InterNACHI Exterior and Grounds Inspection 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An inspector finds that the garage door does not auto-reverse when a 2x4 board is placed flat on the floor in its path. What standard does this fail?
- UL 325 auto-reverse requirement — door must reverse on contact with a 1.5-inch obstruction (Correct answer)
- NFPA 13 sprinkler clearance rule
- IRC minimum door height requirement
- ADA accessible path requirement
Correct answer: UL 325 auto-reverse requirement — door must reverse on contact with a 1.5-inch obstruction
UL 325 requires automatic garage door openers to reverse when the door contacts an object no higher than 1.5 inches (the height of a 2x4 laid flat).
Question 2: Which exterior lighting condition is a reportable deficiency during a home inspection?
- Incandescent bulbs instead of LED
- Missing covers on exterior electrical boxes exposing live wiring (Correct answer)
- Light fixture located above a garage door
- Timer-controlled porch light
Correct answer: Missing covers on exterior electrical boxes exposing live wiring
Exterior electrical boxes must have weatherproof covers; missing covers expose energized wiring to the elements and create shock and fire hazards.
Question 3: What does efflorescence on a masonry foundation wall indicate to a home inspector?
- The wall was painted with latex paint
- Water has moved through the masonry, depositing mineral salts on the surface (Correct answer)
- Mortar was over-troweled during construction
- The wall is in good condition and properly sealed
Correct answer: Water has moved through the masonry, depositing mineral salts on the surface
Efflorescence is the white mineral residue left when water migrates through masonry and evaporates, indicating moisture movement through the wall.
Question 4: An inspector observes that a hose bibb (exterior faucet) has no backflow preventer in a jurisdiction that requires them. Why is this a concern?
- The bibb will freeze in winter without a preventer
- Contaminated water from a garden hose could siphon back into the potable supply (Correct answer)
- The bibb flow rate will be insufficient for irrigation
- Pressure will exceed safe limits at the bibb
Correct answer: Contaminated water from a garden hose could siphon back into the potable supply
Without a backflow preventer, a hose left submerged in a bucket or pool could allow contaminated water to be siphoned into the home's drinking water supply.
Question 5: When inspecting exterior stairs, what baluster spacing deficiency is a safety hazard?
- Balusters installed at a slight angle
- Baluster spacing greater than 4 inches, allowing a child's head to pass through (Correct answer)
- Balusters made of wood rather than metal
- Balusters painted a dark color
Correct answer: Baluster spacing greater than 4 inches, allowing a child's head to pass through
Baluster spacing exceeding 4 inches creates a strangulation or entrapment hazard for young children whose heads can pass through the opening.
Question 6: Which condition observed at a wood fence is most likely to indicate structural failure is imminent?
- Surface weathering and graying of fence boards
- Fence posts that are rotted at or below grade level (Correct answer)
- Fence boards with gaps between them
- Paint peeling from fence rails
Correct answer: Fence posts that are rotted at or below grade level
Rotted posts at grade level lose structural integrity and can no longer support the fence, making failure and collapse likely.
Question 7: What exterior condition would prompt an inspector to recommend further evaluation by a licensed structural engineer?
- Hairline shrinkage cracks in stucco
- Horizontal cracks in a concrete block foundation wall (Correct answer)
- Paint peeling from wood trim
- Minor weathering of window caulk
Correct answer: Horizontal cracks in a concrete block foundation wall
Horizontal cracks in concrete block walls indicate lateral soil pressure is overcoming the wall's resistance, a potentially serious structural failure mode.
InterNACHI Exterior and Grounds Inspection 4
An inspector finds that the garage door does not auto-reverse when a 2x4 board is placed flat on the floor in its path.
What standard does this fail?