AHIT COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
✔✔How should plywood subflooring not be laid? - ✔✔parallel to the joists
✔✔What should be suspected if a brick veneer wall has a bow to it? - ✔✔loose brick
ties
✔✔Which construction method is common in barns and churches? - ✔✔post and beam
construction
✔✔In which type of framing does the subfloor go only to the inner edge of the wall stud?
- ✔✔balloon framing
✔✔Which of the following can cause a floor to be bouncy? - ✔✔lack of proper bridging
in the joists
✔✔In platform framing construction, the wall studs rest directly on the _____. - ✔✔sole
plate
✔✔What would not be a cause of bulging or leaning in exterior masonry walls? - ✔✔a
rusting lintel
✔✔A notch cut into a girder or joist can be no more than _____. - ✔✔1/6 of the depth
✔✔What is the proper term to describe floors with a continuous slope in one direction? -
✔✔unlevel
✔✔Rafters - ✔✔structural members of the pitched roof that are designed to support the
roof sheathing and transmit the roof load to bearing walls and beams below. (2 × 6s, to
2 x 12s occurring every 16-24″ on center)
✔✔balloon framing - ✔✔rafters are notched and connected to a top plate that sits on
top of the wall studs.
✔✔platform framing - ✔✔rafters are notched and attached to the single or double top
plate or a special rafter plate.
✔✔crown. - ✔✔Rafter board have a natural curve or warp
✔✔wavy roof surface - ✔✔rafters are installed with crowns facing both up and down
✔✔What condition should be reported as a major defect in the roof structure? -
✔✔cracked rafters and delaminated sheathing
,✔✔Rafters may not be attached to _____. - ✔✔the ledger and wall studs
✔✔Truss uplift is _____. - ✔✔a bowing upward of the bottom chord
✔✔What is the function of a knee wall in an attic? - ✔✔to prevent the roof rafters from
sagging
✔✔At what temperature should the unfinished attic be? - ✔✔the same as outdoors
✔✔Insulation in the attic should be installed _____. - ✔✔with the moisture deterrent
layer toward the heated portion of the house
✔✔What condition in the attic can cause plywood roof sheathing to delaminate? -
✔✔too much moisture in the attic
✔✔When should attic vents be open? - ✔✔at all times
✔✔H-clips are used to secure roof sheathing to _____. - ✔✔roof sheathing
✔✔What is the function of collar ties? - ✔✔to prevent the roof rafters from sagging and
spreading
✔✔What type of roof truss is used in vaulted or cathedral ceiling structures? -
✔✔scissors truss
✔✔Which statement is false? - ✔✔The home inspector is not required to report the
methods used to observe the attic.
✔✔Where should insulation in an unfinished attic be laid? - ✔✔between/on the ceiling
joists
✔✔Which of the following is NOT included in a standard home inspection? -
✔✔awnings and shutters
✔✔Which of the following IS included in a typical site inspection? - ✔✔retaining walls
✔✔Which of the following is NOT included in a typical site inspection? - ✔✔playground
equipment
✔✔When should a retaining wall be inspected? - ✔✔if it is holding back soil that could
affect the house or garage
, ✔✔What is a cause of shingles buckling? - ✔✔the joints too tightly spaced
✔✔Which type of siding has the least ability to hold paint over long periods? -
✔✔composition board
✔✔What is clapboard siding? - ✔✔wood planks laid horizontally and overlapped
✔✔A metallic material that is used in certain joints and junctures of the roof and walls to
prevent water from seeping into the structure is known as _____ - ✔✔flashing
✔✔Shakes are made of _____. - ✔✔wood
✔✔The home-owner can use bleach to test for _____. - ✔✔mildew on paint
✔✔What is the number one cause of problems with aluminum siding? - ✔✔defective
installation procedures
✔✔What is the process in which the vehicle in paint breaks down and releases pigment
particles? - ✔✔chalking
✔✔When the solvent in paint evaporates too quickly, what can be the result? -
✔✔alligatoring
✔✔Bulges observed on the interior walls of the structure may indicate a problem with
the _____. - ✔✔foundation
✔✔The main problem with stucco is that it _____. - ✔✔tends to crack
✔✔Nails that don't grip in vertical plank siding may be caused by _____. - ✔✔an
improper nailing base
✔✔The primary protection for exterior wood siding is _____. - ✔✔some form of finish
like stain, paint, varnish, shellac, etc.
✔✔Which condition might need to be reported as a safety hazard in your inspection
report? - ✔✔brick veneer detached from wall
✔✔Double coursing means that _____. - ✔✔two layers of shingles are laid for each row
✔✔What is the difference between wood shingles and wood shakes? - ✔✔shingles are
sawn; shakes are hand-split.
✔✔shingles and shakes - ✔✔roofing materials
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
✔✔How should plywood subflooring not be laid? - ✔✔parallel to the joists
✔✔What should be suspected if a brick veneer wall has a bow to it? - ✔✔loose brick
ties
✔✔Which construction method is common in barns and churches? - ✔✔post and beam
construction
✔✔In which type of framing does the subfloor go only to the inner edge of the wall stud?
- ✔✔balloon framing
✔✔Which of the following can cause a floor to be bouncy? - ✔✔lack of proper bridging
in the joists
✔✔In platform framing construction, the wall studs rest directly on the _____. - ✔✔sole
plate
✔✔What would not be a cause of bulging or leaning in exterior masonry walls? - ✔✔a
rusting lintel
✔✔A notch cut into a girder or joist can be no more than _____. - ✔✔1/6 of the depth
✔✔What is the proper term to describe floors with a continuous slope in one direction? -
✔✔unlevel
✔✔Rafters - ✔✔structural members of the pitched roof that are designed to support the
roof sheathing and transmit the roof load to bearing walls and beams below. (2 × 6s, to
2 x 12s occurring every 16-24″ on center)
✔✔balloon framing - ✔✔rafters are notched and connected to a top plate that sits on
top of the wall studs.
✔✔platform framing - ✔✔rafters are notched and attached to the single or double top
plate or a special rafter plate.
✔✔crown. - ✔✔Rafter board have a natural curve or warp
✔✔wavy roof surface - ✔✔rafters are installed with crowns facing both up and down
✔✔What condition should be reported as a major defect in the roof structure? -
✔✔cracked rafters and delaminated sheathing
,✔✔Rafters may not be attached to _____. - ✔✔the ledger and wall studs
✔✔Truss uplift is _____. - ✔✔a bowing upward of the bottom chord
✔✔What is the function of a knee wall in an attic? - ✔✔to prevent the roof rafters from
sagging
✔✔At what temperature should the unfinished attic be? - ✔✔the same as outdoors
✔✔Insulation in the attic should be installed _____. - ✔✔with the moisture deterrent
layer toward the heated portion of the house
✔✔What condition in the attic can cause plywood roof sheathing to delaminate? -
✔✔too much moisture in the attic
✔✔When should attic vents be open? - ✔✔at all times
✔✔H-clips are used to secure roof sheathing to _____. - ✔✔roof sheathing
✔✔What is the function of collar ties? - ✔✔to prevent the roof rafters from sagging and
spreading
✔✔What type of roof truss is used in vaulted or cathedral ceiling structures? -
✔✔scissors truss
✔✔Which statement is false? - ✔✔The home inspector is not required to report the
methods used to observe the attic.
✔✔Where should insulation in an unfinished attic be laid? - ✔✔between/on the ceiling
joists
✔✔Which of the following is NOT included in a standard home inspection? -
✔✔awnings and shutters
✔✔Which of the following IS included in a typical site inspection? - ✔✔retaining walls
✔✔Which of the following is NOT included in a typical site inspection? - ✔✔playground
equipment
✔✔When should a retaining wall be inspected? - ✔✔if it is holding back soil that could
affect the house or garage
, ✔✔What is a cause of shingles buckling? - ✔✔the joints too tightly spaced
✔✔Which type of siding has the least ability to hold paint over long periods? -
✔✔composition board
✔✔What is clapboard siding? - ✔✔wood planks laid horizontally and overlapped
✔✔A metallic material that is used in certain joints and junctures of the roof and walls to
prevent water from seeping into the structure is known as _____ - ✔✔flashing
✔✔Shakes are made of _____. - ✔✔wood
✔✔The home-owner can use bleach to test for _____. - ✔✔mildew on paint
✔✔What is the number one cause of problems with aluminum siding? - ✔✔defective
installation procedures
✔✔What is the process in which the vehicle in paint breaks down and releases pigment
particles? - ✔✔chalking
✔✔When the solvent in paint evaporates too quickly, what can be the result? -
✔✔alligatoring
✔✔Bulges observed on the interior walls of the structure may indicate a problem with
the _____. - ✔✔foundation
✔✔The main problem with stucco is that it _____. - ✔✔tends to crack
✔✔Nails that don't grip in vertical plank siding may be caused by _____. - ✔✔an
improper nailing base
✔✔The primary protection for exterior wood siding is _____. - ✔✔some form of finish
like stain, paint, varnish, shellac, etc.
✔✔Which condition might need to be reported as a safety hazard in your inspection
report? - ✔✔brick veneer detached from wall
✔✔Double coursing means that _____. - ✔✔two layers of shingles are laid for each row
✔✔What is the difference between wood shingles and wood shakes? - ✔✔shingles are
sawn; shakes are hand-split.
✔✔shingles and shakes - ✔✔roofing materials
