homebuilder skills
Deed restrictions are limited to residential properties.
False
Floating of the freshly screeded concrete is accomplished with a wood or magnesium bullfloat which smoothes out, levels, compacts and brings the small particles to the surface for finishing.
True
If a code requirement is in the book, it is both acceptable and enforceable by the code official?
True
What are the three basic soil types?
Cohesive, granular, organic
concrete cures best in what kind of environment?
Concrete cures best in cool, damp environments.
________________________ are a convenient way to limit the size of the placement of concrete to a manageable volume and are a stopping place for a day's work.
Construction joints
)Contraction joints, also known as control joints, in a slab are used to:
Control random cracking
Rebar is placed in concrete mainly to improve its compression strength.
False
Tables and illustrations are always supported by information found in the written code and footnotes?
False
A method to prevent cast concrete from excessive shrinking is to:
Lower the cement factor and increase the size of the aggregate
what are pile caps?
Pile caps are used to evenly distribute the weight of a column to may piles.
Concrete that has a lot of Portland cement in the mix may be referred to as:
Rich concrete
Setbacks are measured from the lot line to the foundation wall, but if a deck is attached to the building it will be measured to the deck.
True
The ablility to achieve maximum density when compacting soil requires that the soil has it's optimum moistute content.
True
The reason for tying reinforcing bars with tie wire is to keep the rebar in place while pouring. It does not add any additional stength to the concrete.
True
To keep water moving in a footing drain, the drainpipe should be sloped at least 1/8" per foot.?
True
59)Grade beams are used to distribute large wall loads of a building equally along pile caps, caissons and spread footings.
True
Air entrainment protects concrete from frost damage, but also makes concrete more workable. For that reason, not as much water is necessary for the mix.
True
Chairs are classified according to their degree of rust protection. Class #1 is the maximum protection, class #2 is moderate protection, and class #3 is no protection.
True
Current code requires that the lowest floors in newly constructed buildings in flood hazard areas not located in designated Coastal A Zones, must have the lowest floors elevated to or above the 100-year design flood elevation.
True
Water wells should be located on the opposite side or uphill side of the house from the drainfield.
True
Wood foundations shall not be backfilled until the basement floor and first floor have been constructed or the walls have been braced.
True
You may bulldoze, grade and remove tree stumps in a wetland as long as you have a permit.
True
Excavations for footings should extend into undisturbed soil a minimum of:
12 inches
Of all the brick patterns, which pattern is the strongest?
Running
Besides Type M mortar, what other type is acceptable for mortar being used for foundations?
S
If concrete is exposed to de-icers and it is not air entrained, it could:
Scale or spall
When concrete becomes flaky and fragmented on the surface, this is called:
Scaling or spalling
Masonry piers supporting floor girders for interior bearing walls shall have a minimum nominal dimension of _____ inches and a maximum height of 10 feet from top of footing to bottom of sill plate or girder.
12 inches
Which of the following statements about foundation drainage systems are true?
12 inches of crushed stone or gravel and covered with gravel or crushed stone to a minimum of 6 inches above the top of the tile.2Footing drain pipe shall be placed below the level of the basement floor slab with the holes facing downward.3Gravel or crushed stone drainage systems must extend a minimum of 12 inches past the edge of the footing.
Anchor bolts must be provided within _____________ from the end of each piece of the sill plate.
12"
In frost-protected footings, the minumum distance from grade to the of the bottom of the footing is __________________.
12"
What is the minimum thickness of concrete footings for fireplaces?
12"
A side yard easement of 15 feet means your building structure must be:
15 feet from the property line
How much does one cubic foot of concrete weigh?
150 lbs.
<p>If an excavating company needs to haul away 125 yards of bank soil that will swell 20%, how many yards of loose soil will they haul away?</p>
150 yards
Rubble stone foundations must be a minimum of_____inches wide.
16
A two car wide driveway is usually how wide?
18'
Which drawing shows the shape and boundary lines of a lot, as well as locating the building, driveway, sidewalks, well and septic system, elevation contours, etc.
1Plot Plan2Site plan
What is a method of determining soil density?
1Proctor test2Sand cone test3Nuclear density test
)A basic starting point from which measurements in building layout can be made using a transit or builders level is called a _________________.
1benchmark2point of reference
Pier and curtain wall foundations require:
1continuous footings for load bearing walls.2load bearing masonry walls shall be a minimum of 4 inches thick nominal.3maximum height of 4 inch nominal load bearing walls is 4 feet
Besides ensuring the proper strength of concrete, proper curing of concrete also aids in:
1durability2surface soundness3reducing cracking
When building in a floodplain, special precaution must be made concerning_________________________
1flood resistant construction.2determining the design flood elevation.3placing the lowest floor at the proper elevation.
When building in a floodplain, enclosed areas below the design flood elevation will be used solely for ____________________.
1parking vehicles2building access3storage
Reinforced concrete is accomplished by adding:
1reinforcing rod 2 welded wire
The minimum size of the footings needed to support a building structure is determined by:
1the type of building2the number of stories3the type of soil supporting the building
how do you do cold weather concrete?
1water for mixing can be heated2insulated blankets can be placed over concrete footings3aggregate can be heated
You can identify survey monuments by the following:
1who set the monument2when was it set3where was it set
It is virtually impossible to compact soil ________________________.
1without adequate moisture2containing too much water
Every survey of conveyance must start from evidence that proves the position of at least ______ survey monuments.
2
It is important to call your state One Call utility locator ______ before excavation starts.
2 days
Welded wire mesh should be placed _____below the top surface of the slab.
2 inches
If approved drain tiles are to be used along the footing of the foundation wall, what are the coverage requirements of the fill?
2 inches of porous gravel base and 6 inches of porous gravel cover for the tile
A building lot is a rectangle measuring 257 feet by 387 feet, how many acres is this lot?
2.28
Wall and ceiling finishes shall have a flame-spread classification of no more than ______ .
200
7)What is the maximum unbalanced backfill height of a pier and curtain wall foundation that is 4 inch solid masonry.
24 inches
The required minimum strength of concrete used for footings is:
2500 lb./sq. in.
What is the minimum twenty-eight day compression strength of concrete used for foundations not being exposed to weather?
2500 psi
Ready mix concrete is purchased by the cubic yard, which is how many cubic feet?
27
According to code, concrete must reach 100% of it's strength within ____________days.
28
Concrete is considered to be fully cured or set after ______________days.
28 days
The maximum size aggregate is limited to the lesser of:
2Three-fourths the clear spacing between the bar and the side of the form3One-fifth the narrowest distance between sides of the form
Bathrooms must be provided with an aggregate glazing area no less than _____ square feet, half of which must be openable.
3
For garage floor slabs where a steel trowel finish is used, the total air content can be reduced to ____percent provided the strength of the concrete is increased to 4000 psi.
3
Vented crawl spaces require a vent opening within_____feet of each corner.
3
What is the minimum thickness of concrete used for floors?
3 1/2"
All vented crawl spaces shall be vented within ________ of each corner.
3 feet
Reinforcement steel bar placed in footings must be kept _____ from the footing edges or the earth.
3 inches
What is the minimum diameter of a steel column?
3"
Where concrete is cast against and permanently exposed to the earth, reinforcement steel should be __________________ from the earth.
3"
Anchor bolt washers for the sill plate must be a minimum of ___________________ and must be used on each bolt, in areas of Tennessee with high levels of seismic activity.
3" x 3" x 1/4"
The minimum thickness of a slab on ground is ___________________.
3.5
)A number 3 rebar is what diameter?
3/8 inch
A porch more than _____ inches above grade must be provided with 36" guards.
30
The minimum compressive strength of concrete for slabs in moderate weather exposure is_______.
3000 lb
When a concrete foundation wall is exposed to moderate weather conditions, what is the minimum strength required?
3000 lbs/sq. in.
At least one side-hinged exit door must be in each dwelling unit, and must be _____ wide.
32 in.
Batter boards must be kept____feet from the intended excavation.
4
At a minimum how far back from the building line should the batter boards be?
4 feet
Wood foundations are limited to a maximum unbalanced backfill height of:
4 feet
Concrete slabs below grade require a ________________base course of sand, gravel or crushed stone if the existing base isn't a group 1 soil.
4"
A stud used for a non-bearing partitions may not be notched more than ____% of the stud width.
40
The maximum height of an egress window above the floor is _____.
44 inches
Crawl space foundations are typically less than_____feet tall.
5
Final grade around buildings must slope away from the foundation walls a minimum of ___________ for the first 10 feet
5 %
In cases of severe cold weather exposure, the air content in a concrete mix should be about:
5% to 7%
A basement bedroom must have an egress window with a clear opening of at least ______ square feet.
5.7
Water wells should be placed as far away from the septic systems as practical, but typically no less than ______ feet away.
50
)If fill needs to be added for a slab-on-grade, it should be compacted in successive layers of not more than_____inches thick at a time.
6
Code requires that the grade around the buildings must be sloped so rain water drains away from the foundation area. The minimum slope shall be _____ of fall in 10 feet.
6 inches
What is the required thickness of the moisture barrier that must be used under the basement floor (slab)?
6 mils
Foundation walls should be a minimum of how many inches above grade?
6"
The footing for a wood foundation must have a minimum depth of ______________ of crushed stone or sand.
6"
)At final grade, what is the minimum slope of the grade extending perpendicular to the foundation walls?
6" drop in 10 feet - 5.0%
Anchor bolts shall be embedded into at least ________ of concrete or grouted masonry.
7
A benchmark is known to be at an elevation of 100 feet and the finish grade is to be set at 97 feet. Your site reading at the benchmark using a builders level and a leveling rod reads 4.5 feet. What should your reading be at finished grade?
7.5 feet
Typically, footings must be how much wider than the wall bearing on it?
8"
When a fireplace lining of firebrick at least 2" in thickness is installed, the total minimum thickness of the back and side wall is _________________, including the firebrick.
8"
)With the exception of special conditions, maximum delivery time between the water being mixed with the Portland cement in batching and the time of completion of discharge from a transit-mix truck is __________________________.
90 minutes
Back fill material should be free of:
Associated Answers1mostly clay soil2scrap lumber3tree limbs
The timing for the removal of forms is important. The concrete has to achieve a strength great enough to support its own weight and the weight of any construction loads placed upon it. General guidelines for wall and column form removal is _________________________ after placement.
At least 12 hours
Proper __________________ prevents most problems in the finished concrete. Methods used to ensure a high quality, finished product, include a sprayed on membrane curing compound, polyethylene sheets, waterproof paper or wet burlap.
Curing
when should wood foundations be backfilled?
Wood foundations shall not be backfilled until the basement floor and first floor have been constructed or the walls have been braced.
Does the building official have the authority to render interpretations of the code?
Yes
A building line is:
a line fixing the location of a building on a lot
Concrete is made by mixing:
cement, sand, water, and gravel
All soil types have the same optimum moisture content for compaction.
false
A groove formed in the surface of a footing to support the foundation wall is called:
keyway
All of the following are not considered habitable spaces EXCEPT:
kitchens
What is the sole purpose for welded wire fabric in a floor slab?
prevent cracks from opening
There are two ways to insure proper curing of concrete: apply water to make up for water lost due to evaporation, and __________________ .
prevent evaporation
Contractors should be cautious not to harm or possibily even kill trees intended to be saved on a construction site by not:
raising the grade around the tree 2scaring the bark of the tree 3 running heavy equipment over the trees root system
What type of soil compactor would be the best choice for compacting cohesive soils?
rammer
On hot sunny days in the summertime, a contractor may decide to use ____________ to slow down the setting time of concrete.
retarders
The stage at which the grade approximately conforms to approved plans is called:
rough grade
Plans or supporting documents are almost always required by the controlling authority prior to issuing a permit?
true
Soil boring is the method used to determine the soil type or types that will be supporting the footings at a proposed building site.
true
The heavier the plates are on a vibratoty plate compactor the more compaction force it will generate?
true
When pouring concrete, the concrete should be placed near its required point. Excessive handling of the concrete weakens it?
true
Wood posts or columns that are in direct contact with the ground and support permanent structures must be preservative treated.
true
What is the usual size of tie wire for rebar placement?
#16 gauge soft annealed
The principal reasons to understand soil composition are to:
1 reduce settling 2 provide stability 3 increase load-bearing capacity
The minimum air space between brick siding and the plywood sheathing should be:
1"
The condition of erosion control devices must be checked after a rainfall event of _______ or more within a 24 hour period.
1/2 inch
A beam notch in a poured concrete foundation wall must have a minimum clearance of _____ on each side and end.
1/2"
Anchor bolts used to attach the sill plate to the top of the foundation wall must be at least __________ in diameter.
1/2"
The diameter of a No. 4 deformed bar is:
1/2"
The term "fine aggregate" refers to well-graded gravel up to:
1/4 inch
When sawing a control joint in a concrete slab, the joint must be a minimum of how deep?
1/4 the thickness
Pier foundations are limited in height to_______ times their thickness.
10
When building a step footing, what is the maximum slope of the grade under the step area?
10%
A one car driveway should have a minimum width of?
10'
)For a slab placed below grade, it is necessary to provide at least 4" of crushed gravel or stone. This should be compacted. It will prevent moisture from collecting under the slab. This 4" area is known as ________________________.
Base
The ______ was created to serve as a complete, comprehensive code regulating the construction of single-family, two-family and buildings consisting of three or more townhouse units.
IRC
What is the reason for using fiber reinforcement in concrete?
Improves ductility and reduces surface cracks
In most specifications, adding water to a batch of concrete is permitted only one time at the job site as long as the WC ratio is not exceeded. This would be done in order to:
Increase the slump to the level specified in the mix design
If a slab and a footing constructed by the same form work and created by the same concrete pour, this is called __________________.
Monolithic construction
)Isolation joints isolate differing parts of a structure to permit independent:
Movement
The most precise way of positioning rebar for a slab is to use:
Stirrups
Fasteners used below grade in wood foundations shall be: ________________________.
Stainless Steel
Footings shall bear on undisturbed soil?
true
)If a high water table is present, what is required by code to cover the foundation wall up to finish grade?
a waterproofing membrane must be applied over the exterior face of the foundation wall up to grade level.
The first two chapters of the code book __________ .
are administrative
)You would use a ________ to determine a floor is level, but this tool would not help determine if a wall is plumb.
builders level
What tool would you use to peel back topsoil?
bulldozer
The most commonly used additive to help concrete set rapidly and more cohesively is:
calcium chloride
The thickened portion of a slab made to support a load bearing wall is:
called a grade beam and is required by code
It is necessary to maintain the temperature above 50 degrees in order for concrete to properly:
cure
Protecting foundation walls against ordinary seepage such that may occur after a rainstorm is called:
dampproofing
Land developers often create restrictive covenants that dictate what can and can't be done on an owners property, these covenants are referred to as:
deed restrictions
Generally speaking, the building official's job is to:
determine that buildings are built to the minimum enforceable standard
A slump cone is a metal cone used for:
determining water mix in concrete
Public _________ provide utilities access to run lines or pipes across or under your property.
easements
The white salty powder that forms on the finished surface of concrete is called ___________.
efflorescence
Footings and foundations shall be constructed of masonry, concrete or treated wood and shall:
extend below the frost line
None of the following require a permit, EXCEPT: 1sidewalks and driveways2tiling3an 8 foot fence4playground equipment
fence
Illustrations are typically referred to as _________ .
figures
A deposit of earth material placed by artificial means is called _________________.
fill
)What is used to prevent concrete from sticking to wood forms?
form release agent (oil)
A footing and a wall are two parts of a:
foundation
The footing for a wood foundation is made up of _____________________.
gravel or crushed stone
)In comparison to regular concrete, air entrained concrete:
has more workability is more durable in freeze/thaw conditions
When water is added to Portland cement it causes the mass to set. This reaction is called:
hydration
When back filling around the foundation the soil should be compacted in __________ of 6 inches at a time.
lifts
What type of building can be erected on a pier and curtain wall foundation?
light frame
The amount of evenly distributed weight imposed by inhabitants, goods and removable objects on a floor or roof system is referred to as _______ .
live load
Foundation drain pipe or tile should be ___________ than the basement floor slab.
lower
A control joint allows for what?
movement
Pouring concrete on frozen earth is:
never acceptable.
On sidewalk surfaces, it is necessary to broom the surface of concrete to provide a:
non-slip surface
The maximum distance between the last anchor bolt and the end of the foundation plate is:
one foot
The top surface of footings shall be level. The bottom surface of footings shall not have a slope exceeding:
one unit vertical in ten units horizontal
What type of material allows for the best drainage?
pea pebbles
The percolation test is used to determine:
permeability of soil
A wall portion projecting from either or both wall faces serving as a vertical column is a?
pilaster
As concrete is placed in a form it needs to be leveled off. This can be done manually or mechanically with a __________________________.
power screed
On large areas, it may be necessary to use a __________________ to finish the surface area.
power trowel
_________________ concrete is the process of leveling the freshly poured concrete before it is floated.
screeding
The exact location of property lines should be determined early in the design phase in order to comply with __________ requirements.
setback
A concrete floor may also be called a:
slab on ground
A ground surface inclination expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance is called _____________________.
slope
Under what circumstances would it be recommended to use a step footing?
sloped grade.
)A _________________ is a 12" high cone which determines the amount of water in the mix.
slump cone
Footings that are formed on a level grade with wood or steel are called:
spread footings
Concrete slabs poured above grade are often supported by ribbed or corrugated steel decking. These forms are called __________ .
stay-in-place forms
Foundations for all buildings where the surface of the ground slopes more than 1 unit vertical in 10 units horizontal (10% slope) shall be level or shall be _______________ so that both the top and bottom of the foundation is level.
stepped
Reinforcing steel placed in concrete to increase is _________strength.
tensile
Grading is changing the earth surface by either excavating or filling or a combination of both.
true
It is required that all manufacturer instructions be at the jobsite at the time of inspection?
true
The thermal process known as hydration refers to:
the curing process
In a footing what does a key or keyway refer to?
the groove in the top of the footing
Concrete slabs on grade have a tendency to curl because:
the top cures faster
What is the purpose of adding retarders to a concrete mixture?
to slow down the setting time of concrete
Waterproofing runs from what to what?
top of the footing to the grade
A horizontal member of a concrete wall form used to help brace the form is a:
wale
What is the horizontal brace for wall forms called?
wale
What is added to make concrete more workable with less water?
water reducers
Adding too much water to a concrete mix will _______________ it.
weaken
To insure that water moisture is not trapped behind brick veneer, small holes are made in the joints of the lowest course of bricks. These holes are called:
weep holes
What type of building superstructure is allowed when a wood foundation system is utilized?
wood only
will A garden shed over 200 square feet will require a permit.code?
yes
