ASHI ASHI Foundations & Basements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of crack in a poured concrete foundation wall is most likely to indicate structural movement?
- Horizontal crack near mid-height of the wall (Correct answer)
- Vertical hairline shrinkage crack
- Diagonal crack at a window corner
- Map cracking on the surface
Correct answer: Horizontal crack near mid-height of the wall
Horizontal cracks near mid-height are caused by lateral soil pressure exceeding the wall's bending resistance, indicating structural failure.
Question 2: What does a stair-step crack in a block foundation wall most commonly indicate?
- Differential settlement causing the wall to move along mortar joints (Correct answer)
- Normal concrete curing shrinkage
- Freeze-thaw damage to the block surface
- Impact damage from landscaping equipment
Correct answer: Differential settlement causing the wall to move along mortar joints
Stair-step cracks follow mortar joints and are a classic sign of differential settlement, where one part of the foundation moves more than an adjacent part.
Question 3: According to ASHI Standards of Practice, which of the following is within the scope of a foundation inspection?
- Visually inspecting the accessible portions of the foundation (Correct answer)
- Excavating soil to inspect the footing
- Conducting soil bearing capacity tests
- Measuring foundation depth below frost line
Correct answer: Visually inspecting the accessible portions of the foundation
ASHI limits the inspection to visual examination of accessible areas; excavation, testing, and measuring below grade are outside the SOP scope.
Question 4: Efflorescence on basement walls is primarily a sign of:
- Water moving through the masonry and depositing mineral salts (Correct answer)
- Poor paint adhesion on the wall surface
- Radon gas seeping through the foundation
- Normal concrete carbonation
Correct answer: Water moving through the masonry and depositing mineral salts
Efflorescence is the white mineral deposit left behind when water carrying dissolved salts migrates through the masonry and evaporates at the surface.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a footing drain (perimeter drain) around a foundation?
- To collect and redirect groundwater away from the foundation before it can create hydrostatic pressure (Correct answer)
- To prevent frost from penetrating below the footing
- To ventilate the crawl space perimeter
- To carry roof drainage away from the structure
Correct answer: To collect and redirect groundwater away from the foundation before it can create hydrostatic pressure
Footing drains reduce hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls by collecting and channeling groundwater to daylight or a sump.
Question 6: An inspector observes inward bowing of a block foundation wall with horizontal cracking. The appropriate action is to:
- Report it as a significant structural deficiency and recommend immediate evaluation by a structural engineer (Correct answer)
- Note it as cosmetic and monitor annually
- Recommend applying hydraulic cement to the crack
- Advise the buyer to install interior drainage only
Correct answer: Report it as a significant structural deficiency and recommend immediate evaluation by a structural engineer
Inward bowing with horizontal cracking is a serious structural condition that requires evaluation by a licensed structural engineer to determine safety and remediation.
ASHI ASHI Foundations & Basements 1
Which type of crack in a poured concrete foundation wall is most likely to indicate structural movement?