Predominant Material and Condition

3. Exterior walls

Section: Predominant Material and Condition of ____

The three questions that follow in the dwelling form refer, each one, to the Predominant Material and Condition of: the Outside Walls (question 3) The Roof (question 4) and The Floor (question 5). It concerns in these cases observing of which materials are built the walls, the floor and the roof of the dwelling in the census moment, to register its state, according to which part it corresponds to.

Question 3: Predominant Material and Condition of the Outside Walls

[Below the text is a form]

The Most Predominant Material Possible

As you can observe, question 3 refers to the predominant material in the construction of the outside walls of a Dwelling. It can be about "Wood" of any kind; of "Brick" which is all materials cemented and plastered, like brick, cement block, stone, etc. (outside walls of adobe and bahareque [local tree] that have been cemented should be included here also) and finally those of "Adobe-bahareque" which are blocks of earth in this case of adobe, and the structures formed by wooden beams, cane, mud and pieces of tile (bahareque). Always the "other" options is left for the case in which the predominant material is not any of the previous (for example: straw, palm, sticks, zinc sheets, etc.).

When we refer to the Predominant Material of the Outside Walls, we mean that material that covers or constitutes the largest area or surface of them, according to an appraisal of the front, sides and back of the dwelling.

The condition of the predominant material:

In each case you should make an appraisal that permits you to judge in what state is each material found, that is to say:

• "Good": if you estimate that the Predominant Material of the outside walls does not present any deterioration (cracks, holes, etc.) and that also do not show any defect in its structure.
• "Fair": when you observe that the predominant materials in the walls present any deterioration or structural defect that requires any necessary repairs but not a total replacement (some damaged planks, some missing bricks, etc.).
• "Bad": In the case of the predominant materials that according to your appraisal are found to be in a bad state. ("Bad"), it is clear that you will have to had observed in them much deterioration, that means that there are cracks, holes, etc. and above all that part or all should be replaced for the protection and security for its use.

It is important to hear the opinion of the enumerated person, since they can know details that you cannot know from a simple look.

{The Case of Walls of Straw}

Of course, you will have to adapt to the circumstances to define with the most precision possible the state of the predominant material. So in the case in which the exterior walls are predominantly of straw or palm, as happens with Shacks, it is advisable to suggest the following to you:

"Good": if the walls have no holes, only the spaces without material of this type, are completely waterproof (without deterioration caused by rain), there is no evidence of an attack of insects or other animals and there are no deteriorations of any other type.