NC Basic Construction Flashcards by Corey Watson

The studs are connected to the flooring by

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

C)
the sole plate.

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

Reference: Basic Construction

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

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

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

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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.

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

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The pitch of the roof is determined by

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

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

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

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

C)
Top plates

Explanation
Top plates attach wall framing to the ceiling.

Reference: Basic Construction

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

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

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

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

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

A)
piers.

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

Reference: Basic Construction

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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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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

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

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Slab is

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

A)
concrete.

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

Reference: Basic Construction

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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Foundation materials usually are

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

B)
concrete block or brick.

Explanation
Foundation materials may be concrete block or brick.

Reference: Basic Construction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

D)
footing.

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

Reference: Basic Construction

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

A ranch-style home is

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

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

A floor joist is a A) angled board. B) vertical board. C) horizontal board. D) truss-like board.

C) horizontal board. Explanation A floor joist is a horizontal board. Reference: Basic Construction

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.

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

The foundation of the home rests on A) studs. B) footings. C) its sills. D) the ground.

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

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.

C) HVAC system. Explanation HVAC is the acronym for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. Reference: Basic Construction

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Material used to cover the exterior walls of a house is called A) sheathing. B) ridge boards. C) replacement material. D) rescission.

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

The glass panes in a window are divided by bars known as A) studs. B) headers. C) muttons and mullions. D) joists.

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