1|Page
NORTH CAROLINA HOME INSPECTION
LICENSING ACTUAL EXAM PREP 2026 ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK | NEW AND REVISED
You are inspecting a 25 year old roof that has cedar shakes, the full
length of the shake is 24", how much of the cedar shake can be exposed?
- ANSWER- 8" / ⅓ of the shingle
_____ is a moisture protection barrier that is installed on top of the roof
sheathing prior to installing shingles. - ANSWER- Underlayment
You are inspecting a home in December that has architectural shingles
and notice ice damming around the eaves and gutters of the roof, what
are two things that could cause this? - ANSWER- Lack of ventilation
and Lack of Insulation in the attic
______ flashing is always interwoven with each course of roof material,
starting at the eaves (bottom roof edge) and working up. - ANSWER-
Step Flashing
The ______ is a secondary drain that is cut into the parapet walls on a
flat roof to allow water to escape in the event the primary drain clogs. -
ANSWER- Scupper
,2|Page
Cedar shakes require a minimum roof pitch of ____ . - ANSWER- 4:12
pitch
There is a "B" Vent on the ridge of a 5:12 pitch roof that has a plumbing
vent that is 9 feet away. How tall should the "B" vent be? - ANSWER-
12"
The top part of the chimney is called what? - ANSWER- Crown
What shingles on the roof area have the least amount of wear? -
ANSWER- The Cap or ridge shingles
Weather deck is the material placed under what type of roof? -
ANSWER- Wood Shingles
What determines the size of your roof gutters? - ANSWER- The average
yearly rainfall in your area
Where are the most amount of leaks in a roof area? - ANSWER- At roof
penetrations
Which shingle typically lasts the longest if installed correctly, and which
part of this shingle typically fails first? - ANSWER- Slate Shingles / the
nails
,3|Page
What device is present on a heat pump but not on an A/C unit? -
ANSWER- Reversing Valve
What is it called when the outside temperature at which capacity of the
heat pump matches building heat loss? - ANSWER- Balance Point
What should the temperature drop be across the evaporator coil? -
ANSWER- 15 - 20 degrees
What data is required by the SOP when inspecting a central A/C unit? -
ANSWER- Max Breaker, Tonnage, Age
What is the most common cause for frost on the line set? - ANSWER-
Air filters are dirty
What components make up an A/C unit and where are they located? -
ANSWER- Condenser Outside / Evaporator Coil Inside
What is it called when a refrigerant absorbs heat when changing from a
liquid to a gas? Also, does it happen inside or outside? - ANSWER-
Endothermic / Inside
What is it called when a refrigerant releases heat when changing from a
gas to a liquid? Also, does it happen inside or outside? - ANSWER-
Exothermic / Outside
, 4|Page
What is an A/C measured in? - ANSWER- Tonnage
What is heat measured in? - ANSWER- BTU / British Thermal Units
Where is the capacity and age found on an A/C unit? - ANSWER-
Capacity - Model Number / Age - Serial Number
A heat pump should be tested in cooling mode only if the outside
temperature is at or above what temperature? What is the temperature if
it was in heat mode? - ANSWER- Above 60-65 degrees / Below 60-65
Degrees
What is the key factor of geothermal heat pumps? - ANSWER- Ground
Loops
Which line of the A/C unit has to be insulated through its entire length? -
ANSWER- Suction Line
What does SEER stand for? - ANSWER- Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratio
3 Main type of Rafters? - ANSWER- Purlins, Collar Tie, Knee Wall
What is the maximum diameter of a hole you're able to cut on a joist?
Fraction depth? - ANSWER- 2" / 1/3
NORTH CAROLINA HOME INSPECTION
LICENSING ACTUAL EXAM PREP 2026 ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK | NEW AND REVISED
You are inspecting a 25 year old roof that has cedar shakes, the full
length of the shake is 24", how much of the cedar shake can be exposed?
- ANSWER- 8" / ⅓ of the shingle
_____ is a moisture protection barrier that is installed on top of the roof
sheathing prior to installing shingles. - ANSWER- Underlayment
You are inspecting a home in December that has architectural shingles
and notice ice damming around the eaves and gutters of the roof, what
are two things that could cause this? - ANSWER- Lack of ventilation
and Lack of Insulation in the attic
______ flashing is always interwoven with each course of roof material,
starting at the eaves (bottom roof edge) and working up. - ANSWER-
Step Flashing
The ______ is a secondary drain that is cut into the parapet walls on a
flat roof to allow water to escape in the event the primary drain clogs. -
ANSWER- Scupper
,2|Page
Cedar shakes require a minimum roof pitch of ____ . - ANSWER- 4:12
pitch
There is a "B" Vent on the ridge of a 5:12 pitch roof that has a plumbing
vent that is 9 feet away. How tall should the "B" vent be? - ANSWER-
12"
The top part of the chimney is called what? - ANSWER- Crown
What shingles on the roof area have the least amount of wear? -
ANSWER- The Cap or ridge shingles
Weather deck is the material placed under what type of roof? -
ANSWER- Wood Shingles
What determines the size of your roof gutters? - ANSWER- The average
yearly rainfall in your area
Where are the most amount of leaks in a roof area? - ANSWER- At roof
penetrations
Which shingle typically lasts the longest if installed correctly, and which
part of this shingle typically fails first? - ANSWER- Slate Shingles / the
nails
,3|Page
What device is present on a heat pump but not on an A/C unit? -
ANSWER- Reversing Valve
What is it called when the outside temperature at which capacity of the
heat pump matches building heat loss? - ANSWER- Balance Point
What should the temperature drop be across the evaporator coil? -
ANSWER- 15 - 20 degrees
What data is required by the SOP when inspecting a central A/C unit? -
ANSWER- Max Breaker, Tonnage, Age
What is the most common cause for frost on the line set? - ANSWER-
Air filters are dirty
What components make up an A/C unit and where are they located? -
ANSWER- Condenser Outside / Evaporator Coil Inside
What is it called when a refrigerant absorbs heat when changing from a
liquid to a gas? Also, does it happen inside or outside? - ANSWER-
Endothermic / Inside
What is it called when a refrigerant releases heat when changing from a
gas to a liquid? Also, does it happen inside or outside? - ANSWER-
Exothermic / Outside
, 4|Page
What is an A/C measured in? - ANSWER- Tonnage
What is heat measured in? - ANSWER- BTU / British Thermal Units
Where is the capacity and age found on an A/C unit? - ANSWER-
Capacity - Model Number / Age - Serial Number
A heat pump should be tested in cooling mode only if the outside
temperature is at or above what temperature? What is the temperature if
it was in heat mode? - ANSWER- Above 60-65 degrees / Below 60-65
Degrees
What is the key factor of geothermal heat pumps? - ANSWER- Ground
Loops
Which line of the A/C unit has to be insulated through its entire length? -
ANSWER- Suction Line
What does SEER stand for? - ANSWER- Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratio
3 Main type of Rafters? - ANSWER- Purlins, Collar Tie, Knee Wall
What is the maximum diameter of a hole you're able to cut on a joist?
Fraction depth? - ANSWER- 2" / 1/3
