CHI Structural Systems Inspection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A home inspector observes horizontal cracks in a poured concrete foundation wall. What is the most likely cause?
- Lateral soil pressure or hydrostatic pressure pushing inward (Correct answer)
- Normal concrete curing and shrinkage
- Differential settlement of the footing
- Thermal expansion from freeze-thaw cycles
Correct answer: Lateral soil pressure or hydrostatic pressure pushing inward
Horizontal cracks in foundation walls typically indicate lateral pressure from soil or water pushing against the wall, which is a serious structural concern.
Question 2: Which type of beam is identified by its tapered flange and is commonly used in residential floor framing?
- Wide flange (W-shape) beam
- American Standard (S-shape) beam (Correct answer)
- Hollow structural section (HSS)
- Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beam
Correct answer: American Standard (S-shape) beam
American Standard beams have tapered flanges, distinguishing them from wide flange beams which have parallel flanges.
Question 3: When inspecting floor joists, a home inspector finds that a joist has been notched at mid-span. What concern does this raise?
- Notching at mid-span significantly reduces the joist's bending strength (Correct answer)
- The notch reduces fire resistance of the floor assembly
- Mid-span notches are acceptable if less than one-third of joist depth
- Notching only affects the joist's ability to resist lateral loads
Correct answer: Notching at mid-span significantly reduces the joist's bending strength
Mid-span notching is the most critical location because bending stress is highest there, and any reduction in depth significantly weakens the joist.
Question 4: An inspector notices that a ridge board in an attic has a noticeable sag. What structural issue does this most likely indicate?
- The ridge board is undersized or rafters are lacking proper collar ties (Correct answer)
- The roof sheathing is delaminating and pulling away from rafters
- Ridge boards are non-structural and sagging is always cosmetic
- The attic insulation is too heavy for the ceiling joists
Correct answer: The ridge board is undersized or rafters are lacking proper collar ties
A sagging ridge board indicates that the roof framing lacks adequate support, often because the ridge is undersized or collar ties/rafter ties are missing.
Question 5: What does the term 'bearing wall' mean in residential construction?
- A wall that transfers loads from above down to the foundation (Correct answer)
- A wall that resists lateral wind and seismic forces only
- Any exterior wall regardless of its structural role
- A wall constructed with masonry or concrete block
Correct answer: A wall that transfers loads from above down to the foundation
A bearing wall supports the weight of floors, roofs, or other walls above it and transfers those loads to the foundation.
Question 6: During a home inspection, the inspector observes that a steel I-beam in the basement has significant rust and section loss. What is the primary structural concern?
- Section loss reduces the beam's load-carrying capacity (Correct answer)
- Rust increases the weight of the beam beyond design limits
- Corroded steel beams are only a cosmetic concern
- Rust causes the beam to expand and crack surrounding masonry
Correct answer: Section loss reduces the beam's load-carrying capacity
Section loss from corrosion reduces the cross-sectional area of the beam, directly decreasing its ability to carry loads safely.
Question 7: A home inspector finds that floor joists span 14 feet and have no bridging or blocking installed. What should the inspector report?
- Bridging is recommended for joists spanning over 8 feet to prevent rotation and increase stability (Correct answer)
- No bridging is needed if joists are dimensional lumber rather than engineered lumber
- Bridging is only required when joist spacing exceeds 24 inches on center
- Lack of bridging is only a concern in multi-story construction
Correct answer: Bridging is recommended for joists spanning over 8 feet to prevent rotation and increase stability
IRC guidelines recommend bridging or blocking for floor joists spanning more than 8 feet to prevent lateral rotation and improve load distribution.
CHI Structural Systems Inspection 2
A home inspector observes horizontal cracks in a poured concrete foundation wall.
What is the most likely cause?