In load-bearing masonry construction, the masonry walls:
Correct Answer
D) Carry the roof and floor loads themselves
In load-bearing masonry, the walls themselves carry the roof and floor loads to the foundation. In masonry veneer, the masonry is cladding and a separate frame carries the loads. Load-bearing masonry still needs a foundation and can be used for multistory buildings.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option D is correct because in load-bearing masonry construction the masonry walls themselves carry the roof and floor loads. Those loads pass through the walls to the foundation. This differs from masonry veneer, where a separate frame carries the loads and the masonry is a facing.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Require no foundation beneath them
Option A says the walls require no foundation beneath them. Load-bearing masonry walls transfer heavy loads and still need a foundation to carry those loads to the ground.
Option B: Serve only as cladding over a wood frame
Option B says the masonry serves only as cladding over a wood frame. That describes masonry veneer, not load-bearing masonry.
Option C: Cannot support more than one story
Option C says load-bearing masonry cannot support more than one story. Load-bearing masonry can be and has been used in multistory buildings.
Bearing walls bear the load
The name says it: load-bearing masonry bears the load. Veneer is just a face over a frame that does the bearing.
How to use: Use this when you need to tell load-bearing masonry apart from masonry veneer.
Exam Tip
If an option describes masonry as a facing over a frame, it is describing veneer. Load-bearing masonry still sits on a foundation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Confusing load-bearing masonry with brick veneer
- -Assuming masonry walls do not need a foundation
- -Believing load-bearing masonry is limited to one story
Concept Deep Dive
Analysis
This question tests the difference between load-bearing masonry and masonry veneer. In load-bearing masonry, the walls themselves are the structure that carries roof and floor loads down to the foundation. Recognizing that veneer is the cladding-only system helps eliminate the distractors.
Background Knowledge
Structural systems are classified by what carries the loads. In load-bearing wall systems, the walls are structural; in framed systems, a frame of wood, steel or concrete carries the loads and walls may be non-structural. Appraisers note the construction type because it affects cost, durability and comparability.
Real-World Application
An appraiser inspects an older brick duplex with thick solid walls and no separate frame. He identifies it as load-bearing masonry and selects cost and sales data for similar construction rather than for brick-veneer wood-frame houses.
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