ASHI Structural Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a diagonal crack in a concrete block foundation wall typically indicate?
- Normal shrinkage from curing
- Differential settlement of the foundation (Correct answer)
- Thermal expansion of the masonry
- Moisture absorption in the blocks
Correct answer: Differential settlement of the foundation
Diagonal cracks in block foundation walls typically indicate differential settlement, where one area of the foundation sinks more than another.
Question 2: Which condition in a wood floor system would be MOST concerning to an ASHI inspector?
- Slight springiness over a long joist span
- Joists notched at the top of their depth near mid-span (Correct answer)
- Bridging installed at mid-span between joists
- Subfloor fastened with screws instead of nails
Correct answer: Joists notched at the top of their depth near mid-span
Notching floor joists near mid-span at the top removes material from the tension zone, critically weakening the structural member.
Question 3: A home inspector observes that the ridge board sags in the middle of a gable roof. What is the most likely cause?
- Undersized or missing collar ties allowing rafters to spread
- Improper flashing at the ridge
- Excessive attic insulation compressing the ridge
- Overspanning ridge board without intermediate support (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Overspanning ridge board without intermediate support
A sagging ridge board most commonly results from it being undersized or lacking intermediate structural support, causing it to deflect under roof loads.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a wall plate (sill plate) anchor bolt?
- To connect roof rafters to the wall plate
- To transfer lateral loads from the wall into the foundation (Correct answer)
- To support the weight of the wall above
- To attach exterior cladding to framing
Correct answer: To transfer lateral loads from the wall into the foundation
Anchor bolts connect the sill plate to the foundation, transferring lateral (horizontal) loads such as wind or seismic forces into the foundation.
Question 5: An inspector finds that a load-bearing wall has been removed without a beam installed. What is the primary structural concern?
- Increased heat loss through the opening
- Loss of lateral bracing only
- Unbraced floor or roof loads now unsupported above (Correct answer)
- Reduced fire separation between spaces
Correct answer: Unbraced floor or roof loads now unsupported above
Removing a load-bearing wall without installing a proper beam leaves the structure above unsupported, which can cause immediate or progressive structural failure.
Question 6: When inspecting a crawl space, which observation indicates the most serious structural deficiency?
- Vapor barrier with a few small tears
- Wood posts resting directly on bare soil without footings (Correct answer)
- Insulation installed between joists with faced side up
- Minor cobwebs on the rim joists
Correct answer: Wood posts resting directly on bare soil without footings
Wood posts bearing directly on soil without footings can settle, shift, or decay, undermining structural support for the floor above.
Question 7: What does the term 'bearing capacity of soil' refer to in the context of home inspection?
- The soil's ability to drain water away from the foundation
- The maximum load per unit area that soil can support without failure (Correct answer)
- The percentage of clay versus sand in the soil
- The depth at which soil remains at a constant temperature
Correct answer: The maximum load per unit area that soil can support without failure
Bearing capacity refers to the maximum pressure that soil can sustain from a foundation before shearing, settling excessively, or failing.
ASHI Structural Systems 2
What does a diagonal crack in a concrete block foundation wall typically indicate?