F13 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
◉ Masonry chimney foundation thickness. Answer: Foundations for
masonry chimneys shall be constructed of concrete or solid masonry
at least 9 in thick.
◉ Notching of floor framing members. Answer: For floor framing,
the tension side of members of 2 in or greater in nominal thickness
shall not be notched except at the end of the members.
◉ Concrete slab-on-grade minimum thickness. Answer: Concrete
slab-on-grade floors shall be a minimum of 4 1/2 in thick.
◉ Hearth extension dimensions for fireplaces. Answer: On fireplace
openings larger than 6 square feet, hearth extensions shall extend at
least 20 in in front and at least 12 in beyond each side of the
fireplace opening.
◉ Ceiling R-value in climate zone 6. Answer: Ceiling R-values in
climate zone 6 shall be a minimum of R-49.
,◉ Designated climate zone for Dallas County, Texas. Answer: The
designated climate zone for Dallas County, Texas is 3A.
◉ Bottom plate to stud fastening. Answer: Bottom plate to stud toe-
nail fastening shall use 4 8d common nails.
◉ Nonabsorbent surface height for showers. Answer: Showers and
bathtubs with installed shower heads shall be finished with a
nonabsorbent surface that shall extend to a height of not less than 6
ft above the floor.
◉ Insulation thermal resistance in wall cavities. Answer: Cavities
within corners and headers of frame wall shall be insulated by
completely filling cavity with a material having a thermal resistance
of not less than R-3 per inch.
◉ Fire separation distance for exterior walls. Answer: Exterior walls
with a fire separation distance less than 5 ft shall have not less than
one-hour fire-resistive rating with exposure from both sides.
◉ Load bearing wall. Answer: A wall supporting any vertical load in
addition to its own weight is a Load Bearing Wall.
◉ Air space clearance for masonry chimneys. Answer: Any portion
of a masonry chimney located on the exterior of a building or within
, an exterior wall shall have a minimum air space clearance to
combustibles of 2 in.
◉ Anchor bolt spacing. Answer: Anchor bolts shall be spaced a
maximum of 6 ft on center and no further than 12 in from each
corner.
◉ Authority to establish refund policy. Answer: The Building Official
has the authority to establish a refund policy in a building
department.
◉ Programmable thermostats cooling setpoint. Answer: Required
programmable thermostats for residential homes shall be
programmed from the manufacturer to maintain a cooling
temperature setpoint of not less than 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
◉ Permits for retaining walls. Answer: Permits are not required for
retaining walls that are not over 4 ft in height unless supporting a
surcharge.
◉ Smoke alarms locations. Answer: Smoke alarms shall be required
near each cooking location, in each sleeping room, in attics, and in
concealed locations.
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
◉ Masonry chimney foundation thickness. Answer: Foundations for
masonry chimneys shall be constructed of concrete or solid masonry
at least 9 in thick.
◉ Notching of floor framing members. Answer: For floor framing,
the tension side of members of 2 in or greater in nominal thickness
shall not be notched except at the end of the members.
◉ Concrete slab-on-grade minimum thickness. Answer: Concrete
slab-on-grade floors shall be a minimum of 4 1/2 in thick.
◉ Hearth extension dimensions for fireplaces. Answer: On fireplace
openings larger than 6 square feet, hearth extensions shall extend at
least 20 in in front and at least 12 in beyond each side of the
fireplace opening.
◉ Ceiling R-value in climate zone 6. Answer: Ceiling R-values in
climate zone 6 shall be a minimum of R-49.
,◉ Designated climate zone for Dallas County, Texas. Answer: The
designated climate zone for Dallas County, Texas is 3A.
◉ Bottom plate to stud fastening. Answer: Bottom plate to stud toe-
nail fastening shall use 4 8d common nails.
◉ Nonabsorbent surface height for showers. Answer: Showers and
bathtubs with installed shower heads shall be finished with a
nonabsorbent surface that shall extend to a height of not less than 6
ft above the floor.
◉ Insulation thermal resistance in wall cavities. Answer: Cavities
within corners and headers of frame wall shall be insulated by
completely filling cavity with a material having a thermal resistance
of not less than R-3 per inch.
◉ Fire separation distance for exterior walls. Answer: Exterior walls
with a fire separation distance less than 5 ft shall have not less than
one-hour fire-resistive rating with exposure from both sides.
◉ Load bearing wall. Answer: A wall supporting any vertical load in
addition to its own weight is a Load Bearing Wall.
◉ Air space clearance for masonry chimneys. Answer: Any portion
of a masonry chimney located on the exterior of a building or within
, an exterior wall shall have a minimum air space clearance to
combustibles of 2 in.
◉ Anchor bolt spacing. Answer: Anchor bolts shall be spaced a
maximum of 6 ft on center and no further than 12 in from each
corner.
◉ Authority to establish refund policy. Answer: The Building Official
has the authority to establish a refund policy in a building
department.
◉ Programmable thermostats cooling setpoint. Answer: Required
programmable thermostats for residential homes shall be
programmed from the manufacturer to maintain a cooling
temperature setpoint of not less than 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
◉ Permits for retaining walls. Answer: Permits are not required for
retaining walls that are not over 4 ft in height unless supporting a
surcharge.
◉ Smoke alarms locations. Answer: Smoke alarms shall be required
near each cooking location, in each sleeping room, in attics, and in
concealed locations.
