LICT-Exterior flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Roof slope ratio

Roof slope is the vertical rise divided by the horizontal run, expressed as rise:12. A 4:12 slope rises 4 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run.

Low-slope roof threshold

Asphalt shingles require a minimum slope of 2:12. Slopes below 2:12 are low-slope and require a membrane or built-up roof system, not standard shingles.

Step flashing

Step flashing is an L-shaped metal piece installed at a roof-to-sidewall intersection, with one leg on the roof and one on the wall, woven with each shingle course.

Counter-flashing

Counter-flashing is metal embedded in a masonry wall or attached to siding that overlaps the top edge of step flashing, preventing water from entering behind the flashing.

Ice barrier membrane

An ice barrier is a self-adhering waterproof membrane installed from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line to prevent ice-dam water intrusion.

Drip edge

Drip edge is metal flashing at the eave and rake edges that directs water away from the roof deck and fascia; it is placed under underlayment at eaves and over at rakes.

Roof underlayment

Roof underlayment is a water-resistant sheet beneath roof coverings; asphalt-saturated felt or synthetic membrane is required, with laps of at least 2 inches and end laps of 4 inches.

Asphalt shingle exposure

Exposure is the portion of an asphalt shingle left uncovered by the next course; for a standard three-tab shingle, exposure is typically 5 inches on a 12-inch shingle.

Gutter slope

Gutters should slope toward downspouts at about 1/16 inch per foot; a 40-foot gutter run therefore drops 2.5 inches from high end to downspout.

Downspout discharge distance

Downspouts must discharge at least 4 to 6 feet from the foundation and should not discharge onto a slope that drains back toward the building.

Finish grade slope

Finish grade must slope away from the foundation at least 6 inches over the first 10 feet, a minimum 5 percent slope, to direct surface water away from the foundation.

Wood siding clearance

Wood and wood-composite siding must be at least 6 inches above finish grade, and at least 1 inch above roof surfaces or horizontal trim, to prevent moisture wicking.

Masonry veneer clearance

Masonry veneer must be at least 4 inches above finish grade, with a foundation-supporting ledge; weep holes are installed at the base to allow moisture to escape.

Weep holes spacing

In brick veneer, weep holes are typically spaced at least 24 inches on center and are kept open; they allow water that enters the cavity to drain out.

Window head flashing

Head flashing is installed above a window opening, integrated with the weather-resistive barrier in shingle fashion, and slopes to the exterior to shed water away from the window.

Sill pan flashing

Sill pan flashing is a watertight pan at the base of a window or door opening that collects water and slopes to the exterior, preventing leaks at the sill.

Weather-resistive barrier

A weather-resistive barrier is a sheet material behind exterior cladding that sheds water; joints are lapped shingle-fashion, typically 2 inches horizontally and 6 inches vertically.

Deck ledger flashing

Ledger flashing is Z-shaped metal placed above the deck ledger and behind the siding, directing water over the ledger face and away from the house.

Ledger board fastening

A deck ledger is fastened to the band joist with lag screws or through-bolts, not nails or deck screws; fastener spacing is determined by load and ledger material.

Chimney 3-2-10 rule

A chimney must extend at least 3 feet above the highest roof penetration and at least 2 feet higher than any roof surface within 10 feet.

Foundation wall crack types

Vertical cracks in a foundation wall often indicate shrinkage or settlement; diagonal cracks suggest differential settlement; horizontal cracks can indicate lateral soil pressure and are structurally serious.

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is a white, powdery mineral deposit on masonry or concrete, caused by water carrying salts to the surface; it indicates moisture movement, not necessarily structural failure.

Exterior door threshold

An exterior door threshold must be at least 1 inch above the exterior landing, and the landing must slope away from the door to prevent water infiltration.

Garage door photo-eye

A garage door operator must have a photoelectric eye mounted no more than 6 inches above the floor on each side of the door, reversing the door when the beam is broken.

Exterior GFCI requirement

Exterior receptacles must have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection, except for fixed snow-melting equipment or a receptacle serving a dedicated de-icing system.

A/C condenser clearance

An outdoor air-conditioning condenser requires at least 30 inches of clearance from the building wall and at least 3 feet of service access; airflow clearance per manufacturer is typically 12-18 inches.

Dryer vent termination

A clothes dryer exhaust must terminate outdoors at least 3 feet from any building opening, and the termination hood must have a backdraft damper; vinyl flexible duct is prohibited.

Hail damage to shingles

Hail damage on asphalt shingles appears as random, circular soft spots with granule loss and exposed mat; it is distinguished from wind damage, which creases or removes tabs.

Functional vs cosmetic damage

Functional damage impairs the water-shedding ability or expected life of a roofing material; cosmetic damage affects only appearance and does not reduce performance or service life.

Replacement cost value

Replacement cost value is the cost to repair or replace damaged property with new materials of like kind and quality, without deducting depreciation; it may include labor and overhead.

Actual cash value

Actual cash value is replacement cost minus depreciation; it reflects the pre-loss value of the damaged property and is the basis for many insurance settlements.

Matching exterior materials

Matching requires replacement materials to reasonably match undamaged areas in color, texture, and size; if a match is unavailable, some policies require replacing the entire continuous surface.