Interior

What is an acceptable distance between the tread of a stairway and its handrail?

34" to 38"

What sort of crack in a drywall ceiling can be caused by truss uplift?

a crack along the junction of the ceiling and the walls

What condition does discoloration or cloudiness between the lights of a dual-pane window indicate?

a leaking seal

A random and slight bulge in the drywall could be an indicator of _____.

a popping nail

What is a zero clearance fireplace?

a prefabricated wall-mounted or freestanding metal fireplace

The passage door between the living area and the garage should be _____.

a solid core or steel clad door

What is a fireplace insert?

a wood or pellet stove that sits in or partially in the fireplace

What does UL rated mean?

a wood stove is listed with the Underwriters Laboratories

What might be the cause of nail pop with a drywall facing?

a) inadequate bracing in the framing b) expansion and contraction of the framing c) shrinkage of the framing ***d) all of the answers shown**

Where are smoke alarms recommended in a home?

a) one in each bedroom hallway b) one on each level of the home c) one in each bedroom ***d) all of these***

Home inspectors are required to check interior receptacles for _____.

a) polarity b) grounding c) current ***d) all of these***

In what location in the home would an interior hollow core door not be appropriate?

as the door between the living area and the garage

What causes plaster to become powdery?

being soaked with water

Which of the following conditions would not represent a safety hazard on an interior balcony?

cantilevered floor joist construction

What type of window typically uses a crank to make the window swing outward?

casement

During the room-by-room inspection, the laundry room requires _____.

checking to make sure the dryer is properly exhausted to the exterior

What is indicated if you walk over vinyl sheet flooring and hear snapping and crackling?

defective adhesive

What condition should alert the home inspector to a leaking seal in a thermal-pane window?

discoloration or cloudiness between the lights

What is drywall made of?

gypsum covered with paper or fiberglass

Parquet squares are made of _____.

hardwood

What type of door has a honeycomb cardboard interior set in wood rails and stiles?

hollow core door

One of the main causes of a sagging floor is _____.

inability of the floor joists to support the load on the floor's surface

What materials are used for making seamless joints in a drywall facing?

joint cement and tape

What problem can be experienced when a softwood plank subfloor is exposed and used as the finish flooring?

keeping the joints sealed against spills

What is the cause of floor squeaks?

nails moving in and out of the joists

Which of the following conditions might cause a fireplace to smoke?

negative pressure, blocked flue

Which type of crack in a plaster facing is an indication of a plaster problem rather than a structural cause?

network of surface cracks

If you find hardwood floors in a closet off a carpeted bedroom, what assumptions can you make about the bedroom flooring?

no assumptions can be made

Which area in the home can the home inspector bypass during the interior inspection?

none

According to most standards of practice for the interior inspection, the home inspector is not required to _____.

observe draperies, blinds, and other window treatments

What is a self-storing or triple track window?

one that has a permanently mounted screen and storm

Cracks found on a plaster wall may indicate an underlying structural problem if they are _____.

one-quarter-inch wide

Which stairway structure is not allowed due to the safety hazard?

open risers

When should a wood stove sit on a protective non-combustible pad?

over a wood floor

Metal laths are used in the application of which of the following _____.

plaster

Which type of facing would be best suited to curved ceiling surfaces?

plaster

What is typically used for subflooring in new construction today?

plywood or oriented strand board (OSB)

How should the home inspector test a bulge in a plaster wall for detachment from the lath?

pushing on it gently with the hand

What items are not included in the interior inspection?

recreational facilities

Why is a routine important to the interior inspection?

so that nothing is overlooked

What would not be the cause of a localized bulge in a floor?

stiffness in the joists

Which of the following is an example of safety glazing in a window?

tempered glass

Which of the following shower findings must be noted on the inspection report and never missed?

the presence of a metal shower pan

To check AFCIs, an inspector should use _____.

the test button on the breaker

What is the requirement regarding balcony balusters?

they should be a maximum of 4" apart

Upon finding a carpeted bathroom floor, the home inspector should _____.

try to lift the carpet and examine the floor

Which of the following is an example of resilient flooring?

vinyl

What repair would not be acceptable with powdery plaster?

wet the plaster to re-harden it

Which is the most recent method of applying plaster to walls and ceilings?

1 or 2 layers over a gypsum board lath

Which of the following statements regarding ungrounded receptacles is TRUE?

Ungrounded receptacles must be tested with a neon bulb tester.