Which of the following statements regarding house finishes is FALSE?
- Slight cracking in stucco cladding is fairly common and does not necessarily indicate structural damage.
- Sidewalks can be subject to settlement problems, but in most cases are replaced only for aesthetic reasons.
- Carpet flooring is generally installed directly on top of the rough plywood nailed to the floor joists.
- The main concern with deck rails is that they must be able to support lateral pressure from people’s weight.
Option (3) is correct because flooring is generally installed over a wood or concrete subfloor, and carpet generally has a layer of foam underlay as well.
Options (1), (2), and (4) are incorrect because they are all true statements.
Asad is a property inspector who has been tasked with inspecting a home that Jasmine would like to purchase. Asad is currently inspecting the frame of the house. However, when he reaches the upper floors, he is unable to see the frame. What should Asad be looking for when determining if any damage has been done to the home’s frame?
- Tilted light fixtures or window frames
- Bulges around windows and doors
- Large cracks in the wall or ceiling finish
- Sloping floors
Option (3) is correct because when examining upper level floors, the frame is hidden and the only indication of structural distress will be large cracks in the wall or ceiling finish.
Option (1) is incorrect because tilted light fixtures or window frames do not necessarily indicate structural distress.
Option (2) is incorrect because bulges around windows and doors do not necessarily indicate structural distress.
Option (4) is incorrect because sloping floors do not necessarily indicate structural distress.
Which of the following statements regarding metric construction modules is TRUE?
- Both the exterior and interior of most homes have not changed significantly due to the adoption of metric building standards.
- A hard change involves the establishment of imperial standards in place of metric standards.
- The metric system is widely used because it helps prevent the formation of fishmouth on asphalt shingles.
- A soft change involves altering the physical size of building materials.
Option (1) is correct because it is a true statement.
Option (2) is incorrect because hard changes involve the establishment of metric standards, not imperial standards.
Option (3) is incorrect because metric construction standards are used for greater precision and ease of calculations, not to prevent the formation of fishmouth.
Option (4) is incorrect because soft changes do not involve changing the physical size of building materials.
Which of the following statements regarding building envelope systems is TRUE?
- When a window is cracked, allowing a large amount of heat to escape from the home to the outside, it is known as a thermal broken window.
- Window drafts can be alleviated by sealing the joint between the window and the wall with caulking.
- Polystyrene insulation is sprayed into wall cavities and attics through small drilled holes.
- Cellulose fibre is made from shredded glassfibre batts, with chemicals added to prevent fungi.
Option (2) is correct it is a true statement.
Option (1) is incorrect because a thermal broken window is defined as when the frame of the window is split into two parts from the inside to the outside to reduce the conduction of heat from the home to the outside and vice versa.
Option (3) is incorrect because polystyrene insulation is a rigid insulation that is used for sheathing insulation on wall and floor surfaces.
Option (4) is incorrect because cellulose fibre is made from shredded recycled newsprint.
Which of the following statements regarding floor area calculations is TRUE?
- Square metres can be calculated by multiplying the number of square feet by 10.76.
- For detached houses, measurements are taken along the outside area of interior walls.
- For multi-level buildings, garages are not included in finished floor area calculations.
- ANSI standards specify that no distinction needs to be made between finished and unfinished floor area.
Option (3) is correct because it is a true statement.
Option (1) is incorrect because square metres can be calculated by dividing (not multiplying) the number of square feet by approximately 10.76.
Option (2) is incorrect because for detached houses, measurements are taken from the outside surfaces of exterior (not interior) walls.
Option (4) is incorrect because ANSI standards specify that a distinction is to be made between finished and unfinished floor area.
