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About This Quiz
Do you know when to use a slab foundation versus a basement, or the difference between rebar and radiant heat? Know how to read building plans, measure roofing, concrete and other construction materials? Take our quiz to see if you've got what it takes for a career in home construction!
Many men and women who like to work with their hands consider careers in the building trades, but home construction is so much more than knowing how to swing a hammer or safely operate a saw. It requires an understanding of basic techniques and materials, from insulation and siding to concrete and roofing, as well as interior finishes like paint and flooring. It means knowing how to use heating and cooling systems to keep the house comfortable, manage plumbing needs and install a safe and effective electrical system. Beyond that, a successful builder must understand the steps to home construction, and why performing them out of order or skipping a step could spell disaster down the road.Â
Finally, builders must also have a close understanding of the laws that apply to building homes. This means understanding the codes, knowing when you need an inspection to proceed and how to protect future occupants of the home from things like fire, gas or radon.Â
Think you've got what it takes? Take our quiz to test your home construction IQ!
What is the name of the horizontal framing member that sits between wall studs and the home's foundation?
Sill plate
Foundations form the sturdy base of the home, and all other components are supported by this concrete structure. A wooden bottom plate, also known as a sill plate or sole plate, rests horizontally on top of the foundation. Wall framing studs are then fastened to this plate.
Mantel
Lintel
Joist
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What line must home builders keep in mind when choosing the depth for the footings of a home?
Sea level
Frost line
The footings that support a home should always extend at least 12 inches below the frost line in an area -- that's a marker of how deep the ground freezes each winter. That means footers can be placed just 1 to 2 feet deep in warm areas, but must be buried 6 feet below the surface or more in very cold regions.
Sill line
Mason-Dixon line
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Which of these heating fuels will result in the lowest average winter heating costs for a residence?
Electric
Propane
Natural gas
Frugal home buyers will always be interested in what type of heating costs they can expect each season. Builders wanting to tout low operating costs should install a gas-fired furnace, which comes with annual average winter heating costs of $564, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Oil
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Which of these is a poisonous gas that can make residents of a home sick in some areas?
Radon
Radon gas occurs naturally as uranium in rocks within the Earth breaks down over time. Unfortunately, home builders have to be aware of this phenomenon because this radon gas is linked to lung cancer in the long term.
Oxygen
Lead
Nitrogen
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Which of these terms do builders use to describe the mechanical and electrical framework installed in the house after basic framing is complete?
Pipe outs
Map outs
Rough ins
Installing a functional and complete mechanical and plumbing system in a home is no easy task. The process begins with roughing-in -- where mechanical and plumbing contractors lay pipes and ductwork that will be connected to fixtures like toilets, sinks, furnaces and vents later during the building process.
Frame ins
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Which of these is NOT one of the three most common home foundations?
Slab on grade
Basement
Crawl space
Gravel
The foundation is the base of a home, and creating a stable foundation is the first step in the home construction process. Most U.S. homes use either a slab on grade, a crawl space or a basement foundation system.
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Which of these building materials is sometimes sold pre-hung?
Studs
Doors
Pre-hung doors are fairly standard in the residential construction industry. They consist of a door that is already mounted within a frame, with all required hardware in place. That saves time for builders, who only have to prep a rough opening and slide the whole assembly into the opening.
Drywall
Asphalt shingles
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What common construction component can you eliminate if you are using an ICF on your project?
Concrete forms
Insulated concrete forms, or ICFs, are modern alternatives to traditional wooden concrete frames. They consist of a frame made from insulation, which is left in place after the concrete has been poured. ICFs can be used for making anything from footings to walls.
Roofing
Drywall
Ductwork
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What are you most likely to find inside plastic or metal conduit on a residential construction site?
Water
Sewage
Air
Wires
Conduits are metal or plastic tubes installed in the walls and ceilings of the home. By running electrical wires within the conduits, builders can protect installers and homeowners from the risk of injury while keeping the wires safely protected.
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What do you call the part of the home that gutters are attached to?
Ridge
Fascia
Fascia is the area located directly above the soffit. It sits perpendicular to the ground, and is located on the front of the roof section that overhangs the home's footprint. Gutters are traditionally installed on the fascia.
Wainscot
Molding
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Which of these is used to measure the effectiveness of insulation?
U-factor
F-number
R-value
Using proper levels of insulation can really make a difference in not only how comfortable a home is to live in, but also how much it costs to heat and cool. The effectiveness of insulation is measured using R-value, and higher R-values are linked to greater thermal resistance.
Z-data
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Which exterior finish material, made from Portland cement, is the second-most common finish used on the exterior of U.S. homes?
Brick
Stucco
After vinyl siding, stucco is the most common material used to finish the exterior of U.S. homes. Made from a mixture of Portland cement, lime, water and additives, stucco is applied in layers to create a textured finish that is both durable and attractive.
Plaster
Mortar
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How many square feet can you cover with one square of asphalt roof shingles?
24 sf
50 sf
100 sf
Roofing materials are sold by the square, where one square is equal to 100 square feet of roof coverage. Generally, one roll of roofing is enough to cover one square. If you're buying bundles rather than rolls, plan on three bundles of shingles per square.
300 sf
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Which term describes the process of reviewing the construction drawings for a home and determining how many materials you will need?
Take off
The take off is part of the estimating and planning process for a home. Contractors performing take off review the plans and determine quantities of each material that will be needed to complete the job.
Rough in
Mining materials
Construction count
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Which of the following is NOT true of a load-bearing wall?
Sits parallel to joists
Load-bearing walls are any walls in a house that support a load other than their own weight. They sit perpendicular to the joists and typically have double top plates. Doors or openings in a load-bearing wall have a solid header rather than just a standard framed one.
Sits perpendicular to joists
Supports load other than its own weight
Has double top plate and solid headers
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What name is given to roofs with a traditional triangle design?
Gambrel
Hip
Shed
Gable
Ever seen a child draw a picture of a house by stacking a triangle on top of a square? That triangle design is called a gable roof, and it's one of the most common profiles for residential roofs. The two sloped sides meet at a peak known as a ridge.
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What are you installing if you are handling glazing tasks?
Paint
Flooring
Ceilings
Glass
Glazing is a job performed by specialty subcontractors. It involves installing all the glass in a home, whether in doors, windows or openings such as transoms.
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Where would you install a wooden shake?
Roof
Shakes are wooden shingles made from split logs. They are a very traditional exterior finish option, and can be used on exterior walls or roofs to give a rustic, back-to-nature style to a home.
Floor
Kitchen
Bathroom
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Which of these is an alternative to a traditional forced air heating system?
Septic system
Hydronic system
Hydronic systems use circulating water to heat the home. Instead of a traditional furnace, they rely on either a boiler or a solar water heater to warm the water, which then passes through pipes to give up heat via a radiator or an in-floor heating system.
Greywater system
Rain barrel
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Which of these areas of the home does NOT require fire-rated drywall?
Garage
Furnace room
Bedrooms
The National Residential Code specifies that builders use fire-rated drywall around the garage, utility rooms and the furnace room. This drywall is thicker than average, and contains special materials that help slow the spread of fire. Fire-rated drywall is not typically required around bedrooms.
Utility room
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What type of fastener is commonly used to secure exterior walls to concrete foundations?
Screws
Nails
J-bolts
J-bolts, or anchor bolts, are used to secure the framing of a house to the foundation. They are installed while the concrete is still wet, with the curved portion facing down and the threaded portion facing up. The J shape allows builders to secure the bolt to reinforcing steel within the concrete if necessary.
Sex bolts
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In which of these locations are builders likely to replace standard drywall with green board?
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Green board, so named for its green paper backing, is a special type of drywall designed to hold up in moisture-prone areas. It is often used in bathrooms. Blue board, which has blue paper backing, is designed for use with veneer plaster applications.
Dining area
Attic
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Which of these terms represents the slope of a residential roof?
Hit
Swing
Pitch
The pitch of a roof tells you the slope, or how many inches the roof rises for every foot it extends. A 6 in 12 pitch means that the roof rises 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal area.
Raise
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Which of these terms refers to steel used to reinforce concrete?
Gambrel
Joist
Stud
Rebar
Rebar refers to any reinforcing steel used to strengthen concrete. It may consist of steel rods or wire mesh. Rebar improves the tensile strength of the concrete, which helps it hold up against pulling forces.
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What's the best way to determine what size the countertops in a residential kitchen should be?
Field measure
Certain materials installed in a home when it is complete or nearing completion must be fabricated based on exact field measurements. This includes kitchen cabinets, countertops, shower doors and other fixtures that must fit precise specifications.
Look at the plans
Ask the homeowner
They are always the same size
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What term describes strips of lumber installed behind drywall to provide support for things like shelving and TVs?
Molding
Trim
Blocking
Building a house? Don't forget to add blocking within the wall framing before you install drywall. This wood blocking gives you something to attach things like shelves, paintings, cabinets or televisions to.
Trusses
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Which of these materials is most likely to be installed using a floating installation technique?
Laminate
Most floor finishes are nailed, glued, screwed or stapled to the subfloor. Laminate is different because it typically requires a floating technique, which means it locks together, but is not fastened to the subfloor. Instead, it floats over top with no nails or glue holding it in place.
Hardwood
Carpet
Ceramic tile
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Which of these materials are you concerned with if you are pointing up a home's exterior?
Vinyl siding
Wood
Drywall
Mortar
Mortar is used to bond layers of brick or block. Over time, the mortar can deteriorate, leaving masonry subject to structural damage. Pointing up or repointing is the process of removing old mortar and replacing it with newly mixed mortar to maintain the structural integrity and appearance of the home.
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Which of these are you working with during the grading process?
Drywall
Paint
Soil
Grading is the very first step in building a home. It involves digging or adding soil to bring the ground to the desired slope and elevation. This may require simple hand tools like shovels, or large equipment like a backhoe or bulldozer.
Roofing
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How much should the soil around a home slope away from the house?
1 percent
5 percent
Most residential building codes require a 5 percent slope for the property around a home. This means a decline in elevation of 6 inches over 10 feet. This slope allows for proper drainage and prevents moisture problems around the foundation.
10 percent
20 percent
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Where would you find a ridge vent on a standard residence?
Roof peak
The line where the two sloped surfaces of a residential roof meet is known as the ridge. A ridge vent is placed along this line to allow hot, stale air from the attic to escape to the outdoors. A ridge vent cover ensures air can get out without letting water in.
Under the eaves
At ground level
Under windows
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What is the minimum depth for residential stair treads in the U.S., according to the National Residential Code?
6 inches
10 inches
Stair treads -- that's the part you step on -- must be at least 10 inches deep in the U.S.. The risers -- the vertical portion that connects each treat -- can't be any taller than 7-3/4 inches.
18 inches
24 inches
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Which unit is used to measure concrete?
Meters
Square inches
Acres
Cubic yards
Concrete is sold by the cubic yard. That means you have to measure your construction drawings in square feet, then divide by 27, which is the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard.
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Which of these materials requires you to first install a scratch coat?
Laminate flooring
Stucco
Stucco ranks among the most common exterior finish materials for homes in the U.S. When using stucco, installers first apply a scratch coat, which is roughly textured to help the finish coat of stucco bond to the structure.
Acrylic paint
Silicone caulk
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What are ducts designed to carry and distribute throughout the home?
Water
Electricity
Air
Ducts or ductwork are part of the HVAC -- heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in the home. They distribute air throughout the home and pull stale air out of rooms to exhaust it outdoors.
Sewage
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