Structure Inspection Section#3 Wall System Quiz#4

You should have finished Study Session 3 and Quick Quiz 3 before starting this Study Session.

The estimated completion time is one hour.

Objectives
At the end of this study session, you should be able to:

• List seven common wood frame wall problems.
• Describe how condensation causes rot in three sentences.

Give three causes of rot.

1. Condensation

2. Leakage through the walls or roof

3. Wood/soil contact

List three reasons for walls bowing or buckling.

1. The walls are too tall 
2. Bracing is missing 
3. Unexpected concentrated loads 
4. Damaged studs

_____ is the biggest enemy of houses. (one word)

Water

A wood frame wall with wood siding should stop _____ inches above grade. (Insert a number.)

8

6 for brick wall

Exterior walls on completed houses are rarely subject to racking because they have _____ finishes and/or _____ sheathing. (Insert your answers separated by a comma.)

exterior,interior

Interior wall cracks radiating up from the top of windows may mean - (three answers)

1. sagging lintels

2. foundation settlement

3. shrinkage of framing members

Missing fire stopping - (three answers)

1. is more common on balloon frame than platform construction

2. is a fire hazard

3. is tough to see on most inspections

Offset bearing wall - (two answers)

1. are common - often result in minor structural problems

2. must always be parallel to joists

Longer studs are more susceptible than conventional length studs to

bowing or buckling

Open concept homes are more likely than conventional homes to -

Rack

Where is condensation damage likely to be worst?

At bottoms of walls

Wall framing problems are often tough to identify because wall-framing details are usually concealed.

True