Professional Home Inspector Exam NHIE TREC #2 Actual Questions
and Correct Answers
Q1
What type of roof requires on interlayment of felt between courses?
Wood shakes
Roll roofing
Wood shingles
Slate shingles
Answer: Wood shakes
Q2
In an older home, a forced hot air furnace is replaced by a heat pump. The heat coming
out of the register is
Hotter
Cooler
Same
Depends on the air duct layout
Answer: Cooler
Q3
When inspecting kitchen cabinets
Observe that they are securely attached to the wall
Remove everything from the cabinets and inspect the attachment method
Report 'unable to determine method'
Answer: Observe that they are securely attached to the wall
Q4
The following is beyond the basic home inspection
Check the heat flow at all registers
Check all ground faulted receptacles
Check function of all plumbing fixtures
Operate incoming water main valve
Answer: D
,Q5
A house is built on a sloping hill. The surface water should be drained
Directly into the sump pump
Into a 4-inch perforated plastic drain line and directed downhill to daylight
Into a gravel filled container (inside the basement)
Drained laterally
Answer: b. Into a 4-inch perforated plastic drain line and directed downhill to daylight
Q6
You are inspecting a house where the second-story balcony is observed and every
cantilevered joist is rotted halfway out from the wall
Tell all appropriate parties that there is a hazard, and no one should step out on it
Say nothing
Tell the client of the problem and report as such
Contact the city building inspector and let them know of the problem
Answer: Tell all appropriate parties that there is a hazard, and no one should step out on it
Q7
What is a common reason for water overflowing a gutter
Roof too steep for the gutter system design
Downspout too small for the gutters
Gutter not large enough for the area of roof covered
None of the above
Answer: c. Gutter not large enough for the area of roof covered
Q8
How can you determine if a home is on sinking soil or on unsteady soil
The streets and sidewalks in an older community are broken up
Only a geotechnical evaulation can make that kind of determination
You should make that conclusion from a standard home inspection
Answer: b. Only a geotechnical evaulation can make that kind of determination
Q9
Why would you install a pressure regulator
You are near a fire main
The pressure in the home is too high
You do not have enough water pressure in the house
You are controlling the amount of water coming into the home
Answer: b. The pressure in the home is too high
, Q10
You are inspecting a flat roof with a rock ballast finish
You see an A/C platform sitting on two 4"x4" SPF boards
Say nothing
Tell buyer that the 4x4's should be replaced with pressure treated wood
Inform the client that this arrangement may damage the roof system
Answer: b. Tell buyer that the 4x4's should be replaced with pressure treated wood
Q11
A home is built with a second floor and a trussed attic/roof above it. Which one of the
following is not a consideration when determining joist depth
The eventual use of the attic
The weight of the roof system
The design of the roof system
The depth of the insulation to be installed
Answer: d. The depth of the insulation to be installed
Q12
What is efflorescence?
Concrete mixture with too much fluoride
The remaining dissolved salts stuck to the concrete as a result of water
penetration
The material used inside of a fluorescent bulb to help conduct electricity
Answer: b. The remaining dissolved salts stuck to the concrete as a result of water penetration
Q13
You inspect a home with a wood stove 18" from the wall
You notice that the unit does
not have a UL approved sticker. You should tell the client
The stove has to go
The stove is too close to the wall
Do not buy the house
Everything is okay
Answer: b. The stove is too close to the wall
Q14
When is NOT the time to have your inspection agreement signed
When you first meet the client at the home
In the Realtor's office, before the inspection
Via fax
After the home inspection has been completed
Answer: d. After the home inspection has been completed
and Correct Answers
Q1
What type of roof requires on interlayment of felt between courses?
Wood shakes
Roll roofing
Wood shingles
Slate shingles
Answer: Wood shakes
Q2
In an older home, a forced hot air furnace is replaced by a heat pump. The heat coming
out of the register is
Hotter
Cooler
Same
Depends on the air duct layout
Answer: Cooler
Q3
When inspecting kitchen cabinets
Observe that they are securely attached to the wall
Remove everything from the cabinets and inspect the attachment method
Report 'unable to determine method'
Answer: Observe that they are securely attached to the wall
Q4
The following is beyond the basic home inspection
Check the heat flow at all registers
Check all ground faulted receptacles
Check function of all plumbing fixtures
Operate incoming water main valve
Answer: D
,Q5
A house is built on a sloping hill. The surface water should be drained
Directly into the sump pump
Into a 4-inch perforated plastic drain line and directed downhill to daylight
Into a gravel filled container (inside the basement)
Drained laterally
Answer: b. Into a 4-inch perforated plastic drain line and directed downhill to daylight
Q6
You are inspecting a house where the second-story balcony is observed and every
cantilevered joist is rotted halfway out from the wall
Tell all appropriate parties that there is a hazard, and no one should step out on it
Say nothing
Tell the client of the problem and report as such
Contact the city building inspector and let them know of the problem
Answer: Tell all appropriate parties that there is a hazard, and no one should step out on it
Q7
What is a common reason for water overflowing a gutter
Roof too steep for the gutter system design
Downspout too small for the gutters
Gutter not large enough for the area of roof covered
None of the above
Answer: c. Gutter not large enough for the area of roof covered
Q8
How can you determine if a home is on sinking soil or on unsteady soil
The streets and sidewalks in an older community are broken up
Only a geotechnical evaulation can make that kind of determination
You should make that conclusion from a standard home inspection
Answer: b. Only a geotechnical evaulation can make that kind of determination
Q9
Why would you install a pressure regulator
You are near a fire main
The pressure in the home is too high
You do not have enough water pressure in the house
You are controlling the amount of water coming into the home
Answer: b. The pressure in the home is too high
, Q10
You are inspecting a flat roof with a rock ballast finish
You see an A/C platform sitting on two 4"x4" SPF boards
Say nothing
Tell buyer that the 4x4's should be replaced with pressure treated wood
Inform the client that this arrangement may damage the roof system
Answer: b. Tell buyer that the 4x4's should be replaced with pressure treated wood
Q11
A home is built with a second floor and a trussed attic/roof above it. Which one of the
following is not a consideration when determining joist depth
The eventual use of the attic
The weight of the roof system
The design of the roof system
The depth of the insulation to be installed
Answer: d. The depth of the insulation to be installed
Q12
What is efflorescence?
Concrete mixture with too much fluoride
The remaining dissolved salts stuck to the concrete as a result of water
penetration
The material used inside of a fluorescent bulb to help conduct electricity
Answer: b. The remaining dissolved salts stuck to the concrete as a result of water penetration
Q13
You inspect a home with a wood stove 18" from the wall
You notice that the unit does
not have a UL approved sticker. You should tell the client
The stove has to go
The stove is too close to the wall
Do not buy the house
Everything is okay
Answer: b. The stove is too close to the wall
Q14
When is NOT the time to have your inspection agreement signed
When you first meet the client at the home
In the Realtor's office, before the inspection
Via fax
After the home inspection has been completed
Answer: d. After the home inspection has been completed
