Exterior Inspection Section#3 Exterior Structures Quiz#5

You should have finished Study Session 4 and Quick Quiz 4 before starting this Study Session. This Study Session covers basement walkouts.

The estimated completion time is 30 minutes.

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

• List six general problem areas with basement walkouts.
• Explain in one sentence how walkouts render houses in northern climates more prone to the effects of frost.
• List five potential problems with basement walkout covers or roof structure

• Question 1

  Needs Grading

  	Describe a proper walkout door threshold.
  	Selected Answer: A 4 to 6 inch concrete threshold at a basement walkout is a good design feature.  Correct Answer:   A four to six inch lip that will allow water to pond rather than spilling into the house. Response Feedback: [None Given]

• Question 2

  Needs Grading

  	List nine things to look for that may suggest a frost heave problem exists.
  	Selected Answer: 1. The walkout door doesn't open or close freely 2. The door is buckled or crushed 3. Cracks around the door frame on the inside and outside of the house 4. Inward movement of the house foundations walls 5. Cracks in the stairwell walls 6. Leaning or bowing of the above grade house foundation wall 7. Cracks or heaving of the steps 8. Cracks or heaving of the stairwell floor 9. Ground around the walkout slope towards the walkout 10. Soil type around the walkout is silty clay Correct Answer: The walkout door doesn?t open or close freely The door is buckled or crushed Cracks around the door frame on the inside and outside of the house Inward movement of the house foundation walls Cracks in the stairwell walls Leaning or bowing of the above grade house foundation wall Cracks or heaving of the steps Cracks or heaving of the stairwell floor Ground around the walkout slope towards the walkout. Soil type around the walkout is silty clay. Response Feedback: [None Given]

• Question 3

  Needs Grading

  	State two causes of failing walkout walls.
  	Selected Answer: 1. Frost problem 2. Soil pressure on the outside Correct Answer:   Frost pressure Hydrostatic pressure of the soil itself. Response Feedback: [None Given]

• Question 4

  Needs Grading

  	What does spalling or efflorescence on masonry walkout walls indicate? (2 things)
  	Selected Answer: Over the long term, the strength of the wall may be lost Correct Answer:     Response Feedback: [None Given]

• Question 5

  Needs Grading

  	What is the recommended approach to protecting the house from heaving when a walkout is installed?
  	Selected Answer: 1. Underpin the house foundation and footings in the vicinity of the walkout 2. Heavily insulate the walkout excavation with rigid insulation before the walkout is constructed Correct Answer:   Underpin or insulate the foundation around the walkout to prevent frost heaving the foundation. Response Feedback: [None Given]

• Question 6

  Needs Grading

  	Why don?t walkout floor drains have tops?
  	Selected Answer: Water in outdoor traps may freeze in the winter Correct Answer: Because water in an outside trap may freeze in cold climates. In warm climates these drains usually connect to a floor drain upstream of its trap, so no separate trap is needed. Response Feedback: [None Given]

• Question 7

  0 out of 0 points

  	In freezing climates, digging the soil away from a foundation wall makes it prone to the effects of _____.
  	Selected Answer:  frost Correct Answer: Evaluation Method Correct Answer Case Sensitivity Exact Match frost Response Feedback: Good work!!

• Question 8

  0 out of 0 points

  	The minimum size of a walkout drain is _____ inches. (Insert a number.)
  	Selected Answer:  3 Correct Answer: Evaluation Method Correct Answer Case Sensitivity Exact Match 3 Response Feedback: Good work!!

• Question 9

  0 out of 0 points

  	The best backfill material for around a walkout is
  	Selected Answer:   free draining granular Answers: absorbent clay   free draining granular Response Feedback: Good work!!

• Question 10

  0 out of 0 points

  	If you see an obviously new basement walkout installation that shows no sign of problems, you should report that it has been well installed.
  	Selected Answer:  False Answers: True  False Response Feedback: Good work!!

• Question 11

  0 out of 0 points

  	It is recommended that perimeter drainage files discharge into the walkout floor drain.
  	Selected Answer:  False Answers: True  False Response Feedback: Good work!!