at least 12

The exact location of a proposed house foundation is maintained through the use of _____. a) angle boards b) batter boards c) construction boards d) building boards

b) batter boards

Stepped footings are frequently necessary when _____. a) the house has more than one floor level b) building on hilly terrain c) brick veneer is used d) two different materials are used

b) building on hilly terrain

The material normally used for footings of residential structures is _____.

cast concrete

Excavation in _____ permits a steep slope.

clay

The corner having the highest elevation is normally selected for the _____ point.

control

The footing for a residential structure is generally _____ inches wide when the foundation wall is 8 inches thick. a) 8 b) 10 c) 14 d) 16

d) 16

Which factors determine the type of foundation to be used?

- Weight to be supported - Soil (Strength/Durability) - Climate - Building Codes

A wood post should be _____ to resist decay.

pressure-treated

List three methods that might be used to strengthen a block foundation wall when strong earth pressure is present.

1) increase the footing size 2) add rebar (reinforcement) 3)

Give three reasons why built-up wood beams are used more often than solid wood beams in residential construction.

1) less chance of splitting 2) easier to obtain (cheaper) 3) easier to work with

Backfilling for an all-weather wood foundation should be started before the first floor is installed. T/F

False

The finished floor of a house should be at least 6" above the grade. T/F

False

The footing for a chimney is generally 6 inches thick. T/F

False

A slab foundation requires less time to construct in comparison to a T-foundation. T/F

True

Excavations in clay may be nearly vertical. T/F

True

Footings for most residential structures are made from poured concrete. T/F

True

When ordering concrete, allow _____ cubic feet to the yard. a) 20 b) 25 c) 30 d) 35

b) 25

If the wood sill bears on the outer and inner face cores of the block, _____. a) cap the top course of block using 4" solid block b) capping may be omitted c) cores in the top course are filled with concrete or mortar d) the top course may be capped with reinforced concrete masonry bond beam

b) capping may be omitted

Where should the bottom of the foundation wall of a slab foundation be located?

below the frost line

Excavation for residential footings should extend down a minimum of _____ inches into undisturbed earth. a) 2 b) 4 c) 6 d) 12

c) 6

Concrete block basement walls should be damp-proofed by _____. a) painting the outside of the blocks with oil-base paints b) applying a 1/4" coat of fire clay c) applying two 1/4"-thick coats of cement-mortar or plaster d) all of the above

c) applying two 1/4"-thick coats of cement-mortar or plaster

Wood foundation are particularly suitable in _____. a) a garage where the distance is too great to span with floor joists b) areas where the water table is high c) climates where freezing of the ground is infrequent d) none of the above

c) climates where freezing of the ground is infrequent

A float is used in finishing concrete to _____. a) remove imperfections to produce a flat surface b) embed the aggregate beneath the surface c) condense mortar to a surface ready for final steel-troweling d) all of the above

c) condense mortar to a surface ready for final steel-troweling

Reinforcement bars are required in footings ____. a) for all residential structures b) when the house is built in the 100-year flood plain c) over soft or poorly drained soils d) to prevent frost heave

c) over soft or poorly drained soils

Nails and other fasteners used in an all-weather wood foundation should be made from _____. a) aluminum, silicon bronze, or copper b) brass, copper, or aluminum c) silicon bronze, copper, or hot-dipped zinc-coated steel d) copper, brass, or hot-dipped zinc-coated steel

c) silicon bronze, copper, or hot-dipped zinc-coated steel