Can You Name More Than Half of the Items on This Construction Equipment Quiz?

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name More Than Half of the Items on This Construction Equipment Quiz?
Image: skynesher / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Can you tell the difference between a jackhammer and a hole saw? Know the difference between a rip saw and one that is crosscut -- and what the heck is a miter saw for, anyhow? If you can answer all these questions, you just might have what it takes to ace this construction basics quiz!

Got building skills? If you have a natural knack for putting things together or performing basic home and building repairs, a career in construction could be just right for you. This field not only allows you to stay active and work on a wide variety of projects, but it's also quite lucrative; tradesmen like carpenters and electricians earn a median annual salary of $45,000 to $55,000 as of 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and those who work their way up into construction management roles pull in a median of $91,000. 

Ready to start swinging that hammer? First, you'll need to brush up on basic math skills and make sure you have the soft skills -- like timeliness, sales and basic marketing -- that are often needed for this field. While a college degree isn't usually required, many contractors rely on training programs and apprenticeships offered by local unions to learn on the job and build their careers.

Think you've got what it takes? Take our quiz to show off your construction basics IQ!

rebar
Pixabay / horndesign
What do you call those steel rods used to strengthen concrete?
beams
joists
posts
rebar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Concrete is super strong in terms of compressive strength, but not so good at putting up with tensile forces -- or forces trying to pull it apart rather than compress it. Adding steel bars called rebar goes a long way toward making the concrete stronger and more stable.

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bearing wall
Comezora / Moment / Getty Images
What do you call a wall that serves as part of a home's structural system?
roaring wall
leaning wall
dogging wall
bearing wall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bearing wall is one that supports the weight of building components above it -- like the ceiling. These walls shouldn't be demolished or modified without advice from a structural engineer.

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gable roof
Pexels / Sindre Strøm
A gable is a style of...
floor
wall
roof
wall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you see a child's picture of a house, with a simple square shape and a triangle placed on top, you're looking at a basic gable roof. This common sloped roof style is found on many homes. More complex designs include a hipped roof or a barn-style gambrel roof.

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pitch
Jasmin Merdan / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these terms describes the slope of a roof?
throw
void
square
pitch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The angle or slope of a roof is known as the pitch. It represents how many inches the roof rises vertically over each foot it extends horizontally.

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knob and tube
Douglas Sacha / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these is NOT a type of foundation?
knob and tube
slab on grade
crawlspace
basement
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The foundation a home is built on helps to distribute the weight of the structure evenly over the ground. While many homes use a slab on grade, a crawlspace or a basement, there's no such thing as a knob and tube foundation.

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wall stud
Thomas Busk / Cultura / Getty Images
What is the name of the vertical framing members used to give structure to walls in the home?
stud
clamp
gambrel
joist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The framing of a typical house consists of wooden studs, which are arranged vertically to give strength and support to walls. Some homes and many commercial structures opt for metal studs rather than wood because they last longer and require less maintenance over time.

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lintel
Image by Sherry Galey / Moment / Getty Images
Where are you most likely to find a lintel?
in a bag on beans
on the roof
over a window
on the stairs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A lintel is any horizontal framing member used to add support over a door or window. It can be made of wood, stone or metal, and is sometimes used simply for decoration rather than for structural needs.

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joist
SBS / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these is a horizontal floor framing member?
stud
gambrel
gable
joist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A joist is a framing member that runs parallel to the roof or ceiling. It is placed horizontally, and may be supported by additional framing members known as beams or timbers.

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measuring 2x4
stevecoleimages / E+ / Getty Images
If you put a tape measure to a 2x4, it will actually measure...
2 by 4
1.5 by 3.5
2.5 by 4.5
it depends on the brand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A 2x4 is a piece of lumber measuring 2 inches by 4 inches -- at least on paper. This 2x4 label is the nominal dimension, while the lumber actually measures 1.5 by 3.5 inches.

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joint compound
JodiJacobson / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these is used to cover the seams on drywall?
mortar
joint compound
epoxy
sand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drywall is great for building smooth walls -- except at the joints. To cover up the joints and blend them in with the surrounding surface, they are taped, coated in joint compound and sanded to an even finish.

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pine
R.Tsubin / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these is a softwood?
oak
maple
hickory
pine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The terms hardwood and softwood technically have nothing to do with hardness or softness. Instead, hardwood refers to wood that comes form deciduous trees, like maple, oak and walnut, while softwood comes from evergreens like pine, fir and spruce.

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drywall
jtgriffin07 / E+ / Getty Images
What is the main material used to make drywall?
gypsum
sawdust
sand
concrete
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gypsum is a naturally occurring material that is used to make drywall. It's compressed between sheets of heavy paper, then used to form the walls and ceilings in a home or building.

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windows 1
Vostok / Moment / Getty Images
Where might you use a mullion?
on the roof
in the garden
on a window
while wiring the house
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A mullion is any bar used to divide the panes in a window. This term may also be used for a vertical member placed between a pair of doors.

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ventilation
jaminwell / E+ / Getty Images
What does the "V" stand for in HVAC?
variable
vacuum
ventricular
ventilation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Sometimes, it's written as HVACR, where the R at the end stands for refrigeration.

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concrete
Pixabay / sylwiadianaszczesniak
What does the "C" in ICF stand for?
concrete
cold-rolled
corrosive
cardboard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Insulating concrete forms, also known as ICFs, are a new method of placing cast-in-place concrete. The forms are made of sheets of foam insulation, and the concrete is then poured in between for an insulated and structurally sound building.

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bathroom drywall
twohumans / E+ / Getty Images
Where are you most likely to find green board?
outside
bedroom
bathroom
halls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some drywall is specially designed for certain applications. White drywall is general purpose, while blue board is designed for use with veneer plaster. Green board is moisture-resistant drywall, and is used in wet areas like the bathroom.

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GFCI
fstop123 / E+ / Getty Images
A GFCI is a special type of...
light fixture
receptacle
flooring
wallpaper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many building codes require ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCI receptacles in areas like the bathroom. These specialized electrical outlets help reduce the risk of fire an electric shock.

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p-trap
Don Farrall / Photodisc / Getty Images
Where might you find a p-trap?
sink
furnace
solar panel
oven
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A p-trap is a plumbing device used under the sink. It's shaped like a letter p turned on its side, and is used to catch debris and keep sewer gases from entering the home.

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wooden shingles
Nine OK / Moment Mobile / Getty Images
Where might you use a shake?
roof
floor
bathroom
kitchen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wood shakes are naturally split wooden shingles that have been used for hundreds of years. They are used as both roofing and siding, and have a rustic, natural appearance.

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staircase
laughingmango / E+ / Getty Images
What are the structural supports at the sides of a staircase called?
gables
stringers
peaks
mullions
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A staircase rests on a pair of stringers. The horizontal part of the steps are known as treads, while the vertical sections are called risers.

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plywood
Pixabay / skeeze
How large is a standard sheet of plywood?
2 by 4
3 by 6
4 by 8
8 by 10
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A standard sheet of plywood measures 4 by 8 feet. Made of thin sheets of wood glued together, plywood serves as a common material for building walls, floors and ceilings.

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laminate
ChristinaKurtz / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these gets its appearance from a printed picture, rather than real wood?
laminate
hardwood
engineered wood
softwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Laminate flooring is made by pressing layers of material together under high pressure. It includes a base layer topped with a printed image -- which can resemble wood, stone or tile -- then topped with a clear wear coat.

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insulation
DonNichols / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these does R-value measure?
thermal resistance
moisture resistance
sound resistance
fire resistance
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

R-value is a measure of thermal resistance, and is often used to rate insulation materials. The higher the r-value. the better a material resists thermal transfer.

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roofing
moodboard / moodboard/Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
How is roofing material measured?
square
cubic yard
inch
diameter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Roofing material is sold by the square. One square of roof shingles will cover 100 square feet of roof area.

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EIFS
Wiki Commons by Handwerker
EIFS is essentially a modern form of this.
stucco
hardwood
vinyl
drywall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exterior insulation and finish system, or EIFS, is roughly the modern equivalent of stucco. While stucco relies on organic materials like cement and lime, EIFS is made with polymers and other advanced materials.

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miter saw
Pixabay / gearland
Which of these saws would you use to cut crown molding?
miter saw
chop saw
reciprocating saw
hacksaw
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anyone who has ever tried to install crown molding knows that creating angled ends that perfectly align is no easy task. A miter saw is designed to cut these types of angles, and is typically used to cut molding and trim.

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concrete block
Wiki Commons by USACE Afghanistan Engineer District-South
What is a CMU?
concrete block
floor covering
roofing material
type of drywall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

CMU stands for concrete masonry unit. These blocks, which come in standard sizes based on how thick of a wall they can build -- an 8-inch block is used to build an 8-inch wall, for instance -- are often used in high-traffic structures like schools and warehouses.

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pouring concrete
Chaiyaporn Baokaew / Moment / Getty Images
How is concrete measured?
square inch
square foot
cubic inch
cubic yard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Concrete is measured in terms of cubic yards.One cubic yard of concrete will cover an area measuring 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.

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terrazzo floor
Wiki Commons by Stephan Schildberg
Which of these is most likely to be built from terrazo?
floor
roof
porch
wall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Terrazo is an old-school building material that is commonly used to construct floors. It's made from chips of marble, glass and stone mixed with cement and polymers.

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windows 2
Pixabay / Pexels
Which of these commonly comes with a U-factor rating?
refrigerator
asphalt shingles
vinyl tile
windows
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

U-factor is a rating that measures heat transfer through a window. The lower the U-factor, the more effective the window is at insulating.

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brick
ondacaracola photography / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these might require tuckpointing?
carpet
hardwood
brick
drywall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tuckpointing, or pointing, is a process used to restore the mortar between bricks. It involves chipping out the old mortar and replacing it with a freshly mixed batch to minimize water infiltration and structural issues.

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exit door
goldhafen / E+ / Getty Images
The rating on a fire-rated door refers to...
degrees
weight
cost
time
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fire-rated doors help to slow the spread of fire, giving occupants more time to escape during an emergency. They are rated by how long they can handle the heat, with ratings typically ranging from 20 minutes to 3 hours.

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nails
Images say more about me than words. / Moment / Getty Images
What does the "d" used to categorize nails stand for?
inches
feet
penny
dollar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nails are designated using the letter d, which stands for penny. An 8 d, or 8 penny nail measures 2.5 inches long.

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SIP panels
Wiki Commons by BMe3001
What is a SIP used for?
painting
building a wall
refinishing the floor
digging a footing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Structural insulated panels, or SIPs, are modern wall-framing components. They consist of two sheets of particle board filled with insulation, and can be used to construct walls in place of traditional sheathing.

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mixing concrete
nicolamargaret / E+ / Getty Images
Mixing concrete at 1:4:8 involves these three components:
gypsum, cement and water
cement, sand and aggregate
mortar, aggregate and epoxy
resin, water and sand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Concrete is mixed in ratios, so a ratio of 1:4:8 means you should mix one part cement, four parts sand and eight parts aggregate. Ratios can change based on where the concrete will be placed.

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vinyl tile
DigiClicks / E+ / Getty Images
Where would you install VCT?
floor
walls
roof
ceiling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vinyl composite tile, or VCT, is a flooring material used on high-traffic areas. It's similar in appearance to linoleum, but tends to be durable and require less maintenance.

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vinyl siding
Phillip Spears / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Which of these is most common on American homes?
wood siding
wooden shingle siding
brick
vinyl siding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. Census Bureau named vinyl siding as the most common material used on new homes in 2017. The next most common is stucco, while wood siding is relatively rare.

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STC - sound
xavierarnau / E+ / Getty Images
What does the "S" in STC stand for?
seismic
sound
simple
sideways
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's nothing worse than being forced to deal with noise from loud neighbors, or from busy roads near your home. The STC, or sound transmission coefficient rating, on various building materials lets you know how well those products are able to stop sound waves.

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dig hole
Pixabay / Goumbik
How deep can you generally dig a hole without shoring?
1 foot
3 feet
5 feet
10 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

OSHA requires you to shore up a hole to prevent it from collapsing -- and thus possibly burying yourself alive -- anytime you dig deeper than 5 feet. Of course, if you don't do a lot of digging, it's best to have someone qualified to keep an eye on things as you start shifting dirt.

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polystyrene
Pannonia / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these materials is the most effective for insulating walls?
fiberglass
wool
cellulose
polystyrene
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Inch per inch, polystyrene foam is about twice as effective at insulating walls than a standard fiberglass batt, wool or cellulose. Other composite materials can be even more effective in some applications.

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You Got:
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skynesher / E+ / Getty Images