NHIE 2020*

T/F: Ponds and lakes near a house indicate the area's natural water table and should alert the inspector to look for moisture intrusion problems. True False

True

T/F: Proper fastening of wooden planks is important because they must be able to expand and contract without splitting. True False

True

T/F: The fascia is used to support the gutter system and enclose the ends of the eaves. True False

True

T/F: The soffit is the horizontal trim covering the underside of an eave system. True False

True

T/F: The three common systems for framing a house are balloon, platform, and post-and-beam. True False

True

T/F: With the exception of wood, all types of retaining walls should have weep holes. True False

True

An anchor bolt should be within ____ inches of the end of the sill plate. a. 12 b. 18 c. 24 d. 4

a. 12

The minimum slope for ground adjacent to the foundation is _____ inches. a. 1:10 b. 1:12 c. 1:4 d. 1:6

a. 1:10

The minimum slope for asphalt shingles in a conventional roofing application is ______. a. 2:12 b. 4:12 c. 5:12 d. 6:12

a. 2:12

If a basement walkout is to be added to a house, ___________ may be necessary. a. a deeper footing near the walkout b. a sill plate c. a wood frame wall above it d. additional floor joists

a. a deeper footing near the walkout

Truss uplift is believed to be caused by ___________. a. a differential in humidity levels within an attic b. improper attachment of drywall to the ceiling of the top floor c. insufficient attic insulation d. mixing different types of trusses in an attic space e. using green lumber

a. a differential in humidity levels within an attic

Ventilation in underfloor areas may be provided by ____________. a. both mechnical means and openings in the foundation b. mechanical means c. openings in the foundation

a. both mechnical means and openings in the foundation

The saddle or cricket is part of the _________. a. chimney flashing b. garage door opener c. gutter and downspout assembly d. plumbing stack e. window flashing system

a. chimney flashing

The function of a sill plate is to _____________. a. connect the floor framing system to the top of the foundation b. keep the wall below a window dry c. prevent twisting of the floor joists d. provide a moisture barrier between the floor system and the foundation wall e. support the wall system

a. connect the floor framing system to the top of the foundation

The minimum end-bearing for beams is _____ inches. a. 1-3/8 b. 2-1/8 c. 3-1/8 d. 3-5/8 e. 4-3/8

d. 3-5/8

Guardrails are required at the edges of walking surfaces higher than ____ inches. a. 12 b. 18 c. 24 d. 30

d. 30

The minimum height for a guardrail is ____ inches. a. 12 b. 24 c. 30 d. 36

d. 36

The maximum span for a 2x6 purlin is _____ feet. a. 12 b. 2 c. 4 d. 6

d. 6

Foundations supporting wood should extend ____ inches above a finished grade, unless otherwise specified by the AHJ. a. 12 b. 2 c. 4 d. 8

d. 8

By which of the following symptoms can an inspector determine the rate of erosion of a ravine? a. a tree leaning b. exposed tree roots c. horizontal gaps between sections of grass or brush with topsoil exposed and nothing growing d. It is not possible to determine the rate of erosion in a one time visit. e. leaning retaining walls

d. It is not possible to determine the rate of erosion in a one time visit.

Wall cracks develop because __________. a. the wall has been overloaded b. the wall has heaved c. the wall has settled d. all of the above

d. all of the above

Stucco cracks occur due to __________. a. the natural shrinkage of stucco b. the natural shrinkage of wood c. the uncontrolled movement of the structure d. all of these reasons

d. all of these reasons

Water may be removed from a basement by __________. a. a sump and pump b. mechanical dehumidification c. perimeter wall drainage d. any of these methods

d. any of these methods

Posts in basements must bear on _____________. a. a 4x4-inch bearing plate b. a moisture barrier c. a well-compacted granular fill d. footings e. the basement floor

d. footings

A retaining wall ___________. a. does not need openings to relieve hydrostatic pressure b. does not resemble a foundation c. is not associated with landform d. is used to prevent soil movement

d. is used to prevent soil movement

Common failure modes for asphalt shingles include all of the following, except __________. a. cracking blisters b. cupping or clawing c. loss of granules d. spalling

d. spalling

The causes of buckling in vinyl and aluminum siding include ___________. a. impact damage b. nailing too tightly c. thermal expansion d. thermal expansion and nailing too tightly e. using too few nails

d. thermal expansion and nailing too tightly

The function of a footing is to __________. a. provide lateral support for foundation walls b. provide support for the basement floor slab c. resist hydrostatic pressure d. transmit the weight of the house to the soil

d. transmit the weight of the house to the soil

The following is permissible beneath a building: _____________. a. form wood below foundation sills b. form wood in contact with soil c. loose or casual wood in contact with the ground d. tree stumps and roots 12 inches below the soil's surface

d. tree stumps and roots 12 inches below the soil's surface

A header is _____________. a. a fall from scaffolding by a construction worker b. a full-length joist that is doubled to carry additional load c. an extra joist added to support additional loads d. used to transfer span loads over or around openings

d. used to transfer span loads over or around openings

Stucco cracks and bulges often appear near the floor level because __________. a. of all of these reasons b. of the effects of live loads c. this area lacks insulation d. wood framing shrinks the most in this area

d. wood framing shrinks the most in this area

In slab-on-grade construction, the top of the foundation should be ____ inches above grade in order to protect the exterior wall structure and finish from moisture. a. 12 b. 16 c. 2 d. 4 e. 8

e. 8

Interior basement stairways should have ___________. a. a graspable handrail on at least one side b. adequate headroom c. adequate lighting d. risers of equal height e. all of these

e. all of these

The requirements of a habitable room include __________. a. egress b. heat c. light d. ventilation e. all of these

e. all of these

When lowering a basement floor, if the soil is excavated only to the bottom of the footing, it may result in _____________. a. disturbed soil below the footing b. excessive grade height c. inadequate end-bearing for the floor joists d. insufficient footing width e. loss of lateral support for the footing

e. loss of lateral support for the footing

A four-year-old asphalt shingle roof that appears well-insulated, with an attic that is properly ventilated, but having roughly 25% of the shingles showing irregular cracks in the surface should be reported as ____________. a. a common cosmetic condition that does not affect performance or life expectancy b. being the result of excessive foot traffic on the roof c. being the result of expansion and contraction of the waferboard sheathing due to changes in humidity d. freeze-thaw damage e. possibly having manufacturing defects and a shortened life expectancy

e. possibly having manufacturing defects and a shortened life expectancy

The more immediate concern of a solid masonry wall that is leaning or bowing is ____________. a. cracks developing in the wall b. failure of the wall c. loose bricks falling off the wall d. moisture penetration into the wall cavity e. unsafe end-bearing for the joists

e. unsafe end-bearing for the joists

A non-bearing partition stud can be _____ notched. a. 25% b. 30% c. 40% d. 50%

c. 40%

A stairway that is _____ inches or more wider must have two handrails. a. 24 b. 36 c. 48 d. 72

c. 48

A 4 in 12 slope can be expressed as the ratio of __________. a. 1/4 b. 12:4 c. 4:12 d. 6:2:4

c. 4:12

The maximum distance between foundation anchor bolts is ____ feet. a. 14 b. 2 c. 6 d. 8

c. 6

The desirable slope for the grading around a house is _________. a. 1 inch per foot b. 17% c. 6 inches for the first 10 feet d. zero

c. 6 inches for the first 10 feet

On a stairway, the maximum rise is ____ inches, and minimum run is 10 inches. a. 11 b. 7 c. 7 and 3/4 d. 8

c. 7 and 3/4

_____ provides a controlled way of ventilating a home while minimizing energy loss. a. A vapor-retarder b. An attic window c. An energy-recovery ventilation system d. Insulation

c. An energy-recovery ventilation system

The most common symptom of footing failure is __________. a. bowing of the foundation walls b. cracking above windows c. cracking of the foundation walls d. leaking in the basement e. sagging floors

c. cracking of the foundation walls

If a plumbing vent extends too far above the roof line, there is a risk of ____________. a. back-siphoning b. down-drafting c. frost closure d. leakage

c. frost closure

A deck that has carpet installed on the surface ___________. a. and built with pressure-treated wood is weather-resistant b. can dramatically increase the home's living space but is costly c. is prone to moisture problems and cannot be adequately inspected d. is recommended for the deck planks' protection

c. is prone to moisture problems and cannot be adequately inspected

All of the following are components of a siding system using Insulbrick, except _________. a. fiberboard b. granules c. mortar d. nails e. tar

c. mortar

All of the following are common problems with built up roofing EXCEPT ________. a. alligatoring b. blistering c. oil-canning d. ridging

c. oil-canning

The maximum depth for a notch in a beam or joist is ______ the board's depth. a. one-half b. one-quarter c. one-sixth d. one-third

c. one-sixth

A low slope can lead to problems with all of the following types of roof covering materials, EXCEPT a. asphalt shingles b. fiber cement shingles c. roll roofing d. wood shakes e. wood shingles

c. roll roofing

The material having the shortest life expectancy is __________. a. concrete b. fiber cement c. roll roofing d. slate e. wood

c. roll roofing

Motorized garage doors should ____________. a. be disclaimed and excluded from a general home inspection b. continue operation when an obstacle is encountered c. stop and reverse when they contact an obstacle

c. stop and reverse when they contact an obstacle

Foundation walls ____________. a. must resist lateral pressure from the basement's sides b. should be totally underground c. support the structure and connect to the footing d. vary inversely in thickness based on underground depth

c. support the structure and connect to the footing

Bathroom fans are required by most codes ______________. a. in bathrooms with three or more fixtures b. in master suite bathrooms c. where a bathroom does not have an operable window d. where humidity levels in the attic are too low

c. where a bathroom does not have an operable window

a roof that has a problem with ponding generally still has water on it at least ____ hours after it has rained. a. 12 b. 2 c. 24 d. 48

D. 48

The Purpose of gravel on a built up tar and gravel roof is_________. a. to prevent delamination of the plys b. to protect the membrane from ultraviolet rays c. to provide ballast to help hold down the roof membrane d. all of the above.

D. All of the above

T/F: A joist should be toe-nailed into the sides of a wooden girder if no anchor or ledger strips are used. True False

False

T/F: Foundation ventilation openings need no protective coverings. True False

False

T/F: In balloon framing, the studs are installed on each level and are the same length. True False

False

T/F: It is preferable to have downspouts discharge below grade rather than above grade. True False

False

T/F: Purlins can be smaller than the supported rafters. True False

False

T/F: Stucco over wood framing exhibits significantly fewer cracks than stucco over masonry walls. True False

False

T/F: The door from an attached garage may lead directly into a bedroom. True False

False

T/F: Where movement due to footing problems has been detected, future settlement can be predicted by knowing the depth of the footings. True False

False

T/F: Code requires that surface water be properly drained and controlled. True False

True

T/F: Foliage may be used to control soil erosion on a cut slope. True False

True

T/F: Gates and through-barriers leading to swimming pools must have a lock and a self-closing/self-latching device. True False

True

T/F: Gypsum board can be used as bracing to resist wind and seismic forces. True False

True

T/F: Lintels and headers are the same things. True False

True

Doors and windows should be inspected for _______________. a. defects caused by improper installation in the rough opening and unsatisfactory performance of moving their parts b. only for defects caused by improper installation in the rough opening c. only for unsatisfactory performance of their moving parts d. their burglar resistance

a. defects caused by improper installation in the rough opening and unsatisfactory performance of moving their parts

A joist below and parallel to a bearing wall should be ___________. a. doubled b. split c. tripled

a. doubled

Ground-fault circuit interrupters are required __________. a. in whirlpool baths b. on bathroom exhaust fans c. on dishwashers d. on sauna heaters

a. in whirlpool baths

A plumbing inspection does not include the _____________. a. lawn sprinkler systems b. plumbing faucets c. plumbing fixtures d. supply piping e. waste and vent piping

a. lawn sprinkler systems

Water in the basement ________________. a. may be caused by hydrostatic pressure forcing water through cracks in the walls b. may be detected by puddles at the foundation's exterior c. should pond to one side only

a. may be caused by hydrostatic pressure forcing water through cracks in the walls

The purpose of a cant strip is to _________. a. prevent the roof membrane from cracking at a change in direction b. provide a curb on which to set a skylight c. replace a reflet as the counter-flashing d. seal the top of a parapet counter flashing.

a. prevent the roof membrane from cracking at a change in direction

A property's grading should be maintained up to ____ away from the house. a. 1 foot b. 10 feet c. 2 meters d. 72 inches

b. 10 feet

A hole may be bored no closer than _____ from the top or bottom of a joist. a. 1 inch b. 2 inches c. 4 inches d. 6 inches

b. 2 inches

A weep screed should be placed ____ inches above grade. a. 2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8

b. 4

Swimming pool barriers must be at least ___ feet above grade. a. 3 b. 4 c. 5

b. 4

The minimum required headroom above a stairway is _________. a. 6 feet and 6 inches b. 6 feet and 8 inches c. 7 feet d. 7 feet and 6 inches

b. 6 feet and 8 inches

Ice dams typically form on roofs with ____________. a. a low slope and small overhang b. a low slope and wide overhang c. a steep slope and small overhang d. a steep slope and wide overhang e. asphalt shingles

b. a low slope and wide overhang

A roof truss that has been cut in order to accommodate a skylight can be re-supported by ______________. a. a skillful contractor with extensive construction experience b. a special engineering design c. applying local building codes d. double-trusses on either side of the skylight opening

b. a special engineering design

In balloon framing, the wall studs _____________. a. are 2x6s b. are continuous from the sill plate to the rafters c. are spaced 24 inches apart d. extend only the height of the floor level e. rest on the top of the floor joist

b. are continuous from the sill plate to the rafters

Paths and walkways should _______________. a. be at least 30 inches wide b. be free of tripping hazards c. not be above grade d. not be inspected e. pitch toward the driveway

b. be free of tripping hazards

A foundation wall penetration should ____________. a. be repaired with re-pointing cement b. be reported if signs of leakage exist, as this may cause the wall to crack c. never be below grade d. never be below the frost line

b. be reported if signs of leakage exist, as this may cause the wall to crack

The minimum required headroom above an attic access opening is ____ inches. a. 18 b. 24 c. 30 d. 42

c. 30

When the span of a header is greater than ____ feet, it's necessary to double the trimmer and header rafters. a. 12 b. 2 c. 4 d. 6

c. 4

There may be leakage at a chimney protruding through roll roofing valley flashing because the ___________. a. chimney height may be insufficient b. chimney will obstruct proper drainage c. nails from the chimney flashing have penetrated the valley flashing d. roofer may not have cut the points at the valley e. roofer used roll roofing rather than metal flashing

b. chimney will obstruct proper drainage

A load-bearing stud wall has a ____________. a. double top plate and a double sole plate b. double top plate and a single sole plate c. double top plate and a triple sole plate d. single top plate and a double sole plate e. single top plate and a single sole plate

b. double top plate and a single sole plate

An important consideration often overlooked when installing a basement stairwell is ____________. a. damage to foundation walls b. frost penetration to the soil below the footing c. how wide the stairway needs to be d. the need for a handrail e. the potential for termite infestation

b. frost penetration to the soil below the footing

As they rust, steel lintels over doors and windows in masonry walls will _____________. a. break the window glass b. generate horizontal cracks in the mortar joints at the windows' top corners c. push the wall out d. rotate inward and displace the brick above

b. generate horizontal cracks in the mortar joints at the windows' top corners

A solid masonry wall can be visually identified by its __________. a. cavity spaces b. header courses c. metal ties d. specially-sized bricks e. steel lintels

b. header courses

Asbestos cement shingles ______________. a. are very malleable b. must be treated as hazardous material if removed c. should be scraped clean before painting d. should never be painted

b. must be treated as hazardous material if removed

The maximum depth for a notch at the end of a joist is _____ the joist's depth. a. one-half b. one-quarter c. one-sixth d. one-third

b. one-quarter

The primary purpose of siding as an exterior cladding is to ___________. a. enhance the appearance of the house b. protect the framework from the elements c. provide a surface for paint d. strengthen the framework

b. protect the framework from the elements

Plywood sheathing is commonly used __________. a. as a base for interior insulation b. to brace framework c. to prevent dry rot d. to provide a good finish surface

b. to brace framework

There must be at least _____ of clearance in front of the toilet to any wall, fixture or door. a. 1 foot b. 15 inches c. 21 inches d. 28 inches

c. 21 inches

In new-construction homes, the minimum pipe size for the main water supply line is ______. a. 1/2-inch b. 1/4-inch c. 3/4-inch d. 3/8-inch

c. 3/4-inch

Approved corrosion-resistant flashings __________ installed continuously above all projecting wood trim. does not have to be should be

should be