Structure

Wood lintels need A) wood preservative. B) flashing. C) 1½ inches of end bearing. D) 6 inches of end bearing.

The answer is 1½ inches of end bearing. Wood lintels need 1½ inches of end bearing.

A skylight has been added to a roof framed with rafters and ceiling joists. Three rafters are cut to make the opening. Which of the following statements are true? A) A single header should be installed to transfer the load from the cut rafters to the next full rafter. B) Double header and a double trimmer are required. C) A single trimmer and a double header are required. D) A single header and a double trimmer are required.

The answer is A DOUBLE HEADER AND A DOUBLE TRIMMER ARE REQUIRED. When cutting three rafters, a double header and a double trimmer are required.

Pyrolysis is A) a phenomenon where cellulose insulation can spontaneously ignite when in contact with roof sheathing that does not have the FRT rating. B) a phenomenon where chronic condensation on the underside of sheathing causes the sheathing to sag between the rafters. C) a phenomenon where the auto-ignition temperature of the wood is reduced. D) premature corrosion of sheathing nails due to contact with acids in some types of waferboard.

The answer is A PHENOMENON WHERE THE AUTO-IGNITION TEMPERATURE OF THE WOOD IS REDUCED. Pyrolysis is a phenomenon where the auto-ignition temperature of the wood is reduced.

For a house with wood frame walls, the roof structure can be nailed directly to the wall structure. If the exterior walls are solid masonry, how is the roof framing attached to the walls? A) If the exterior walls are solid masonry, the roof structure can simply rest on top of the wall. There is no need to secure them as long as the bottoms of opposing rafters are tied together to prevent rafter spreading. B) each rafter is bolted to the masonry wall with bolts that are about 1/2 inch in diameter And about 3½ inches long. C) Joist hangers and concrete nails. D) A wood sill is bolted to the top of the wall and the roof framing is nailed to this sill.

The answer is A WOOD SILL IS BOLTED TO THE TOP OF THE WALL AND THE ROOF FRAMING IS NAILED TO THIS SILL. A wood sill is bolted to the top of a wall and the framing is nailed to the sill.

Cracks may result from building movement that is which of the following? A) Stopped B) Slowing down C) Steady D) All of these

The answer is ALL OF THESE. Cracks may result from building movement that has stopped, is steady, is speeding up, or is slowing down.

Sills below grade level A) are more susceptible to rot than sills above grade. B) are more susceptible to crushing than sills above grade. C) are more susceptible to warping than sills above grade. D) are more likely to fail in bending than sills above grade.

The answer is ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROT THAN SILLS ABOVE GRADE. Sills below grade are much more susceptible to rot than sills above grade.

Condensation in northern climates forms in walls A) as a result of outdoor air leaking into the walls. B) as a result of indoor air leaking into the walls. C) on their warmest surfaces only. D) which prevents rot by keeping all of the wood at the same moisture content.

The answer is AS A RESULT OF INDOOR AIR LEAKING INTO THE WALLS. Condensation usually results from indoor air leaking into the walls.

The top of a column should be A) bonded to a beam with adhesive. B) supported by a diagonal bridging or blocking. C) at least as wide as the beam above it. D) nailed to at least two joists.

The answer is AT LEAST AS WIDE AS THE BEAM ABOVE IT. The top of the column should be as wide as the beam that it supports.

Steel columns may be secured to steel beams with A) four nails, each 3½ inches long. B) wood transfer plates. C) rivets. D) bendable metal tabs.

The answer is BENDABLE METAL TABS. Steel columns can be secured to beams with bendable metal tabs.

Holes are A) not allowed in joists. B) best near the top of joists. C) best near the bottom of joists. D) best near the middle of joists.

The answer is BEST NEAR THE MIDDLE OF JOISTS. Holes are best near the middle of joists rather than the top or bottom.

Masonry veneer walls are A) supported with header courses. B) hung on studs. C) brittle. D) watertight.

The answer is BRITTLE. Masonry veneer walls are brittle.

Sagging floors A) can be reinforced by sistering. B) may result from truss uplift. C) indicate undersized subflooring. D) indicate foundation failure.

The answer is CAN BE REINFORCED BY SISTERING. Sagging floors can be reinforced by sistering. Undersized subflooring is usually not the issue.

Offset walls supporting floor loads above A) are not permitted. B) cannot be offset by more than three feet from their support below. C) are unlimited in location as long as they are perpendicular to the joists below. D) can cause a floor to sag near the wall.

The answer is CAN CAUSE A FLOOR TO SAG NEAR THE WALL. Offset load-bearing walls may result in a floor sagging near the wall because the load is not transferred directly to the bearing wall or beam below.

Masonry walls are strongest in A) vertical bending. B) compression. C) vertical tension. D) horizontal bending.

The answer is COMPRESSION. Masonry walls are strongest in compression. It is hard to squash a masonry wall.

All of the following could indicate spreading rafters except A) top of exterior wall bowed out. B) gap between the soffit and the exterior wall. C) cracks in interior ceilings running perpendicular to the outside walls. D) sag in roof or ridge.

The answer is CRACKS IN INTERIOR CEILINGS RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE OUTSIDE WALLS. Cracks in ceilings running perpendicular to outside walls do not suggest rafter spreading.

"H" clips are used for A) attaching members of trusses together. B) splicing rafters. C) edge support for roof sheathing. D) attaching rafters to ceiling joists.

The answer is EDGE SUPPORT FOR ROOF SHEATHING. H clips are used to provide edge support for roof sheathing.

All of these are components of vented rain screens except A) sheathing paper. B) weep holes. C) flashings. D) headers.

The answer is HEADERS. Headers are not part of a vented rain screen. They are part of a solid masonry wall.

Purlins are A) part of the framing of a fireplace. B) horizontal members supporting the mid-span of rafters. C) part of the framing of a truss roof system. D) part of the framing of a raised foundation.

The answer is HORIZONTAL MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE MID-SPAN OF RAFTERS. Purlins are horizontal members supporting the mid-span of rafters.

Ceiling joists are A) similar to rafters but found on low-slope roofs. B) horizontal members used with rafters and sometimes with roof joists. C) 2×4s, 2×6s, 2×8s or 2×10s and are used to support the sheathing. D) structural members that support the dead load of the roof sheathing and the roofing material, and the live loads above.

The answer is HORIZONTAL MEMBERS USED WITH RAFTERS AND SOMETIMES WITH ROOF JOISTS. Ceiling joists are horizontal members used with rafters and roof joists.

The foundation wall is cracked due to horizontal force. A) You will not be able to determine whether the wall has also moved inward. B) You should not be concerned unless the crack is at least ¼ inch. C) If the wall has moved inward, cracks will typically be wider on the outside face. D) If the wall has moved inward, the cracks would typically be wider on the inside face.

The answer is IF THE WALL HAS MOVED INWARD, THE CRACKS WOULD TYPICALLY BE WIDER ON THE INSIDE FACE. If the wall has moved inward, the cracks are typically wider on the inside face.

Rust on steel columns A) is usually found at the top. B) is due to metal fatigue induced by expansion and contraction. C) is usually found at the bottom. D) is only common on outdoor columns.

The answer is IS USUALLY FOUND AT THE BOTTOM. Rust on columns is usually at or near the bottom, often a result of chronic wet basement problems, or flooding from plumbing or heating water, or sewer backup.

Subflooring can be thought of as A) little studs. B) little joists. C) little collar ties. D) little columns.

The answer is LITTLE JOISTS. Subflooring can be thought of as very small joists.

Anchor bolts holding sills to foundations A) should be spaced every 10 feet. B) should never be used within one foot of building corners. C) should extend 14 inches down into the foundation. D) need nuts and washers.

The answer is NEED NUTS AND WASHERS. Anchor bolts need nuts and washers.

Which of the following statements applies to notching or putting holes in truss members? A) Holes are permitted only in the middle third of the bottom chord of a truss. B) Holes should be no more than 1/3 of the depth of the member. C) Holes and notches are not permitted in the top or bottom chord but are permitted in the webs. D) Neither holes nor notches are permitted anywhere on a truss.

The answer is NEITHER HOLES NOR NOTCHES ARE PERMITTED ANYWHERE ON A TRUSS. Neither holes nor notches are permitted in trusses.

Which of the following is a truss style? A) Briggs & stratten B) Lambert C) Panel scissor D) Inverted belgian

The answer is PANEL SCISSOR. A panel scissor is a style of truss.

Vented rain screen walls A) vent indoor moisture. B) are only needed on north facing walls. C) have the brick installed tight against the sheathing behind to prevent moisture penetration. D) reduce water driving through brick walls.

The answer is REDUCE WATER DRIVING THROUGH BRICK WALLS. Vented rain screen walls help to reduce the water driving through the brick walls.

Beams resting on wood or metal A) require 3 inches of solid bearing at each support point B) require pressure treating chemicals to make the beam more rot resistant C) should only be supported with steel shims D) require 1½ inches of solid bearing at each support point

The answer is REQUIRE 1½ INCHES OF SOLID BEARING AT EACH SUPPORT POINT. Beams require 3 inches of solid bearing at each support point if resting on concrete or masonry, and 1½ inches if resting on wood or metal.

All of the following are dead loads except A) snow loads. B) the weight of the structure above the foundation. C) the weight of the shingles on the roof. D) the weight of the soil surrounding the foundation.

The answer is SNOW LOADS. Snow loads are live loads.

Footings that are continuous around the perimeter of the house are called A) spread footings. B) pad footings. C) piers. D) grade beams.

The answer is SPREAD FOOTINGS. Spread footings are continuous around the perimeter of the house.

Where lateral forces have caused cracking, bowing, bulging, or leaning of foundation walls, corrective action is often required. All of the following are typical corrective actions except A) a separate exterior wall is built against the foundation. B) buttresses added on the inside of the foundation wall. C) a separate foundation wall is built on the interior of the foundation. D) steel beams or channels are added horizontally along the crack.

The answer is STEEL BEAMS OR CHANNELS ARE ADDED HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE CRACK. Steel beams or channels added horizontally along the crack are not likely to be successful. Beams or channels added vertically are better.

Walls may perform all of these functions except A) support other walls. B) support roofs. C) support masonry chimneys. D) resist wind loads.

The answer is SUPPORT MASONRY CHIMNEYS. Walls should not support masonry chimneys in most cases.

While inspecting the attic of a row house built in the mid-1970's, you notice that the plywood next to the party wall is delaminating and has a white powder underneath. Which of the following might explain this? A) This type of plywood has oriented strands and can only be installed in one direction. Often the last piece is installed in the wrong direction to make it fit between the party walls. B) This condition is an example of pyrolysis where the sheathing in contact with the masonry party wall deteriorates prematurely. C) The attic is much colder near the party walls and there is almost always more condensation on the underside of the sheathing in this area. D) The plywood next to the party wall is probably FRT plywood. FRT plywood has been found to deteriorate prematurely.

The answer is THE PLYWOOD NEXT TO THE PARTY WALL IS PROBABLY FRT PLYWOOD. FRT PLYWOOD HAS BEEN FOUND TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY. This is probably FRT (Fire Resistant Treated plywood) that is deteriorating.

Plywood, waferboard, and OSB require edge support at all edges. All of the following are considered adequate edge support except A) an edge resting directly on a rafter or truss. B) 2×2 blocking. C) "H" clips. D) top and bottom edges butted and glued together.

The answer is TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES BUTTED AND GLUED TOGETHER. You can't glue the butt edges of plywood together.

In masonry veneer walls A) weep holes often are found. B) the masonry is supported primarily by the wood framing. C) metal ties are never used. D) header courses are found every seventh row.

The answer is WEEP HOLES OFTEN ARE FOUND. Because they are not watertight, brick veneer walls often use weep holes to help dissipate moisture.

Differential settlement is A) the cause of all horizontal foundation cracks. B) when one part of the house settles and the rest does not. C) associated with shrinkage cracks. D) settlement that occurs at a control joint. tive to another.

The answer is WHEN ONE PART OF THE HOUSE SETTLES AND THE REST DOES NOT. Differential settlement occurs when one part of the house settles rela

Where trusses are used for a roof in a snowy region A) snow drifting is common where there are two different roof levels but trusses are "over-designed" so no problems are likely to occur. B) your roofing structure inspection should include a careful look at upper roof areas adjacent to lower roofs. C) no special attention is required for any part of the roof structure inspection. D) where there are two roof levels, snow may drift onto the lower roof adjacent to a wall extending above the roof. This concentrated load may cause sagging or even break truss members.

The answer is WHERE THERE ARE TWO ROOF LEVELS, SNOW MAY DRIFT ONTO THE LOWER ROOF ADJACENT TO A WALL EXTENDING ABOVE THE ROOF. THIS CONCENTRATED LOAD MAY CAUSE SAGGING OR EVEN BREAK TRUSS MEMBERS. Concentrated loads of snow drifting on a lower roof when it's adjacent to a wall can cause truss members to sag or break.

Joists notched at their end are weaker than normal joists. True False

The statement is TRUE. Joists notched at their end are weaker than normal joists.