Home Inspector Exam: Structural | with
Questions & Complete Answers Latest Updated
100% Verified Solutions| Newest 2024-2025
What are the four main soil classifications? - ✔✔Sand, Gravel, Silt and Clay
A soil engineer rates change of soil volume by the ____ - ✔✔Plasticity index
A monolithic slab is a perimeter beam and slab that are ____? - ✔✔Poured at the same
time as one piece.
A 4 inch slab floor will not support _____? - ✔✔an interior load-bearing wall.
Disadvantages of a screeded slab: - ✔✔termites are difficult to find and are difficult to
treat if found.
What is the cause of non-uniform soil moisture? - ✔✔poor drainage away from the
foundation.
______ is the removal of soil moisture by vegetation. - ✔✔Transpiration
A_____ collects subsurface water and moves it to another location. - ✔✔French Drain
What is the best type of foundation for a weak soil? - ✔✔Pier and Beam
What is the minimum grade away from a building? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔18 inches
The ability of clay soil to absorb water is approximately ____ of an inch per hour. -
✔✔1/16
The frost line in Texas is how many inches? - ✔✔10
Should a concrete pipe be installed underground of a building? - ✔✔No
What is the purpose of weep holes? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔3/16 wide; 33 inches apart
What should an inspector do if a beam does not rest on a pier? - ✔✔The inspector
should report it as deficient.
When an inspector finds horizontal cracks in a wall he/she should refer the client to? -
✔✔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? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔4 inches
Other than concrete and masonry siding, all other siding materials should extend how far
above the finished grade? - ✔✔6 inches
When moisture is removed from the soil along the perimeter of the foundation this results
in what condition? - ✔✔Drying edge effect (Downwarping)
The floor should be how many inches above the soil line? - ✔✔8 inches
What is spalling? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Cupping
How should a 'corner pop' be reported? - ✔✔As a deficiency.
What is used to repair a crack in concrete? - ✔✔Epoxy injections is one method.
Removing and replacing mortar (called repointing) is another method.
When water seeps through the basement wall and evaporates it may leave behind a white
mineral substance called? - ✔✔Efflorescence; a sure sign of a moisture problem.
What does a 'french drain' do? - ✔✔Collects subsurface water and moves it to another
location away from the structure.
Questions & Complete Answers Latest Updated
100% Verified Solutions| Newest 2024-2025
What are the four main soil classifications? - ✔✔Sand, Gravel, Silt and Clay
A soil engineer rates change of soil volume by the ____ - ✔✔Plasticity index
A monolithic slab is a perimeter beam and slab that are ____? - ✔✔Poured at the same
time as one piece.
A 4 inch slab floor will not support _____? - ✔✔an interior load-bearing wall.
Disadvantages of a screeded slab: - ✔✔termites are difficult to find and are difficult to
treat if found.
What is the cause of non-uniform soil moisture? - ✔✔poor drainage away from the
foundation.
______ is the removal of soil moisture by vegetation. - ✔✔Transpiration
A_____ collects subsurface water and moves it to another location. - ✔✔French Drain
What is the best type of foundation for a weak soil? - ✔✔Pier and Beam
What is the minimum grade away from a building? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔18 inches
The ability of clay soil to absorb water is approximately ____ of an inch per hour. -
✔✔1/16
The frost line in Texas is how many inches? - ✔✔10
Should a concrete pipe be installed underground of a building? - ✔✔No
What is the purpose of weep holes? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔3/16 wide; 33 inches apart
What should an inspector do if a beam does not rest on a pier? - ✔✔The inspector
should report it as deficient.
When an inspector finds horizontal cracks in a wall he/she should refer the client to? -
✔✔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? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔4 inches
Other than concrete and masonry siding, all other siding materials should extend how far
above the finished grade? - ✔✔6 inches
When moisture is removed from the soil along the perimeter of the foundation this results
in what condition? - ✔✔Drying edge effect (Downwarping)
The floor should be how many inches above the soil line? - ✔✔8 inches
What is spalling? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Cupping
How should a 'corner pop' be reported? - ✔✔As a deficiency.
What is used to repair a crack in concrete? - ✔✔Epoxy injections is one method.
Removing and replacing mortar (called repointing) is another method.
When water seeps through the basement wall and evaporates it may leave behind a white
mineral substance called? - ✔✔Efflorescence; a sure sign of a moisture problem.
What does a 'french drain' do? - ✔✔Collects subsurface water and moves it to another
location away from the structure.
