2025 HOME INSPECTOR FLORIDA ALL PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
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
Why should all risers in a set of steps be uniform? - uneven risers are a trip hazard
,Rise is usually _________ inches maximum, and tread depth is typically ___________
to _________ inches minimum. - rise is 7 3/4" maximum
depth is 10 inches minimum
The nosing is usually ___________ inches deep. - 3/4" to 1 1/4"
Minimum dimensions for landings are often stated as ___________ feet by
____________ feet. - 3 feet
Explain why the absence of a landing may be a safety hazard. - An outward opening
door can knock someone off the stairs.
Describe spalling. - the crumbling, flaking, chipping, or shaling of the surface of the
masonry
What is the best way to test for rot in a wooden stair stringer? - probe the wood with an
awl or screwdriver
Why can carpet on wood porches be bad? - It prevents close inspection and hold water
against the wood causing rot.
Guardrails are typically required on porches, decks, or balconies more than _________
inches above grade. - 30 inches
The openings between railing spindles should not be greater than ____________
inches. - 4 inches
Why should spindles be vertical, not horizontal? - Horizontal spindles are climbable.
Railings on stairways should be between _________ inches and ____________ inches
above the stair nosing depending on your area. - 34 to 38
Guardrails should be at least ___________ inches high. - 36
Why shouldn't you align a beam with a gutter to check for sag? - Gutters slope so they
always look off level.
What is the requirement for beam end bearing on masonry? - 3 inches
How might paint indicate that a beam has slipped out of its pocket? - If the beam is
painted and there are unpainted parts visible at the supports, this may indicate
movement of the beam.
Beams should be mechanically fastened to the supporting members. True or False? -
True
, Joists are usually spaced _________ or ___________ inches on center. - 16 or 24
The metal brackets used to support joists are called ___________. - joist hangers
What 2 inspection techniques can you use to inspect for sagging joists? - 1. bounce on
the deck
2. scan the deck with your eye at deck level
Two ways to attach a ledger board to wood-frame structure are: - 1. lag bolts every 24
inches
2. multiple nails every 16 to 24 inches
Describe the proper way to flash a ledgerboard installed over siding. - Flashing extends
from under the siding, over the top of the ledgerboard, and down.
What is the biggest problem with cantilevered decks? - Rot is found where the joists
penetrate the wall.
Why are plywood or waferboard sheets poor choices for porch or deck flooring? - The
absorb water readily and rot.
Why should there be no supply or return registers from heating/cooling ductwork in a
garage? - To prevent fumes from entering the house.
Most garage floors are not structural. True or False? - True
Garage floors that are suspended and have storage or living space below:
a. can be adequately assessed by a home inspector.
b. should be investigated by a specialist. - b.
A good concrete garage floor is usually ___________ inches thick and has
____________ inches of gravel beneath it. - 3" thick with 5" of well compacted gravel.
Which way should garage floors slope? - To drain (usually towards the door).
What does a hollow sound on the garage floor indicate? - Settled soil under the slab--
the slab is now suspended.
Why do many authorities discourage floor drains in garages? - Because automobile
fluids can find their way into municipal sewers.
The diameter of a garage drain exit pipe should be at least ___________ inches. - 3
inches.
WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
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
Why should all risers in a set of steps be uniform? - uneven risers are a trip hazard
,Rise is usually _________ inches maximum, and tread depth is typically ___________
to _________ inches minimum. - rise is 7 3/4" maximum
depth is 10 inches minimum
The nosing is usually ___________ inches deep. - 3/4" to 1 1/4"
Minimum dimensions for landings are often stated as ___________ feet by
____________ feet. - 3 feet
Explain why the absence of a landing may be a safety hazard. - An outward opening
door can knock someone off the stairs.
Describe spalling. - the crumbling, flaking, chipping, or shaling of the surface of the
masonry
What is the best way to test for rot in a wooden stair stringer? - probe the wood with an
awl or screwdriver
Why can carpet on wood porches be bad? - It prevents close inspection and hold water
against the wood causing rot.
Guardrails are typically required on porches, decks, or balconies more than _________
inches above grade. - 30 inches
The openings between railing spindles should not be greater than ____________
inches. - 4 inches
Why should spindles be vertical, not horizontal? - Horizontal spindles are climbable.
Railings on stairways should be between _________ inches and ____________ inches
above the stair nosing depending on your area. - 34 to 38
Guardrails should be at least ___________ inches high. - 36
Why shouldn't you align a beam with a gutter to check for sag? - Gutters slope so they
always look off level.
What is the requirement for beam end bearing on masonry? - 3 inches
How might paint indicate that a beam has slipped out of its pocket? - If the beam is
painted and there are unpainted parts visible at the supports, this may indicate
movement of the beam.
Beams should be mechanically fastened to the supporting members. True or False? -
True
, Joists are usually spaced _________ or ___________ inches on center. - 16 or 24
The metal brackets used to support joists are called ___________. - joist hangers
What 2 inspection techniques can you use to inspect for sagging joists? - 1. bounce on
the deck
2. scan the deck with your eye at deck level
Two ways to attach a ledger board to wood-frame structure are: - 1. lag bolts every 24
inches
2. multiple nails every 16 to 24 inches
Describe the proper way to flash a ledgerboard installed over siding. - Flashing extends
from under the siding, over the top of the ledgerboard, and down.
What is the biggest problem with cantilevered decks? - Rot is found where the joists
penetrate the wall.
Why are plywood or waferboard sheets poor choices for porch or deck flooring? - The
absorb water readily and rot.
Why should there be no supply or return registers from heating/cooling ductwork in a
garage? - To prevent fumes from entering the house.
Most garage floors are not structural. True or False? - True
Garage floors that are suspended and have storage or living space below:
a. can be adequately assessed by a home inspector.
b. should be investigated by a specialist. - b.
A good concrete garage floor is usually ___________ inches thick and has
____________ inches of gravel beneath it. - 3" thick with 5" of well compacted gravel.
Which way should garage floors slope? - To drain (usually towards the door).
What does a hollow sound on the garage floor indicate? - Settled soil under the slab--
the slab is now suspended.
Why do many authorities discourage floor drains in garages? - Because automobile
fluids can find their way into municipal sewers.
The diameter of a garage drain exit pipe should be at least ___________ inches. - 3
inches.
