Home Inspector- Exam: Structural
Questions and All Actual Answers
2026/2027 Edition.
What are the four main soil classifications? - Answer Sand, Gravel, Silt and Clay
A soil engineer rates change of soil volume by the ____ - Answer Plasticity index
A monolithic slab is a perimeter beam and slab that are ____? - Answer Poured at the same
time as one piece.
A 4 inch slab floor will not support _____? - Answer an interior load-bearing wall.
Disadvantages of a screeded slab: - Answer termites are difficult to find and are difficult to
treat if found.
What is the cause of non-uniform soil moisture? - Answer poor drainage away from the
foundation.
______ is the removal of soil moisture by vegetation. - Answer Transpiration
A_____ collects subsurface water and moves it to another location. - Answer French Drain
What is the best type of foundation for a weak soil? - Answer Pier and Beam
What is the minimum grade away from a building? - Answer 6 inches in 10 feet. Grade should
be 12 inches above the street drain plus two percent additional slope away from the home.
A casement window is hinged on how many sides? - Answer One
Treated wood or decay-resistant lumber must be used on structural floor joists in a crawl space
when closer than _____ inches to the ground. - Answer 18 inches
The ability of clay soil to absorb water is approximately ____ of an inch per hour. - Answer
1/16
, The frost line in Texas is how many inches? - Answer 10
Should a concrete pipe be installed underground of a building? - Answer No
What is the purpose of weep holes? - Answer They drain moisture condensation in a brick
veneer house and provide ventilation behind the brick.
Weep holes must be at least ____ inches wide and spaced no more than ____ inches apart. -
Answer 3/16 wide; 33 inches apart
What should an inspector do if a beam does not rest on a pier? - Answer The inspector should
report it as deficient.
When an inspector finds horizontal cracks in a wall he/she should refer the client to? - Answer
Seek advice from a structural engineer or foundation repair company. The inspector does not
speculate a cause.
Possible causes of horizontal lines or cracks are? - Answer Improper backfill, rusted vertical
rebar, horizontal pressure, missing moisture barrier, or vertical pressure/upheavel (hydrostatic
pressure)
Concrete and masonry foundation walls should extend above the finished grade a minimum of?
- Answer 4 inches
Other than concrete and masonry siding, all other siding materials should extend how far above
the finished grade? - Answer 6 inches
When moisture is removed from the soil along the perimeter of the foundation this results in
what condition? - Answer Drying edge effect (Downwarping)
The floor should be how many inches above the soil line? - Answer 8 inches
What is spalling? - Answer It is pieces of concrete flaking off. It can be caused by lack of a
moisture barrier, but is typically caused by a lack of sufficient cement in the concrete mix.
What is it called when the perimeter of the foundation rises? - Answer Cupping
How should a 'corner pop' be reported? - Answer As a deficiency.
Questions and All Actual Answers
2026/2027 Edition.
What are the four main soil classifications? - Answer Sand, Gravel, Silt and Clay
A soil engineer rates change of soil volume by the ____ - Answer Plasticity index
A monolithic slab is a perimeter beam and slab that are ____? - Answer Poured at the same
time as one piece.
A 4 inch slab floor will not support _____? - Answer an interior load-bearing wall.
Disadvantages of a screeded slab: - Answer termites are difficult to find and are difficult to
treat if found.
What is the cause of non-uniform soil moisture? - Answer poor drainage away from the
foundation.
______ is the removal of soil moisture by vegetation. - Answer Transpiration
A_____ collects subsurface water and moves it to another location. - Answer French Drain
What is the best type of foundation for a weak soil? - Answer Pier and Beam
What is the minimum grade away from a building? - Answer 6 inches in 10 feet. Grade should
be 12 inches above the street drain plus two percent additional slope away from the home.
A casement window is hinged on how many sides? - Answer One
Treated wood or decay-resistant lumber must be used on structural floor joists in a crawl space
when closer than _____ inches to the ground. - Answer 18 inches
The ability of clay soil to absorb water is approximately ____ of an inch per hour. - Answer
1/16
, The frost line in Texas is how many inches? - Answer 10
Should a concrete pipe be installed underground of a building? - Answer No
What is the purpose of weep holes? - Answer They drain moisture condensation in a brick
veneer house and provide ventilation behind the brick.
Weep holes must be at least ____ inches wide and spaced no more than ____ inches apart. -
Answer 3/16 wide; 33 inches apart
What should an inspector do if a beam does not rest on a pier? - Answer The inspector should
report it as deficient.
When an inspector finds horizontal cracks in a wall he/she should refer the client to? - Answer
Seek advice from a structural engineer or foundation repair company. The inspector does not
speculate a cause.
Possible causes of horizontal lines or cracks are? - Answer Improper backfill, rusted vertical
rebar, horizontal pressure, missing moisture barrier, or vertical pressure/upheavel (hydrostatic
pressure)
Concrete and masonry foundation walls should extend above the finished grade a minimum of?
- Answer 4 inches
Other than concrete and masonry siding, all other siding materials should extend how far above
the finished grade? - Answer 6 inches
When moisture is removed from the soil along the perimeter of the foundation this results in
what condition? - Answer Drying edge effect (Downwarping)
The floor should be how many inches above the soil line? - Answer 8 inches
What is spalling? - Answer It is pieces of concrete flaking off. It can be caused by lack of a
moisture barrier, but is typically caused by a lack of sufficient cement in the concrete mix.
What is it called when the perimeter of the foundation rises? - Answer Cupping
How should a 'corner pop' be reported? - Answer As a deficiency.
