VA CONTRACTORS CORE EXAM TEST 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS TAGGED A+
✔✔On a 28 foot ladder what horizontal distance from the wall must be placed for
safety? - ✔✔7 feet -a quarter of the length of the working latter
✔✔In a 6 foot trench, ladder or egress Hass to be placed at? - ✔✔No more than 25 feet
of lateral travel
✔✔Which drawing gives more information about penetration through the walls? -
✔✔Detailed drawings
✔✔What is the maximum thickness of mortar bed joint when placing over foundations? -
✔✔3/4 of an inch
✔✔In Highwind area, what is the maximum spacing for underlayment fasteners? -
✔✔36 inches on center
✔✔What is the minimum width for a footing projection? - ✔✔2 inches
✔✔What is the minimum distance from exposed ground that pressure treated wood
should be used for a wood framing member that is in contact with concrete or masonry
foundation walls? - ✔✔8 inches
✔✔Using number to Southern Pine for floor joist, and sleep area, 16 inches on center a
10 PSF dead load, what size joist is required for a span of 14 feet? - ✔✔2 x 10
✔✔When an excavator's notification is issued for use at 7 AM, 24 hours after application
how many days is the permit good for - ✔✔15 days
✔✔After excavation motivation is submitted to the notification Center, what is the
starting time and waiting period before work can begin? - ✔✔7 AM and 48 hours
✔✔What materials are used in mortar mix? - ✔✔Hydrated lime, cement, water, fine
aggregate
✔✔Using number to Southern Pine for floor joist, and living area, 16 inch on center, 10
PSF dead load, what size joist required for a span of 15 feet? - ✔✔2 x 12
✔✔A minimum of how many fasteners are required for clay perimeter tiles? - ✔✔One
per tile
✔✔What is the minimum lap or rabbeted horizontal wood siding? - ✔✔Half an inch
, ✔✔How many inches minimum should be between a handrail and an adjacent wall? -
✔✔1 1/2 inch
✔✔A jack rafter is and nailed to a hip rafter. The minimum number of 16 D common
nails should be used is? - ✔✔Two
✔✔What is the required minimum openable area to the outdoor for habitable room as a
percentage of floor area? - ✔✔4%
✔✔Where is the release mechanism for a pool barrier located? - ✔✔On the inside of the
pool 3 inches from the top of the barrier
✔✔What is the minimum slope of unsoldered seamed metal roofs without sealant? -
✔✔Three units vertical in 12 units horizonta
✔✔What is the range of slump for concrete used in the wall? - ✔✔4 inches minimum 8
inches max
✔✔What is the most common cause of injury on a construction site? - ✔✔Falls
✔✔In how many hours must a fatality be reported to OSHA? - ✔✔Within 8 hours
✔✔What is the maximum time between mixing and using water above 80°? - ✔✔2 1/2
hours
✔✔What plan would show the building lot with boundaries? - ✔✔Site plans
✔✔What is the maximum riser height and minimum tread depth for stairway built in
Virginia? - ✔✔8 1/4 inches and 9 inches
✔✔How far must thermal insulation be kept from a recessed fixture exclosure? - ✔✔3
inches
✔✔What is the minimum size and location of rebar in a footing supporting a slab? -
✔✔Two #4 and within the middle third of the footing depth
✔✔What is the required height of the top of a foundation above the elevation of the
street gutter on a graded site? - ✔✔12 inches +2%
✔✔What type of equipment should be used to excavate a basement? - ✔✔Power
shuffle
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS TAGGED A+
✔✔On a 28 foot ladder what horizontal distance from the wall must be placed for
safety? - ✔✔7 feet -a quarter of the length of the working latter
✔✔In a 6 foot trench, ladder or egress Hass to be placed at? - ✔✔No more than 25 feet
of lateral travel
✔✔Which drawing gives more information about penetration through the walls? -
✔✔Detailed drawings
✔✔What is the maximum thickness of mortar bed joint when placing over foundations? -
✔✔3/4 of an inch
✔✔In Highwind area, what is the maximum spacing for underlayment fasteners? -
✔✔36 inches on center
✔✔What is the minimum width for a footing projection? - ✔✔2 inches
✔✔What is the minimum distance from exposed ground that pressure treated wood
should be used for a wood framing member that is in contact with concrete or masonry
foundation walls? - ✔✔8 inches
✔✔Using number to Southern Pine for floor joist, and sleep area, 16 inches on center a
10 PSF dead load, what size joist is required for a span of 14 feet? - ✔✔2 x 10
✔✔When an excavator's notification is issued for use at 7 AM, 24 hours after application
how many days is the permit good for - ✔✔15 days
✔✔After excavation motivation is submitted to the notification Center, what is the
starting time and waiting period before work can begin? - ✔✔7 AM and 48 hours
✔✔What materials are used in mortar mix? - ✔✔Hydrated lime, cement, water, fine
aggregate
✔✔Using number to Southern Pine for floor joist, and living area, 16 inch on center, 10
PSF dead load, what size joist required for a span of 15 feet? - ✔✔2 x 12
✔✔A minimum of how many fasteners are required for clay perimeter tiles? - ✔✔One
per tile
✔✔What is the minimum lap or rabbeted horizontal wood siding? - ✔✔Half an inch
, ✔✔How many inches minimum should be between a handrail and an adjacent wall? -
✔✔1 1/2 inch
✔✔A jack rafter is and nailed to a hip rafter. The minimum number of 16 D common
nails should be used is? - ✔✔Two
✔✔What is the required minimum openable area to the outdoor for habitable room as a
percentage of floor area? - ✔✔4%
✔✔Where is the release mechanism for a pool barrier located? - ✔✔On the inside of the
pool 3 inches from the top of the barrier
✔✔What is the minimum slope of unsoldered seamed metal roofs without sealant? -
✔✔Three units vertical in 12 units horizonta
✔✔What is the range of slump for concrete used in the wall? - ✔✔4 inches minimum 8
inches max
✔✔What is the most common cause of injury on a construction site? - ✔✔Falls
✔✔In how many hours must a fatality be reported to OSHA? - ✔✔Within 8 hours
✔✔What is the maximum time between mixing and using water above 80°? - ✔✔2 1/2
hours
✔✔What plan would show the building lot with boundaries? - ✔✔Site plans
✔✔What is the maximum riser height and minimum tread depth for stairway built in
Virginia? - ✔✔8 1/4 inches and 9 inches
✔✔How far must thermal insulation be kept from a recessed fixture exclosure? - ✔✔3
inches
✔✔What is the minimum size and location of rebar in a footing supporting a slab? -
✔✔Two #4 and within the middle third of the footing depth
✔✔What is the required height of the top of a foundation above the elevation of the
street gutter on a graded site? - ✔✔12 inches +2%
✔✔What type of equipment should be used to excavate a basement? - ✔✔Power
shuffle
