Home Inspector Exam: Structural
Questions And Answers
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?
Questions And Answers
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?
