Deck 5: Foundations

Question 1

There are four basic foundation designs from which to choose: basement, crawl space, ____, and piers, each of which can be constructed using a variety of materials and methods.

A) slab-on-grade
B) footings
C) columns
D) pallets

Answer 1

slab-on-grade

Question 2

Sites at risk for flooding should consider a ____ foundation to avoid problems.

A) column
B) pier
C) pallet
D) basement

Answer 2

pier

Question 3

Most foundations use ____ for some or all of their construction.

A) pozzolan
B) slag and fly ash
C) poured-in-place concrete
D) Portland cement

Answer 3

poured-in-place concrete

Question 4

____ requires large amounts of energy to produce, so green builders may wish to lower the embodied energy in a structure by reducing the amount of concrete in a foundation as well as the amount of cement in the concrete mix.

A) Limestone
B) Silica
C) Slag
D) Portland cement

Question 5

To reduce the amount of Portland cement in a concrete mixture, other materials must be substituted such as coal fly ash and ____.

A) ground granulated blast furnace slag
B) silica
C) common slag
D) limestone

Question 6

Portland and similar cements react with water (hydrate) to create a gel that hardens by absorbing ____.

A) nitrogen dioxide
B) carbon dioxide
C) carbon monoxide
D) hydrogen monoxide

Question 7

____ is a lightweight, air-entrained block that uses less energy to produce and is more energy-efficient than standard CMUs.

A) Autoclaved concrete
B) Aerated cement
C) Autoclaved aerated concrete
D) Aerated compacted cement

Question 8

____ blocks, a variation on the standard CMUs, are formed in two pieces with a piece of foam insulation installed between them, providing built-in insulation.

A) CPG
B) ARM
C) NRG
D) TNF

Question 9

Typically made of foam, ____ are used to create exterior walls for both foundations and above-grade locations.

A) modern building blocks
B) insulated cement forms
C) concrete blocks
D) insulated concrete forms

Question 10

Although stucco is typically applied directly to the foundation, traditional brick or stone that ranges between ____ thick must be installed on a footing or brick ledge that requires additional concrete in the foundation structure.

A) 1" to 3"
B) 2" to 6"
C) 4" to 12"
D) 6" to 10"

Question 11

For ____ construction, the perimeter footings, interior turn-downs, slab thickness, and reinforcing steel should be designed for the minimum sizes required for the structure and soil conditions.

A) slab-on-grade
B) piers
C) crawl space
D) pallet

Question 12

An appropriate choice for ____ climates, a pier foundation is also a good solution for a structure that may be at risk for high groundwater or flooding.

A) hot
B) cold
C) moderate
D) desert

Question 13

____ beams are designed to span between piers or areas of solid soil as well as support the foundation and structure above them while not bearing directly on the soil below.

A) Auxiliary
B) Reinforcing
C) Rated
D) Grade

Question 14

In prefabricated foundations, walls are placed on a bed of ____ rather than on a concrete footing, with the wall itself providing the structural rigidity instead of the footing.

A) wooden beams
B) gravel
C) sheet metal
D) sand

Question 15

Prefabricated concrete foundations are a ____ concrete reinforced with concrete studs, header, and footer.

A) thin skin of high-pressure
B) 1" layer of low-pressure
C) thick layer of high-pressure
D) layer of foam and

Question 16

Foundations of wood are referred to as ____ foundations, and they can be fabricated in a shop or on the job site by using wood that is pressure-treated to withstand moisture and pest damage from ground contact.

A) permawood
B) woodgrain
C) solid wood
D) permanent wood

Question 17

____ is a chemical used in pressure-treated wood, including PWF and SIP foundations, to protect wood from rotting due to insects and microbial agents.

A) Chromium copper dioxide
B) Copper sulfate
C) Chromated nitrogen arsenate
D) Chromated copper arsenate

Question 18

When installed in moderate- to high-risk seismic design zones, prefabricated foundations are installed on poured-in-place footings instead of crushed stone to provide more resistance to ____.

A) tornadoes
B) floods
C) moisture
D) earthquakes

Question 19

The process of directing groundwater away from the foundation and the home is generically known as ____.

A) drainage direction
B) floor drainage
C) foundation drainage
D) groundwater movement

Question 20

The ground around the house should slope away from the home at a minimum ____% grade (6" in 10') for at least the first 5'.

A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 10

Question 21

Without adequate drainage, water can collect against the foundation wall, creating ____ pressure that can drive water into the foundation through cracks and gaps and, in severe cases, cause structural damage.

A) standing
B) hydrostatic
C) hydraulic
D) static

Question 22

Asphalt-based ____ products do not provide sufficient resistance to groundwater, nor are they durable enough to last the life of a structure.

A) damp-proofing
B) waterproofing
C) moisture-proofing
D) vapor-proofing

Question 23

Foundations are susceptible to moisture wicking into the building through capillary action from footings and foundation walls or through slabs. This can be controlled through the installation of a capillary break between the top of the footing and the foundation wall or piers, and a ____ barrier below the concrete slab floor or over the dirt floor of the crawl space.

A) vapor
B) moisture
C) silicon
D) wooden

Question 24

____ is(are) one of the major causes of lung cancer, and all homes should be designed to prevent its entry into the home.

A) CCA
B) Haldon
C) Radon
D) PVFs

Question 25

Keeping wood structures dry and limiting the use of all wood to areas at least ____" above the exterior grade provides additional assurance against termites.

A) 6
B) 9
C) 12
D) 15

Question 26

Match each statement with item below

-May be partially or fully below-ground and support the weight of the building above.

A)Footings
B)Portland cement
C)Conditioned crawl space
D)Pier foundations
E)Pozzolan
F)Foundation walls

Question 27

Match each statement with item below

-The widened supports located at the base of foundation walls, columns, piers, and chimneys that distribute the weight of these elements over a larger area and prevent uneven settling.

A)Footings
B)Portland cement
C)Conditioned crawl space
D)Pier foundations
E)Pozzolan
F)Foundation walls

Question 28

Match each statement with item below

-A category of siliceous and aluminous materials that, when mixed with calcium hydroxide, give concrete its strength.

A)Footings
B)Portland cement
C)Conditioned crawl space
D)Pier foundations
E)Pozzolan
F)Foundation walls

Question 29

Match each statement with item below

-Created by heating a mixture of materials that typically includes limestone and silica.

A)Footings
B)Portland cement
C)Conditioned crawl space
D)Pier foundations
E)Pozzolan
F)Foundation walls

Question 30

Match each statement with item below

-Support a house by providing intermediate supports between beams, eliminating the need for continuous foundation walls and reducing the materials required to support the home.

A)Footings
B)Portland cement
C)Conditioned crawl space
D)Pier foundations
E)Pozzolan
F)Foundation walls

Question 31

Match each statement with item below

-A foundation without wall vents that encloses an intentionally heated or cooled space.

A)Footings
B)Portland cement
C)Conditioned crawl space
D)Pier foundations
E)Pozzolan
F)Foundation walls