Home Inspector Structural Framing Defects Flashcards
7 cards from real Home Inspector Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Home Inspector Structural Framing Defects flashcards as text
A home inspector finds that floor joists span 14 feet but are only 2x8s at 16 inches on center. The floor feels noticeably springy. What is the MOST likely deficiency?
Answer: The joists are undersized for the span, resulting in excessive deflection
2x8 joists spanning 14 feet typically exceed allowable span limits, causing deflection beyond acceptable limits and a bouncy floor feel.
What is 'blocking' between floor joists primarily intended to accomplish in structural framing?
Answer: Prevent joists from rotating or twisting (lateral buckling) and transfer loads between joists
Solid blocking or bridging between joists prevents lateral rotation, distributes point loads across multiple joists, and stiffens the floor system.
A home inspector observes that a double top plate in a load-bearing wall is only lapped at one corner of the building. What does this indicate?
Answer: The top plate lap joints must be distributed around the building to tie wall sections together for lateral load transfer
Top plate laps must be staggered and distributed to continuously tie the wall framing together, transferring lateral forces across the entire perimeter.
Which of the following best describes a 'king stud' in window or door framing?
Answer: A full-height stud running from sole plate to top plate alongside a jack stud to support the header
King studs run the full height of the wall on each side of an opening, bearing on the top plate and anchoring the jack studs that directly support the header.
A home inspector finds that a steel I-beam used as a basement girder is resting in a pocket in a concrete block foundation wall with only 1 inch of bearing. What is the concern?
Answer: Inadequate bearing length can cause the beam to slip out of the pocket or crush the masonry beneath it
Minimum bearing requirements (typically 3.5 inches for steel beams) ensure the concentrated load is distributed over enough masonry area without crushing or slipping.
During an inspection, a home inspector notices that a cantilevered deck ledger is attached to the house rim joist with only 3/8-inch lag screws spaced 24 inches apart. What is the PRIMARY concern?
Answer: The ledger connection is likely undersized to resist the horizontal shear and withdrawal forces from deck loads
Deck ledger connections must be sized and spaced per code to resist both vertical shear from deck loads and potential uplift, and undersized connections are a leading cause of deck collapses.
A home inspector observes compression wrinkles or 'web buckling' in the thin metal webs of manufactured I-joists (TJI joists). What does this indicate?
Answer: The joists have been overloaded or subjected to point loads that exceed their design capacity
Web buckling in I-joists indicates the member has been overstressed, compromising its load-carrying capacity and requiring evaluation or replacement.