2025 HOME INSPECTOR FLORIDA EVALUATION EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
List 6 common problems that are found on all types of wall systems. - 1. water
penetration
2. too close to ground
3. too close to roof surface at the bottom of the siding
4. planters and gardens against the wall.
5. vines
List 7 common problems with masonry walls. - 1. efflorescence
2. spalling
3. cracking
4. mortar deterioration
5. missing weep holes and flashings
6. mechanical damage
7. bowing walls
Describe efflorescence. What is it? - Whitish powdery salt deposit. Water dissolves the
salts from the masonry or mortar and then deposits them on the surface as crystals
when evaporating.
Expanding, rusting steel lintels over windows and doors often cause cracks in what
direction in masonry walls? - Horizontal cracks.
Stucco is made up of ___________, __________, and ___________. - cement,
aggregate, and water
What is the problem with having aluminum in contact with stucco? - It oxidizes
(deteriorates)
List 3 functions of weep screed. - 1. provide a finishing edge
2. allow drainage
3. prevent water from being drawn up into wall
List 5 common problems with conventional stucco. - 1. cracks, crumbling, loose or
bulging
2. incompatible flashing
3. mechanical damage
4. rusted lath or trim
5. no drip screed
What is the problem that people are experiencing with EIFS? - Water is getting into the
wall system at penetrations and causing structural damage.
What is a kickout? - A flashing used where a wall extends beyond a roof, to shed roof
water away from the stucco.
,List 3 causes of problems that are unique to EIFS compared to conventional stucco. - 1.
lack of building paper
2. no drainage plane
3. poor drying potential
List 6 factors that may suggest concealed problems with an EIFS application. - 1. high
wind exposure
2. high rainfall area
3. small or no overhang
4. lots of penetrations
5. attention to detail at openings is poor
6. horizontal stucco surfaces
7. poor caulking maintenance
List 10 areas outside to check for evidence of problems with an EIFS installation. - 1.
exposure
2. roof/wall connections
3. gutters
4. chimneys
5. door and window openings
6. openings for electrical conduit, lights, cable TV, etc.
7. vent openings
8. railing and deck connections
9. cracks, bulges, peeling, fungus, exposed mesh
10. evidence of repairs
List 5 areas on the interior to check for evidence of problems with EIFS installations. - 1.
stains on walls, floors, and ceilings
2. rusting or rotting carpet tack strip
3. peeling paint
4. damaged flooring
5. elevated moisture levels in drywall or subflooring
List 2 areas in basements or crawlspaces to check for evidence of problems with EIFS
installations. - 1. mold, mildew or rot joists, sills, rim joists, and subflooring
2. stains on foundations coming from sill area
What is the effect of vines growing on wood siding? - Vines hold water and reduce the
drying potential.
Which siding would perform better?
a. 12-inch wide board or 6-inch wide board?
b. 3/4 inch wide board or 3/8 in wide board?
c. smooth board or rough-textured board?
d. 6 foot long board or 12 foot long board? - a. 6 inch wide board
,b. 3/4 inch wide board
c. rough textured board
d. 6 foot long board
How many layers of wood shingles are typically used in a siding application? - two
List 5 common problems with conventional wood siding (boards, shingles, or shakes). -
1. rot
2. splitting
3. warping
4. paint/stain problems
5. loose
Hardboard is a type of _____________ board. - fiber
List 4 common problems with plywood, OSB, and hardboard. - 1. rot, swelling,
delamination
2. buckling or cracking
3. loose
4. mechanical damage
What is the life expectancy of vinyl and aluminum siding? - more than 40 years
List 7 common problems with metal and vinyl siding. - 1. buckled or wavy
2. loose
3. flashing and caulking defects
4. mechanical damage
5. discolored
6. metal siding not grounded
7. rust
Why should metal siding be grounded? - So the house shell cannot become electrically
charged.
Asbestos cement shingles should be removed from homes. True or False? - False.
What is the most common problem with asbestos cement shingles? - Mechanical
damage because the siding is brittle.
List 3 common problems with modern fiber-cement shingles. - 1. mechanical damage
2. missing paint or caulking
3. nailing problems
How far should wood siding be kept above grade? - 6 inches
List 2 common problems to look for on the exterior of exposed foundations. - 1. cracking
, 2. spalling
Where are soffits and fascia typically found? - at the rafter ends
What materials are commonly used for soffits and fascia? - wood, aluminum, fiber-
cement, hardboard, osb, plywood, or vinyl
What are the issues with a double layer of soffit material (e.g., aluminum over wood)? -
1. damage on the original layer can't be detected.
2. soffit vents can be covered up, rendering them ineffective.
List 4 common problems with soffits and fascia. - 1. loose or missing pieces
2. rot
3. physical damage
4. paint or stain needed
List 7 different things to evaluate with doors and windows. - 1. appearance
2. condition
3. operability
4. security
5. energy
6. efficiency
7. comfort
8. water leakage
List 12 common problems with doors and windows. - rot; damage; paint/stain problems;
caulking/flashing problems; putty/glazing problems; sill slope; deteriorated sills; frame
deformation; storm and screens missing or damaged; cracked or broken glass;
condensation between panes; vines
Give 3 examples of where flashings would typically be found on exterior walls. - 1. over
windows and doors
2. at bottoms of walls
3. at horizontal siding joints in panel type siding
List 6 common problems with caulking, trim, and flashings. - 1. missing flashings
2. ineffective or incomplete flashings
3. loose
4. rust
5. rot
6. caulking missing or ineffective
List 3 mechanisms by which water may get into wall systems from the building exterior.
- 1. rain driven by wind
2. rain running down the wall
3. water wicking into the wall
WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
List 6 common problems that are found on all types of wall systems. - 1. water
penetration
2. too close to ground
3. too close to roof surface at the bottom of the siding
4. planters and gardens against the wall.
5. vines
List 7 common problems with masonry walls. - 1. efflorescence
2. spalling
3. cracking
4. mortar deterioration
5. missing weep holes and flashings
6. mechanical damage
7. bowing walls
Describe efflorescence. What is it? - Whitish powdery salt deposit. Water dissolves the
salts from the masonry or mortar and then deposits them on the surface as crystals
when evaporating.
Expanding, rusting steel lintels over windows and doors often cause cracks in what
direction in masonry walls? - Horizontal cracks.
Stucco is made up of ___________, __________, and ___________. - cement,
aggregate, and water
What is the problem with having aluminum in contact with stucco? - It oxidizes
(deteriorates)
List 3 functions of weep screed. - 1. provide a finishing edge
2. allow drainage
3. prevent water from being drawn up into wall
List 5 common problems with conventional stucco. - 1. cracks, crumbling, loose or
bulging
2. incompatible flashing
3. mechanical damage
4. rusted lath or trim
5. no drip screed
What is the problem that people are experiencing with EIFS? - Water is getting into the
wall system at penetrations and causing structural damage.
What is a kickout? - A flashing used where a wall extends beyond a roof, to shed roof
water away from the stucco.
,List 3 causes of problems that are unique to EIFS compared to conventional stucco. - 1.
lack of building paper
2. no drainage plane
3. poor drying potential
List 6 factors that may suggest concealed problems with an EIFS application. - 1. high
wind exposure
2. high rainfall area
3. small or no overhang
4. lots of penetrations
5. attention to detail at openings is poor
6. horizontal stucco surfaces
7. poor caulking maintenance
List 10 areas outside to check for evidence of problems with an EIFS installation. - 1.
exposure
2. roof/wall connections
3. gutters
4. chimneys
5. door and window openings
6. openings for electrical conduit, lights, cable TV, etc.
7. vent openings
8. railing and deck connections
9. cracks, bulges, peeling, fungus, exposed mesh
10. evidence of repairs
List 5 areas on the interior to check for evidence of problems with EIFS installations. - 1.
stains on walls, floors, and ceilings
2. rusting or rotting carpet tack strip
3. peeling paint
4. damaged flooring
5. elevated moisture levels in drywall or subflooring
List 2 areas in basements or crawlspaces to check for evidence of problems with EIFS
installations. - 1. mold, mildew or rot joists, sills, rim joists, and subflooring
2. stains on foundations coming from sill area
What is the effect of vines growing on wood siding? - Vines hold water and reduce the
drying potential.
Which siding would perform better?
a. 12-inch wide board or 6-inch wide board?
b. 3/4 inch wide board or 3/8 in wide board?
c. smooth board or rough-textured board?
d. 6 foot long board or 12 foot long board? - a. 6 inch wide board
,b. 3/4 inch wide board
c. rough textured board
d. 6 foot long board
How many layers of wood shingles are typically used in a siding application? - two
List 5 common problems with conventional wood siding (boards, shingles, or shakes). -
1. rot
2. splitting
3. warping
4. paint/stain problems
5. loose
Hardboard is a type of _____________ board. - fiber
List 4 common problems with plywood, OSB, and hardboard. - 1. rot, swelling,
delamination
2. buckling or cracking
3. loose
4. mechanical damage
What is the life expectancy of vinyl and aluminum siding? - more than 40 years
List 7 common problems with metal and vinyl siding. - 1. buckled or wavy
2. loose
3. flashing and caulking defects
4. mechanical damage
5. discolored
6. metal siding not grounded
7. rust
Why should metal siding be grounded? - So the house shell cannot become electrically
charged.
Asbestos cement shingles should be removed from homes. True or False? - False.
What is the most common problem with asbestos cement shingles? - Mechanical
damage because the siding is brittle.
List 3 common problems with modern fiber-cement shingles. - 1. mechanical damage
2. missing paint or caulking
3. nailing problems
How far should wood siding be kept above grade? - 6 inches
List 2 common problems to look for on the exterior of exposed foundations. - 1. cracking
, 2. spalling
Where are soffits and fascia typically found? - at the rafter ends
What materials are commonly used for soffits and fascia? - wood, aluminum, fiber-
cement, hardboard, osb, plywood, or vinyl
What are the issues with a double layer of soffit material (e.g., aluminum over wood)? -
1. damage on the original layer can't be detected.
2. soffit vents can be covered up, rendering them ineffective.
List 4 common problems with soffits and fascia. - 1. loose or missing pieces
2. rot
3. physical damage
4. paint or stain needed
List 7 different things to evaluate with doors and windows. - 1. appearance
2. condition
3. operability
4. security
5. energy
6. efficiency
7. comfort
8. water leakage
List 12 common problems with doors and windows. - rot; damage; paint/stain problems;
caulking/flashing problems; putty/glazing problems; sill slope; deteriorated sills; frame
deformation; storm and screens missing or damaged; cracked or broken glass;
condensation between panes; vines
Give 3 examples of where flashings would typically be found on exterior walls. - 1. over
windows and doors
2. at bottoms of walls
3. at horizontal siding joints in panel type siding
List 6 common problems with caulking, trim, and flashings. - 1. missing flashings
2. ineffective or incomplete flashings
3. loose
4. rust
5. rot
6. caulking missing or ineffective
List 3 mechanisms by which water may get into wall systems from the building exterior.
- 1. rain driven by wind
2. rain running down the wall
3. water wicking into the wall
