Questions With 100% Correct Answers
2026-2027 Updated.
Which of the following is not part of the structural inspection? - Answer fascia boards
What part of a home's structure is least likely to be visible to the home inspector? - Answer
footings
What is the overall purpose of the structural inspection? - Answer to identify major structural
deficiencies
How does compression act on structural members? - Answer It pushes at the members and
makes them shorter.
Which action is a best practice to identify deterioration? - Answer probe structural
components where damage is suspected
Which force would exert the least amount of stress on a foundation? - Answer wind
If you note an active 1/4" step crack with no apparent movement, you should _____. - Answer
recommend a structural engineer be consulted to assess the crack
For which type of foundation cracking should a structural engineer be recommended? - Answer
horizontal cracks with movement
What sign indicates that a foundation crack is still active? - Answer sharp edges to the crack
For which condition should the customer be advised to monitor the foundation wall? - Answer
cracks less than 1/4" wide showing little or no movement
At which communication step should the home inspector be particularly careful about not
making any uneducated guesses? - Answer telling how to repair something
In a solid brick house, what is a sign of corner settlement? - Answer step cracks at an exterior
corner going down to the foundation
,Vertical cracks in the foundation wall extending down to the footings can be caused by _____. -
Answer settlement of the structure
Water stains along the junction of the basement wall and floor most likely indicate _____. -
Answer a drain tile problem
What is a sign that an underground oil tank may be present? - Answer two holes in the wall
with disconnected copper tubing
When inspecting ledger strips in the basement ceiling structure, the home inspector should
_____. - Answer watch out for nails pulling out and for sagging and cracking
Which of the following is a sign of water penetration through the foundation wall? - Answer
efflorescence on the wall
Water penetration in a single corner of the basement is most likely caused by _____. - Answer
a faulty downspout or splash block
A hole cut into a girder or joist can be located _____. - Answer at least 2" in from top or
bottom
What is the weakest of the following girder/joist connections? - Answer ledger strips
The source of most of the water leaking into basements can be attributed to _____. - Answer
surface water
What purpose does a palmer valve serve? - Answer It allows water to flow from the drain tile
system into the sewer.
Ceiling insulation in a crawl space, in most cases, should be installed _____. - Answer with
the moisture deterrent layer up
What can be a sign of slab detachment? - Answer cracks along the slab edge
What is not a likely cause of slab settlement? - Answer shrinkage of the concrete slab
Which of the following is true about perimeter vents in a crawl space? - Answer There is little
agreement about when to keep vents open or closed based on different climate issues.
, Perimeter venting is required in a crawl space to prevent _____. - Answer moisture from soil
rising into the house
Which of the conditions can be caused by poor ventilation in a crawl space? - Answer
deterioration of framing members
Why should a dirt floor in a crawl space be covered? - Answer to prevent moisture from the
soil being released into the crawl space
In balloon framing construction, the wall studs rest directly on the _____. - Answer sill
How should plywood subflooring not be laid? - Answer parallel to the joists
What should be suspected if a brick veneer wall has a bow to it? - Answer loose brick ties
Which construction method is common in barns and churches? - Answer post and beam
construction
In which type of framing does the subfloor go only to the inner edge of the wall stud? - Answer
balloon framing
Which of the following can cause a floor to be bouncy? - Answer lack of proper bridging in
the joists
In platform framing construction, the wall studs rest directly on the _____. - Answer sole
plate
What would not be a cause of bulging or leaning in exterior masonry walls? - Answer a
rusting lintel
A notch cut into a girder or joist can be no more than _____. - Answer 1/6 of the depth
What is the proper term to describe floors with a continuous slope in one direction? - Answer
unlevel