PDA

View Full Version : Foundation/Grade question



ryan simpson
05-19-2009, 02:10 PM
Hi,
I am filling out an inspection exam, and one of the questions ask's

"which of the following is the worst case scenario?"
a. the top of the foundation wall is at grade
b. the top of the foundation was is 3 inches below grade
c. the top of the foundation wall is 16 inches above grade
d. the top of the foundation was is 10 inches wide.

*i cant find anything online to answer it directly, but it seems to be choice C.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

A.D. Miller
05-19-2009, 02:15 PM
Hi,
I am filling out an inspection exam, and one of the questions ask's

"which of the following is the worst case scenario?"
a. the top of the foundation wall is at grade
b. the top of the foundation was is 3 inches below grade
c. the top of the foundation wall is 16 inches above grade
d. the top of the foundation was is 10 inches wide.

*i cant find anything online to answer it directly, but it seems to be choice C.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

RS: B

Rick Hurst
05-19-2009, 02:20 PM
So we're cheating on the test huh?

On the road to being a Professional Home Inspector.:rolleyes:

rick

A.D. Miller
05-19-2009, 02:25 PM
So we're cheating on the test huh?

On the road to being a Professional Home Inspector.:rolleyes:

rick

Rick: Now, be nice. He is in Flahdah, after all . . . don't be too hard on those Flahddah Boys.:D

ryan simpson
05-19-2009, 02:27 PM
its open book, the reason for them making us find the information is because they say it will help us remember better than simply reading it from a text.

Scott Patterson
05-19-2009, 02:37 PM
its open book, the reason for them making us find the information is because they say it will help us remember better than simply reading it from a text.

What class or school are you in?

Rick Hurst
05-19-2009, 02:44 PM
They said open book, not the World Wide Web. :D

Nothing like having a wireless internet card handy though.

ryan simpson
05-19-2009, 02:59 PM
Its a packet sent out by the company containing the exam. Not a school.

And rick, they actually advise you to find the information through the web, local library. im not cheating on anything.

Thanks for the help miller

Rick Hurst
05-19-2009, 03:20 PM
And rick, they actually advise you to find the information through the web, local library. im not cheating on anything.



Ryan,

Just busting your sphere's dude. :D

Markus Keller
05-19-2009, 03:56 PM
B - now who's going to explain to him why. Or maybe he should explain it to us so he can really get taught a lesson. :p

Scott Patterson
05-19-2009, 04:28 PM
Its a packet sent out by the company containing the exam. Not a school.

And rick, they actually advise you to find the information through the web, local library. im not cheating on anything.

Thanks for the help miller

Gotcha, that's pretty kool.. Is it from the company that has the listing on EBay?

Jerry Peck
05-19-2009, 05:48 PM
Ryan,

Think of it this way:


"which of the following is the worst case scenario?"

"worst case"


a. the top of the foundation wall is at grade
You want the top of the foundation wall *AT LEAST* at grade, and preferably a minimum of 8 inches above final grade, which is sod level. Being *AT* grade is *NOT GOOD*.


b. the top of the foundation was is 3 inches below grade
That makes this REAL BAD.


c. the top of the foundation wall is 16 inches above grade
Excellent, exceed the minimum 8 inches by another 8 inches!


d. the top of the foundation was is 10 inches wide.
Could be 8 inches wide, could be 12 inches wide, all other answers have something to do with "height of foundation wall and grade", this is your red herring answer - discard it.

Okay, which of the above answers is "WORST CASE"?

Brandon Whitmore
05-19-2009, 05:48 PM
Hi,
I am filling out an inspection exam, and one of the questions ask's

"which of the following is the worst case scenario?"
a. the top of the foundation wall is at grade
b. the top of the foundation was is 3 inches below grade
c. the top of the foundation wall is 16 inches above grade
d. the top of the foundation was is 10 inches wide.

*i cant find anything online to answer it directly, but it seems to be choice C.


Ryan,

Let's actually cover these one by one........

a) The top of the foundation wall being at grade is a problem because the framing can/ will rot out over time.

b)Now you have 3" of buried siding, framing, etc.-- this is much worse than A. Now the wall can really rot out.

c)Having the top of the foundation wall being 16" above grade is great-- concrete isn't gonna rot. (test doesn't say where the bottom is).

d)Having a foundation stem wall 10" wide is probably a good thing. (wider than typical in residential).

Brandon Whitmore
05-19-2009, 05:50 PM
Dang it Jerry, you beat me to the draw by a matter of seconds.

Jerry Peck
05-19-2009, 05:55 PM
Dang it Jerry, you beat me to the draw by a matter of seconds.


Well ... I was just sitting here going 'you know, I betcha ol' Brandon is just about now typing his last word, ... now his last letter ... now getting ready to click ... CLICK! I clicked mine first. :p

Jerry McCarthy
05-25-2009, 06:44 PM
If I had seen this earlier I would have been sorely temped to answer C. :p