Exteriors

All of the following statements are true of structural garage floors except A) much of the strength in suspended concrete garage floors is derived from the steel reinforcement in the concrete. B) cracks in structural garage floors indicate structural failure. C) structural garage floors may need inspection by a specialist. D) structural garage floors should not be inspected for design adequacy as part of a home inspection.

Explanation The answer is CRACKS IN STRUCTURAL GARAGE FLOORS INDICATE STRUCTURAL FAILURE. Cracks in structural garage floors do not necessarily indicate structural failure. Much of the strength in the floor system is derived from the steel reinforcement.

A common slope for a gutter is A) 1 in 100. B) 1 in 25. C) 1 in 300. D) 1 in 200.

The answer is 1 IN 200. A gutter slope of 1 in 200 is typical.

Joists should have an end bearing of at least A) 6 inches B) 3½ inches C) 1½ inches D) 1 inch

The answer is 1½ INCHES. Joists should have an end bearing of at least 1½ inches.

Beams rely on at least how many inches of bearing on concrete or masonry? A) 6 B) 4 C) 2 D) 3

The answer is 3. Beams typically require at least 3 inches of end bearing on concrete or masonry.

Gabion is A) a cantilevered retaining wall. B) a gravity retaining wall. C) a pile type retaining wall using steel I-beams as piles. D) a prefabricated retaining wall.

The answer is A GRAVITY RETAINING WALL. Gabion is a gravity retaining wall.

Basement window wells should have drains unless A) the base of the well is 12 inches below the window. B) ABS plastic is used. C) the floor of the well is filled with gravel. D) a plastic cover is provided over the well.

The answer is A PLASTIC COVER IS PROVIDED OVER THE WELL. Basement window wells should have drains, unless a plastic cover is provided over the well.

The best discharge point for a downspout is A) six inches above grade, adjacent to the house. B) below grade into a storm sewer. C) three feet above grade, adjacent to the house. D) above grade six feet from the house.

The answer is ABOVE GRADE SIX FEET FROM THE HOUSE. The best discharge point for a downspout is above grade, six feet from the house.

Deadmen A) are used in gabions. B) form the T in a cantilevered retaining wall. C) are connected to tiebacks. D) are used as footings for shoring.

The answer is ARE CONNECTED TO TIEBACKS. Deadmen are connected to tiebacks in retaining walls.

Wood shakes A) can only be hand split and resawn. B) can only be made of cedar. C) should be butted tightly side to side to prevent leakage. D) are typically 18 or 24 inches long.

The answer is ARE TYPICALLY 18 OR 24 INCHES LONG. Wood shakes typically are 18 or 24 inches long, although 32 inch lengths sometimes are available.

Where is rot most likely to occur in deck and porch floors? A) Near steps, due to the stringer attachments B) On the underside of the floorboards C) Where there is the most foot traffic D) At horizontal joints with end grain

The answer is AT HORIZONTAL JOINTS WITH END GRAIN. Rot is most likely to occur in deck and porch floors at horizontal joints with end grain.

All of the following are common surface water drainage problems except A) porous soil. B) improper ground surface slope. C) clogged catch basins. D) basement windows without wells.

The answer is BASEMENT WINDOWS WITHOUT WELLS. Basement windows without wells are not necessarily a grading problem. The basement windows may be above grade level.

Drains should be provided outside the vehicle door in garages that are A) provided with interior drains. B) detached. C) in wet climates where the garage is attached. D) below grade, where the driveway slopes down toward the garage.

The answer is BELOW GRADE, WHERE THE DRIVEWAY SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE GARAGE. Drains should be located outside the garage door if the driveway slopes down toward the garage.

Common soffit and fascia problems include all of the following except A) loose or missing pieces. B) rot. C) mechanical damage. D) burn-through due to ultraviolet light.

The answer is BURN-THROUGH DUE TO ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT. Burn-through is not a common problem on soffit or fascia.

Skirting A) is found on decks but not porches. B) can obstruct ventilation. C) should extend down into the soil. D) should not have an access door.

The answer is CAN OBSTRUCT VENTILATION. Skirting can obstruct ventilation of the area below the porch. The best skirting is a latticework or some other material that will let air move relatively freely.

All of the following are types of retaining walls except A) cavity. B) pile. C) tied back. D) cantilevered.

The answer is CAVITY. A cavity wall is not typically a retaining wall.

Poor materials for porch floors include all of the following except A) oriented strandboard (osb). B) hardboard. C) plywood. D) cedar.

The answer is CEDAR. Cedar is a good material for a porch floor, although it is not as strong as some other softwoods.

Common beam problems on porches include all of the following except A) sag. B) checking. C) poor end support. D) wood/soil contact.

The answer is CHECKING. Checking is a normal condition on wood beams and is not usually a problem.

The following are common problems with overhead sectional vehicle doors in garages except A) automatic opener problems. B) operability. C) rot/rust. D) counterweights.

The answer is COUNTERWEIGHTS. Counterweights are not problems on sectional doors. They are typical.

All of the following are common downspout problems except A) discharging onto the ground. B) too few. C) leaking. D) missing.

The answer is DISCHARGING ONTO THE GROUND. Downspouts that discharge onto the ground are the arrangement preferred by most inspectors.

Common problems with hardboard include all of the following except A) efflorescence. B) buckling. C) swelling. D) delamination.

The answer is EFFLORESCENCE. Efflorescence is not a problem with hardboard.

The implications of trees or shrubs too close to a house include all of the following except A) roots blocking or collapsing sewer pipes. B) reduced drying potential of siding. C) excess soil moisture adjacent to the house. D) mechanical damage to the house.

The answer is EXCESS SOIL MOISTURE ADJACENT TO THE HOUSE. Having trees or shrubs too close to a house doesn't usually create excess moisture in the soil adjacent to the house.

Which of the following homes is most likely to have concealed damage behind the EIFS? A home A) in the southwest U.S. B) with fewer than average windows. C) with a four-foot roof overhang. D) exposed to strong winds.

The answer is EXPOSED TO STRONG WINDS. A house exposed to strong winds will be susceptible to moisture penetration by wind driven rain. The other items in this question are either dry climates or details that tend to protect against damage.

All of the following statements about retaining wall drainage are true except one. Identify the false statement.

The answer is GOOD DRAINING SOILS SUCH AS CLAY SHOULD BE USED BEHIND RETAINING WALLS. Clay is not a good draining soil.

The floor of a window well should be A) poured concrete. B) single ply roofing membrane. C) gravel. D) level with the bottom of the window.

The answer is GRAVEL. The floor of the window well should be gravel or some other porous material.

Integral gutters are A) gutters that are necessary because of the architecture of the house. B) gutters built in to the roofline. C) gutters that are necessary because of the roof size and slope. D) gutters incorporated into the roof gables.

The answer is GUTTERS BUILT IN TO THE ROOFLINE. Integral gutters are built into the roofline of the house.

Stucco A) is applied to a fiberglass mesh lath. B) uses gypsum as the principal binder. C) is always installed over rigid insulation. D) is basically cement, aggregate, and water.

The answer is IS BASICALLY CEMENT, AGGREGATE, AND WATER. Stucco is cement, aggregate, and water.

Metal siding A) is usually painted on site. B) is prone to thermal expansion and contraction. C) is usually steel. D) does not need to be kept eight inches above grade.

The answer is IS PRONE TO THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION. Metal siding is prone to thermal expansion and contraction.

Cedar is not a good choice for cantilevered balconies because A) it cannot be pressure treated. B) it is not very strong. C) it is too expensive to be used as a framing member. D) it is resistant to rot.

The answer is IT IS NOT VERY STRONG. Cedar is not a very strong wood.

Common problems found with trim, flashings, and caulking include all of the following except A) loose. B) kickout flashings on roof/wall intersections. C) rust or rot. D) missing flashings or caulking.

The answer is KICKOUT FLASHINGS ON ROOF/WALL INTERSECTIONS. Kickout flashings are not a problem. They are a good thing.

Fireproofing in attached garages A) cannot be achieved using masonry block. B) may require a one-hour fire rating. C) always includes a fireproof ceiling. D) never requires a fire-rated man door.

The answer is MAY REQUIRE A ONE-HOUR FIRE RATING. Fireproofing in attached garages may require a one-hour fire rating.

The most common problem with fiber-cement siding is

The answer is MECHANICAL DAMAGE. Mechanical damage is the most common problem with fiber-cement siding.

The cantilevered portion of joists should be no more than

The answer is ONE-THIRD THE ENTIRE JOIST LENGTH. The cantilevered portion of joists should be no more than one-third of the joist length.

Plastic grid-type foundation drainage material relies on what other building component for successful performance? A) Gutters and downspouts B) Foundation insulation C) Perimeter drainage tile D) Dampproofing with bituminous coatings

The answer is PERIMETER DRAINAGE TILE. Foundation drainage material relies on a good perimeter drainage tile system to carry the water away.

The most rot-resistant wood retaining wall would be made of A) railway ties impregnated with creosote. B) pine. C) conventional pressure treated lumber. D) preserved wood foundation pressure treating.

The answer is PRESERVED WOOD FOUNDATION PRESSURE TREATING. Preserved wood foundation pressure treating is quite effective and would form the most rot-resistant wood retaining wall. If we had our choice, we wouldn't use wood for retaining walls, but wood is popular because it fits into landscaping and is relatively inexpensive.

Downspouts running across roof surfaces A) protect the roof from roof or gutter discharge from a higher roof. B) may damage the roof. C) are prone to clogging because they are not vertical. D) can cause ice damming problems.

The answer is PROTECT THE ROOF FROM ROOF OR GUTTER DISCHARGE FROM A HIGHER ROOF. Downspouts running across a roof surface are a good thing. They protect the roof from water runoff from roofs or gutters above.

Elements of a well-constructed garage floor (slab-on-grade type) include all of the following except A) rigid foam insulation under the concrete floor slab. B) well compacted backfill placed in the trenches around the garage foundation. C) a free-draining granular base below the concrete. D) adequate slope toward the vehicle door.

The answer is RIGID FOAM INSULATION UNDER THE CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB. Foam insulation is not a necessary element in a well constructed garage floor slab.

OSB siding A) should never be used in contact with masonry walls. B) requires weep holes about every 32 inches. C) is not prone to buckling. D) should stop one to two inches above roof surfaces.

The answer is SHOULD STOP ONE TO TWO INCHES ABOVE ROOF SURFACES. OSB siding should stop an inch or two above a roof surface.

Common window problems include all of the following except A) cracked or broken glass. B) missing or damaged storm windows and screens. C) single glazing. D) frame deformation.

The answer is SINGLE GLAZING. Single glazing is not, in itself, a problem with windows. Previous NextGo to Summary

Problems with window well drains include all of the following except A) missing. B) not connected. C) obstructed with debris. D) six inches below the window.

The answer is SIX INCHES BELOW THE WINDOW. A drain that is six inches below the window is a good arrangement in a window well.

A common recommendation for lot grading is A) six inches for the first twelve feet B) one inch per foot for the first ten feet C) six inches per foot for the first ten feet D) six inches for the first ten feet

The answer is SIX INCHES FOR THE FIRST TEN FEET. For lot grading, a slope of six inches for the first ten feet is a common recommendation. Home inspectors usually do not measure these slopes. As a rough guide, you should look for a slope that is visible to the eye.

Draping of concrete garage floors is usually caused by

The answer is SLAB SETTLEMENT AT PERIMETER. Draping of concrete floors in garages usually is caused by settlement of the slab around the perimeter, which in turn is caused by settlement of the backfill along the foundations.

A properly operating "auto-reverse" feature should A) stop and reverse if an obstruction is sensed on the way down. B) stop if an obstruction is sensed on the way down. C) stop and reverse if an obstruction is sensed on the way up. D) stop when an obstruction is sensed when moving in either direction.

The answer is STOP AND REVERSE IF AN OBSTRUCTION IS SENSED ON THE WAY DOWN. The auto-reverse mechanism on a garage door opener should cause the door to stop and reverse if an obstruction is sensed on the way down.

What would you do if you saw metal ductwork from a forced-air heating system for the house passing through a garage? A) Recommend a supply air register to help heat the garage. B) Suggest that it be insulated to the level required in the area. C) Recommend that it be removed. D) Recommend covering the ductwork with drywall, as this is the only acceptable method to gas-proof a garage.

The answer is SUGGEST THAT IT BE INSULATED TO THE LEVEL REQUIRED IN THE AREA. Metal ductwork from a forced-air heating system passing through a garage should be insulated.

All of the following are true with EIFS except

The answer is THE FINISH COAT IS THICKER THAN WITH TRADITIONAL STUCCO. The finish coat on EIFS is thinner than with traditional stucco.

All of the following are common problems with window wells except A) a window well is missing. B) the well walls are rusted. C) the floor of the well is 12 inches below the window. D) the well walls are damaged.

The answer is THE FLOOR OF THE WELL IS 12 INCHES BELOW THE WINDOW. It's acceptable if the bottom of the well is 12 inches below the window.

Stucco A) is typically 3/8 inch thick over wood frame walls. B) will often have a drip screed at the bottom. C) is typically applied in a two coat application over wood frame walls. D) is typically installed in a one coat application.

The answer is WILL OFTEN HAVE A DRIP SCREED AT THE BOTTOM. Stucco often has a drip screed at the bottom of the wall.

Wood siding A) should be two inches above grade. B) should be at least four inches above roofing. C) does not hold paint well. D) will wick moisture through end grains.

The answer is WILL WICK MOISTURE THROUGH END GRAINS. Wood siding will wick moisture through end grains.

Which of these statements about rot is false? A) Rot is actually a fungus. B) Wood above 20% moisture content is vulnerable to rot. C) End grains of wood are more susceptible to rot. D) Wood below 40°F is vulnerable to rot.

The answer is WOOD BELOW 40°F IS VULNERABLE TO ROT. Wood below 40°F is not vulnerable to rot.