Course Guide. [ Anatomy of a House ]

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1 Course Guide [ Anatomy of a House ] The purpose of this guide is to provide you with a working knowledge of basic home construction and various systems within a house. This knowledge will enable you to comfortably discuss and/or explain various features of properties you show to buyers or that you pursue as a listing.

2 Foundations Block foundation. Built one block on top of each other with footings & assembled onsite. Concrete foundation. Built with concrete poured into forms. Concrete slab. In areas where water would seep into a basement or crush a foundation, a concrete slab is poured into forms located on top of footings providing a base for the construction of the home. Not every location that builds homes on slabs has a high water table. It is also less expensive to build on a slab. Basements are optional. Typically when built, they are 7-8 feet in height. Crawl Spaces are similar to basements, but typically only 3 feet in height. They allow for limited storage area and the installation of all or some of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

3 Foundations

4 Engineered Lumber Most existing homes will have dimensional lumber while many newer homes now use engineered lumber. It is also used in sheathing and roof trusses. Engineered lumber is becoming more popular because it uses new growth lumber and is environmentally friendly. These floor joists often replace traditional lumber to carry heavier loads across longer spans.

5 Framing Most homes are stick built frame and constructed onsite. The top photo shows the first floor framing of a new construction house with a header opening for the front door. The header supports the framing and disperses the weight around the doors and windows. That is the reason a house is normally framed with 2x4 lumber and headers are traditionally 2x10 or 2x12 in order to carry the additional load.

6 Exterior Wrap Housewrap functions as a weather-resistant barrier, preventing water from getting in while allowing water vapor to go out.

7 Roof Styles Gable. Most common roof type across the country. Gambrel. Also known as Barn style or Dutch Colonial. Shed. Often seen in additions. Mansard. Also known as the Queens Ann style. Dormers. Help extend living space or light. Flat. Common with Commercial properties.

8 Roof Materials Asphalt shingles flat or multidimensional; variety of colors Mediterranean tiles popular in West coast, SW and Florida; Often red or orange in color Slate very expensive; often found in Tudor homes Cedar natural wood higher in maintenance; found in North West & Northern New England Composite higher cost; can mimic others like asphalt, slate Metal often used rural or heavy wooded areas

9 Siding Materials Brick durable, low maintenance Cedar variety of sizes & styles Aluminum & Vinyl low maintenance, prone to dents Stucco & Synthetic stucco cement product helps create unique texture. Synthetic mimics natural offering more colors Stone & Cultured stone stone not as popular. Cultured stone is a veneer to look like stone Asbestos Shingles older product that tried to mimic wood; no longer sold

10 Window Types Double Hung - contains two window sashes that both move vertically. Fixed - glass is fixed in place and does not move. Casement - the sash is cranked and moves outward. Sliding - one sliding sash and one fixed sash. Awning / Hopper - has a sash hinged at the top and is cranked upward and outward. Jalousie (a.k.a. Louvered windows) - contain several moveable horizontal glass slats that are maneuvered with a rollout type handle or lever. Bay - a composite of three windows with the largest window in the middle and two flanking windows at 30, 45 or 90 degrees. Bow - four or more windows (can be various types) in a radial or bow formation.

11 Heating / Cooling Zones of heating and cooling can be separated either by having different units for each zone or have one unit serving different separate areas. The heat or air conditioning can be raised or lowered in different areas independently. This can be especially useful if first and second floors are different zones and the second floor is only in use at intervals, for instance when children or grandchildren are visiting. The clues to determining whether there is one or more zone are: multiple HVAC units would mean separate zones. If there is only one HVAC unit, there would need to be multiple thermostats to allow for different settings throughout the home.

12 Plumbing Depending on your region, homes are either served through a public sewage system or an individual system commonly referred to as a septic field or septic tank. The pipes in the walls carry water and sewage to the individual septic or the local sewage system. The septic system is buried in the yard and distributes the household waste into a septic field. The homeowner must maintain their individual septic system. Septic systems are most common in rural areas and on large suburban lots. Public sewer systems serve the same function, but bring the household waste to a central location where it is treated and stored. Sewer systems are predominant in urban and suburban areas.

13 Electrical System Today, homes are constructed with a circuit breaker box. (image to the left) This unit allows for different parts of the home to be controlled by different circuits. When there is a malfunction that causes a circuit to trip, it can be quickly and safely flipped back into place. A fuse box is the precursor to the circuit breaker. (image to the right) This electrical system involves the actual replacement of fuses when a fuse blows. This system no longer in use today may be found in older homes today.

14 Blueprints Floor Plan Cross-Section Site Plan Topographic Map