National Home Inspection Exam Flashcards
The purpose of gravel on a built-up tar-and-gravel roof is __________.
to prevent delamination of the plys to protect the membrane from ultraviolet rays to provide ballast to help hold down the roof membrane all of these reasons
all of these reasons
A roof that has a problem with ponding generally still has water on it at least ____ hours after it has rained.
12 2 24 48
48
A 4-in-12 slope can be expressed as the ratio of _____.
1/4 12: 4 4: 12 6: 2:4
4:12
A low slope can lead to problems with all of the following types of roof-covering materials, except ___________.
asphalt shingles fiber-cement shingles roll roofing wood shakes wood shingles
roll roofing
The material having the shortest life expectancy is __________.
concrete fiber cement roll roofing slate wood
roll roofing
Ice dams typically form on roofs with ____________.
a low slope and small overhang a low slope and wide overhang a steep slope and small overhang a steep slope and wide overhang asphalt shingles
a low slope and wide overhang
The minimum slope for asphalt shingles in a conventional roofing application is ______.
2: 12 4: 12 5: 12 6: 12
2:12
Common failure modes for asphalt shingles include all of the following, except __________.
cracking blisters cupping or clawing loss of granules spalling
spalling
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 common cosmetic condition that does not affect performance or life expectancy being the result of excessive foot traffic on the roof being the result of expansion and contraction of the waferboard sheathing due to changes in humidity freeze-thaw damage possibly having manufacturing defects and a shortened life expectancy
possibly having manufacturing defects and a shortened life expectancy
There may be leakage at a chimney protruding through roll roofing valley flashing because the ___________.
chimney height may be insufficient chimney will obstruct proper drainage nails from the chimney flashing have penetrated the valley flashing roofer may not have cut the points at the valley roofer used roll roofing rather than metal flashing
chimney will obstruct proper drainage
Foundation walls ____________.
must resist lateral pressure from the basement's sides should be totally underground support the structure and connect to the footing vary inversely in thickness based on underground dep
support the structure and connect to the footing
Wall cracks develop because __________.
of all of these reasons the wall has been overloaded the wall has heaved the wall has settled
of all of these reasons
A foundation wall penetration should ____________.
be repaired with re-pointing cement be reported if signs of leakage exist, as this may cause the wall to crack never be below grade never be below the frost line
be reported if signs of leakage exist, as this may cause the wall to crack
A header is _____________.
a fall from scaffolding by a construction worker a full-length joist that is doubled to carry additional load an extra joist added to support additional loads used to transfer span loads over or around openings
used to transfer span loads over or around openings
Water in the basement ________________.
may be caused by hydrostatic pressure forcing water through cracks in the walls may be detected by puddles at the foundation's exterior should pond to one side only
may be caused by hydrostatic pressure forcing water through cracks in the walls
Water may be removed from a basement by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. a sump and pump mechanical dehumidification perimeter wall drainage any of these methods
any of these methods
Interior basement stairways should have ___________.
a graspable handrail on at least one side adequate headroom adequate lighting risers of equal height all of these
all of these
A retaining wall ___________.
does not need openings to relieve hydrostatic pressure does not resemble a foundation is not associated with landform is used to prevent soil movement
is used to prevent soil movement
Paths and walkways should _______________.
be at least 30 inches wide be free of tripping hazards not be above grade not be inspected pitch toward the driveway
be free of tripping hazards
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
The function of a footing is to __________.
provide lateral support for foundation walls provide support for the basement floor slab resist hydrostatic pressure transmit the weight of the house to the soil
transmit the weight of the house to the soil
The most common symptom of footing failure is __________.
bowing of the foundation walls cracking above windows cracking of the foundation walls leaking in the basement sagging floors
cracking of the foundation walls
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
An important consideration often overlooked when installing a basement stairwell is ____________.
damage to foundation walls frost penetration to the soil below the footing how wide the stairway needs to be the need for a handrail the potential for termite infestation
frost penetration to the soil below the footing