Home Inspector Site, Exterior & Roofing Practice Questions
Site, Exterior & Roofing makes up 8 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest Home Inspector practice test. Here are 10 of the 32 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on the EBPHI content outline for the National Home Inspector Examination. Original questions; 50 per test, weighted like the real 200-question exam. Not affiliated with EBPHI.
1. The IRC generally calls for the ground next to a foundation to fall away from it by at least how much within the first 10 feet?
- A.3 inches
- B.6 inches
- C.2 inches
- D.12 inches
Answer: B. A fall of 6 inches in the first 10 feet (about 5%) carries surface water away from the foundation. Flat or negative grade lets water collect against the wall.
2. Soil piled up against wood siding at the base of an exterior wall is a defect mainly because it:
- A.Overloads the footing
- B.Blocks the crawl space vents
- C.Raises the local frost line
- D.Invites decay and termites
Answer: D. Earth-to-wood contact keeps the wood wet and gives termites a hidden path into the structure. The IRC keeps wood siding at least 6 inches above the ground.
3. A masonry retaining wall is leaning outward and has no weep holes or drainage behind it. The most likely cause is:
- A.Water pressure behind the wall
- B.Efflorescence on the face
- C.Thermal expansion of the stone face
- D.Frost heave under the cap
Answer: A. Without drainage, water builds up in the backfill and adds hydrostatic pressure that pushes the wall out. Efflorescence is a symptom of water, not a force.
4. A driveway slopes toward the garage slab and there is no drain at the door. The main concern is:
- A.Cracking of the curb
- B.Settlement of the apron
- C.Water running into the garage
- D.Faster wear of the driveway sealant
Answer: C. A driveway pitched toward the building sends runoff to the garage door and foundation. It should slope away or have a drain to collect the water.
5. Which walkway condition is a safety issue rather than a cosmetic one?
- A.Minor color variation
- B.Hairline shrinkage cracks in the slab
- C.A raised slab edge at a joint
- D.Fine surface crazing
Answer: C. A slab that has heaved or settled so its edge stands proud of the next one is a trip hazard. Crazing, color changes and hairline cracks are cosmetic.
6. A gate in a residential pool barrier should:
- A.Self-close and self-latch
- B.Lock with a keyed deadbolt
- C.Stay propped open in use
- D.Swing in toward the pool
Answer: A. Pool barrier gates must close and latch on their own and open outward, away from the pool, so a child pushing on them cannot get in.
7. Under the pool barrier rules the IRC adopts, a barrier around a residential pool must be at least how tall?
- A.60 inches
- B.36 inches
- C.42 inches
- D.48 inches
Answer: D. The minimum barrier height is 48 inches measured on the side away from the pool. 36 and 42 inches are guard heights, not pool barrier heights.
8. When the latch release on a pool gate is lower than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, it must be:
- A.At the gate's midpoint
- B.On the pool side of the gate
- C.On the yard side of the gate
- D.Below the bottom hinge
Answer: B. A low latch is allowed only if its release is on the pool side, near the top of the gate, so a small child outside cannot reach it.
9. Vinyl siding panels that were nailed tightly to the wall instead of loosely tend to:
- A.Absorb water and swell
- B.Buckle as they expand
- C.Chalk faster in sunlight
- D.Shrink away from the trim
Answer: B. Vinyl moves with temperature, so it is hung loosely with nails centered in the slots. Nailed tight, it cannot slide and waves or buckles in heat.
10. Where a roof eave ends against a sidewall, which flashing turns water into the gutter and away from the wall?
- A.Valley flashing
- B.Drip edge
- C.Counterflashing
- D.Kickout flashing
Answer: D. A kickout (diverter) flashing at the bottom of the step flashing steers water away from the wall. Without it, water runs behind the cladding and rots the wall.
Practice all 32 site, exterior & roofing questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free Home Inspector training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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