Home Inspector Exam: Structural
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_18zmfs
1. What are the four main soil classifications?: Sand, Gravel, Silt and Clay
2. A soil engineer rates change of soil volume by the : Plasticity index
3. A monolithic slab is a perimeter beam and slab that are ?: Poured at the
same time as one piece.
4. A 4 inch slab floor will not support ?: an interior load-bearing wall.
5. Disadvantages of a screeded slab:: termites are difficult to find and are difficult
to treat if found.
6. What is the cause of non-uniform soil moisture?: poor drainage away from the
foundation.
7. is the removal of soil moisture by vegetation.: Transpiration
8. A collects subsurface water and moves it to another location.: French
Drain
9. What is the best type of foundation for a weak soil?: Pier and Beam
10. 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.
11. A casement window is hinged on how many sides?: One
12. 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
13. The ability of clay soil to absorb water is approximately of an inch per
hour.: 1/16
14. The frost line in Texas is how many inches?: 10
15. Should a concrete pipe be installed underground of a building?: No
16. What is the purpose of weep holes?: They drain moisture condensation in a
brick veneer house and provide ventilation behind the brick.
17. Weep holes must be at least inches wide and spaced no more than
inches apart.: 3/16 wide; 33 inches apart
18. What should an inspector do if a beam does not rest on a pier?: The
inspector should report it as deficient.
19. 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.
20. Possible causes of horizontal lines or cracks are?: Improper backfill, rusted
vertical rebar, horizontal pressure, missing moisture barrier, or vertical pressure/up-
heavel (hydrostatic pressure)
21. Concrete and masonry foundation walls should extend above the finished
grade a minimum of?: 4 inches
22. Other than concrete and masonry siding, all other siding materials should
extend how far above the finished grade?: 6 inches
1/8
, Home Inspector Exam: Structural
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_18zmfs
23. When moisture is removed from the soil along the perimeter of the foun-
dation this results in what condition?: Drying edge effect (Downwarping)
24. The floor should be how many inches above the soil line?: 8 inches
25. 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.
26. What is it called when the perimeter of the foundation rises?: Cupping
27. How should a 'corner pop' be reported?: As a deficiency.
28. What is used to repair a crack in concrete?: Epoxy injections is one method.
Removing and replacing mortar (called repointing) is another method.
29. 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.
30. What does a 'french drain' do?: Collects subsurface water and moves it to
another location away from the structure.
31. What determines the type of foundation that should be installed at a
particular site?: A soil sample analysis by an engineer
32. What happens when moisture in the soil freezes?: The water in the soil
expands. (Note: the soil does not expand)
33. What is the maximum distance that a crawl space vent should be located
from the corner of a building?: 3 feet
34. What, in a brick veneer house, provides an outlet to drain mositure con-
densation and provides ventilation behind the brick?: Weep Holes
35. Bridging refers to the practice of?: Installing bracing between joists to add
stiffness to the floor/ceiling.
36. What are some signs of 'differential settlement'?: cracks in interior and
exterior walls, floors out of level, doors out of square or rubbing on the jamb, etc,.
37. What is the minimum crawl space access opening?: 18 inches by 24 inches
if there is no mechanical equipment. 22 inches by 30 inches if mechanical equipment
is present in the crawl space.
38. Structural girders in a crawl space must be made of treated or decay-resis-
tant lumber when closer than inches to the ground.: 12 inches. 18 inches
for floor joists.
39. Sills or plates which rest on concrete or masonry exterior walls less than
above grade must use treated or decay-resistant lumber.: 8 inches. 12
inches for structural girders and 18 for floor joists.
40. If an inspector is only able to enter the crawl space and partially inspect
the foundation, how should the inspector report this?: Note in the report that
2/8
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_18zmfs
1. What are the four main soil classifications?: Sand, Gravel, Silt and Clay
2. A soil engineer rates change of soil volume by the : Plasticity index
3. A monolithic slab is a perimeter beam and slab that are ?: Poured at the
same time as one piece.
4. A 4 inch slab floor will not support ?: an interior load-bearing wall.
5. Disadvantages of a screeded slab:: termites are difficult to find and are difficult
to treat if found.
6. What is the cause of non-uniform soil moisture?: poor drainage away from the
foundation.
7. is the removal of soil moisture by vegetation.: Transpiration
8. A collects subsurface water and moves it to another location.: French
Drain
9. What is the best type of foundation for a weak soil?: Pier and Beam
10. 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.
11. A casement window is hinged on how many sides?: One
12. 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
13. The ability of clay soil to absorb water is approximately of an inch per
hour.: 1/16
14. The frost line in Texas is how many inches?: 10
15. Should a concrete pipe be installed underground of a building?: No
16. What is the purpose of weep holes?: They drain moisture condensation in a
brick veneer house and provide ventilation behind the brick.
17. Weep holes must be at least inches wide and spaced no more than
inches apart.: 3/16 wide; 33 inches apart
18. What should an inspector do if a beam does not rest on a pier?: The
inspector should report it as deficient.
19. 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.
20. Possible causes of horizontal lines or cracks are?: Improper backfill, rusted
vertical rebar, horizontal pressure, missing moisture barrier, or vertical pressure/up-
heavel (hydrostatic pressure)
21. Concrete and masonry foundation walls should extend above the finished
grade a minimum of?: 4 inches
22. Other than concrete and masonry siding, all other siding materials should
extend how far above the finished grade?: 6 inches
1/8
, Home Inspector Exam: Structural
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_18zmfs
23. When moisture is removed from the soil along the perimeter of the foun-
dation this results in what condition?: Drying edge effect (Downwarping)
24. The floor should be how many inches above the soil line?: 8 inches
25. 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.
26. What is it called when the perimeter of the foundation rises?: Cupping
27. How should a 'corner pop' be reported?: As a deficiency.
28. What is used to repair a crack in concrete?: Epoxy injections is one method.
Removing and replacing mortar (called repointing) is another method.
29. 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.
30. What does a 'french drain' do?: Collects subsurface water and moves it to
another location away from the structure.
31. What determines the type of foundation that should be installed at a
particular site?: A soil sample analysis by an engineer
32. What happens when moisture in the soil freezes?: The water in the soil
expands. (Note: the soil does not expand)
33. What is the maximum distance that a crawl space vent should be located
from the corner of a building?: 3 feet
34. What, in a brick veneer house, provides an outlet to drain mositure con-
densation and provides ventilation behind the brick?: Weep Holes
35. Bridging refers to the practice of?: Installing bracing between joists to add
stiffness to the floor/ceiling.
36. What are some signs of 'differential settlement'?: cracks in interior and
exterior walls, floors out of level, doors out of square or rubbing on the jamb, etc,.
37. What is the minimum crawl space access opening?: 18 inches by 24 inches
if there is no mechanical equipment. 22 inches by 30 inches if mechanical equipment
is present in the crawl space.
38. Structural girders in a crawl space must be made of treated or decay-resis-
tant lumber when closer than inches to the ground.: 12 inches. 18 inches
for floor joists.
39. Sills or plates which rest on concrete or masonry exterior walls less than
above grade must use treated or decay-resistant lumber.: 8 inches. 12
inches for structural girders and 18 for floor joists.
40. If an inspector is only able to enter the crawl space and partially inspect
the foundation, how should the inspector report this?: Note in the report that
2/8
