NC Basic Construction

Question 1

The studs are connected to the flooring by

A)
the bottom plate.
B)
the top plate.
C)
the sole plate.
D)
the horizontal plate.

Answer 1

C)
the sole plate.

Explanation
The studs are connected to the flooring by the sole plate, not the top plate.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 1

The MOST cost-effective type of floor plan to build is typically called a

A)
ranch.
B)
two story.
C)
split foyer.
D)
dome.

Answer 1

B)
two story.

Explanation
Because of the cost of land and the foundation, it is typically cheaper for a builder to build up rather than out.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 2

A homeowner has asked a broker about the correct steps for adding a sunroom on her existing deck. What advice should the broker give the homeowner?

A)
This will definitely add value to the home.
B)
A building permit will need to be obtained. The work may require licensed contractors, and, if in an HOA, approval from the association is also necessary.
C)
Care should be taken to finish the work complying with existing code. When finished, the work will need to be permitted.
D)
No approval is needed from the municipality as long as the homeowners association approves it.

Answer 2

B)
A building permit will need to be obtained. The work may require licensed contractors, and, if in an HOA, approval from the association is also necessary.

Explanation
The work may require licensed contractors, and, if in an HOA, approval from the association is also necessary. The homeowner needs to apply for a building permit, which will then define what is needed to proceed. Most often, a licensed contractor will be needed for any plumbing or wiring. The homeowner will need to show the history of meeting all required inspections so that a certificate of occupancy may be issued.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 3

The pitch of the roof is determined by

A)
the studs.
B)
the joists.
C)
the rafters.
D)
the piers.

Answer 3

C)
the rafters.

Explanation
The rafters determine the pitch of the roof. The joists, the studs, and the piers are not part of the roof.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 4

Which of the following are NOT parts of the floor framing?

A)
Subfloors
B)
Girders
C)
Top plates
D)
Joists

Answer 4

C)
Top plates

Explanation
Top plates attach wall framing to the ceiling.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a common type of foundation found in North Carolina?

A)
Stacked stone
B)
Basement
C)
Slab
D)
Crawlspace

Answer 5

A)
Stacked stone

Explanation
Typically, homes in North Carolina are built with a crawlspace (above grade), a basement (below grade), or on a slab (on grade). Older homes may have stacked stone, which is not as solid as the other foundation types and not allowed by current building codes.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 6

Columns that may be required to support the flooring between the foundation walls are called

A)
piers.
B)
footings.
C)
joists.
D)
walls.

Answer 6

A)
piers.

Explanation
Piers are columns that may be required to support the flooring between the foundation walls.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 7

Which of the following are attached to the top plate of a wall and carry the weight of the roof?

A)
Ceiling girders
B)
Ceiling studs
C)
Ceiling footings
D)
Ceiling joists

Answer 7

D)
Ceiling joists

Explanation
Ceiling joists attach to the top plate of a wall and carry the weight of the roof. Ceiling studs attach to the bottom plate of a wall.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 8

A certificate issued by the local building inspector stating that the construction project is complete is the

A)
certificate of occupancy.
B)
certificate of habitability.
C)
certificate of completeness.
D)
certificate of approval.

Answer 8

A)
certificate of occupancy.

Explanation
A certificate of occupancy is issued by the building inspector. The project must be completed before this certificate is issued.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 9

Sheets of heavy material placed on top of the roof boards to insulate and waterproof the roof are called

A)
roofing felt.
B)
roofing shingles.
C)
roofing boards.
D)
roofing insulation.

Answer 9

A)
roofing felt.

Explanation
Roofing felt are sheets of heavy material placed on top of the roof boards to insulate and waterproof the roof.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 10

Why would a home inspector recommend soffit vents?

A)
To allow further crawlspace ventilation
B)
All of these
C)
To further vent the bathroom moisture
D)
To allow further attic ventilation

Answer 10

D)
To allow further attic ventilation

Explanation
Soffit vents, which are put in the soffit (the vertical boards running from the fascia to the house under the roof eave), allow attic circulation. Together with ridge vents, the hot air is allowed to escape both under the eaves and through the peak of the roof.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 11

Slab is

A)
concrete.
B)
dirt.
C)
brick.
D)
wood.

Answer 11

A)
concrete.

Explanation
Slab is concrete. Dirt and wood are not suitable or durable. Brick is not applicable to slab.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 12

The MOST economical house to build on a cost-per-square-foot basis is the

A)
ranch with a basement.
B)
two story.
C)
ranch.
D)
one-and-a-half story.

Answer 12

B)
two story.

Explanation
A two-story house is the most economical house to build on a cost-per-square-foot basis. A two-story house contains two floors under one roof.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 13

The sill is the

A)
lowest metal member.
B)
lowest vertical wooden member of the house.
C)
part above each window.
D)
lowest horizontal wooden member of the house.

Answer 13

D)
lowest horizontal wooden member of the house.

Explanation
The sill is the lowest horizontal wooden member of the house. It is not vertical.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 14

The parts of the home that rest on top of the footings, provide a surface upon which the flooring is built, and are typically 8 to 12 inches thick are called

A)
foundation walls.
B)
piers.
C)
slabs.
D)
rafters.

Answer 14

A)
foundation walls.

Explanation
Slabs are concrete. Piers are columns. Rafters refer to the supporting structure of the roof of the home.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 15

Foundation materials usually are

A)
iron.
B)
concrete block or brick.
C)
laminate.
D)
wood.

Answer 15

B)
concrete block or brick.

Explanation
Foundation materials may be concrete block or brick.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 16

What determines the depth of footings for a building?

A)
The cost of the building
B)
The size of the building
C)
The frost line
D)
The soil suitability test

Answer 16

C)
The frost line

Explanation
The footings must be deep enough to not shift if the ground freezes, so the frost line determines how deep the foundations must be. Therefore, local climate conditions will determine how deep the footing must be.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 17

Which of the following are NOT considered parts of a wall?

A)
Studs
B)
Ridge boards
C)
Headers
D)
Sole plates

Answer 17

B)
Ridge boards

Explanation
Ridge boards are part of the roof, while studs, headers, and sole plates make up the wall structure.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 18

The concrete support under a foundation, chimney, or column is called

A)
floor headers.
B)
a sill.
C)
floor joists.
D)
footing.

Answer 18

D)
footing.

Explanation
Footing is concrete and offers support under a foundation, chimney, or column.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 19

Which statement is TRUE?

A)
The higher the R-value, the more resistant the material is to heat transference.
B)
The higher the R-value, the higher the utility bills will be.
C)
The higher the R-value, the less resistant the material is to heat transference.
D)
The higher the R-value, the thicker the material will be.

Answer 19

A)
The higher the R-value, the more resistant the material is to heat transference.

Explanation
The higher the R-value, the more resistant the material is to heat transference, and certain utility bills should be lower.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 20

A heavy wooden or steel beam supporting the floor is termed the

A)
foundation wall.
B)
stud.
C)
girder.
D)
flashing.

Answer 20

C)
girder.

Explanation
The girder is a heavy wooden or steel beam supporting the floor. The flashing is metal. The foundation wall is brick or concrete. The stud is wood.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 21

Wooden or composite material used to cover the exterior walls and roof of a house is called

A)
vapor barrier.
B)
sill.
C)
flashing.
D)
sheathing.

Answer 21

D)
sheathing.

Explanation
Sheathing is the wooden or composite material used to cover the exterior walls and roof of a house. Vapor barrier goes underneath the house on the ground. Flashing is metal. The sill is the lowest wooden part of the house.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 22

The concrete base below the frost line that supports the foundation of a structure is called the

A)
joints.
B)
footing.
C)
ridge beam.
D)
sill.

Answer 22

B)
footing.

Explanation
The footing is the concrete base below the frost line that supports the foundation of a structure. The other parts of the house listed are above the ground.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 23

A ranch-style home is

A)
always the most popular.
B)
cheapest to build.
C)
most difficult to maintain.
D)
one level.

Answer 23

D)
one level.

Explanation
A ranch-style home is one level and easy to maintain as compared to a multilevel home. Stair climbing and ladder usage are minimized. Because a ranch has only one floor under one roof and one foundation, a ranch home will have the higher price per square foot in a neighborhood.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 24

A floor joist is a

A)
angled board.
B)
vertical board.
C)
horizontal board.
D)
truss-like board.

Answer 24

C)
horizontal board.

Explanation
A floor joist is a horizontal board.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 25

The part of the roof that extends beyond the walls of the house and forms the connection between the roof and the exterior walls is called the

A)
joist.
B)
sill.
C)
stud.
D)
eave.

Answer 25

D)
eave.

Explanation
The eave is the part of the roof that extends beyond the walls of the house and forms the connection between the roof and the exterior walls. The sill is the lowest wooden member of the house. The joist and stud are not part of the roof.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 26

The foundation of the home rests on

A)
studs.
B)
footings.
C)
its sills.
D)
the ground.

Answer 26

B)
footings.

Explanation
The foundation of the home rests on the footings. The footings are in the ground. The studs are wooden. The sill is the lowest wooden member of the house that rests on the foundation.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 27

The systems that heat and cool a home are typically called the

A)
building codes.
B)
SEER rating.
C)
HVAC system.
D)
R-value system.

Answer 27

C)
HVAC system.

Explanation
HVAC is the acronym for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 28

A home inspection has noted sill plate damage in the home. Where is the sill plate located?

A)
Where the framed walls are attached to the floors
B)
Where gutters are typically attached to the side of a home
C)
Sits on the foundation walls
D)
At the bottom of each window

Answer 28

C)
Sits on the foundation walls

Explanation
The sill plate is the lowest wooden member of the house and sits on the foundation walls. Pressure-treated wood is attached to the foundation walls to serve as a base for the rest of the wood framing for the home.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 29

One of a series of sloping beams that extend from the exterior wall to a center ridge board and provides the main support for the roof is called

A)
the girder.
B)
the pier.
C)
the rafter.
D)
the sheathing.

Answer 29

C)
the rafter.

Explanation
The rafter is one of a series of sloping beams that extend from the exterior wall to a center ridge board and provides the main support for the roof.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 30

The fascia board is located

A)
at the highest point of the roof.
B)
at the bottom of each window.
C)
where gutters are typically attached to the side of a home.
D)
under the eaves.

Answer 30

C)
where gutters are typically attached to the side of a home.

Explanation
The fascia board, which is the horizontal band of wood running under the roof edge and where the gutter attaches, is frequently mentioned in a home inspection report. If the gutters are not cleaned regularly, the fascia board can rot from excessive moisture.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 31

In North Carolina, anyone who contracts to construct a building for another must obtain a general contractor’s license from the state if the building’s cost is more than

A)
$20,000.
B)
$30,000.
C)
$50,000.
D)
$40,000.

Answer 31

B)
$30,000.

Explanation
North Carolina requires that anyone who contracts to construct a building for another must obtain a general contractor’s license from the state if the building’s cost is more than $30,000.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 32

Material used to cover the exterior walls of a house is called

A)
sheathing.
B)
ridge boards.
C)
replacement material.
D)
rescission.

Answer 32

A)
sheathing.

Explanation
Sheathing is material used to cover the exterior walls of a house. It is added to the wall framing to insulate the house from the elements. Several types of materials are used for sheathing, including fiber board, foam sheathing, and plywood.

Reference: Basic Construction

Question 33

The glass panes in a window are divided by bars known as

A)
studs.
B)
headers.
C)
muttons and mullions.
D)
joists.

Answer 33

C)
muttons and mullions.

Explanation
The glass panes in a window are divided by bars known as muttons and mullions. The headers are at the top of the window. The studs and joists are not part of the window.

Reference: Basic Construction