CSLB C20 EVALUATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Plates shall break no less than ____inches from channels, corners, or any other
discontinuity in walls.
A. 6
B. 8
C. 12
D. 16 - ✔✔C.
12 inches is standard.
✔✔Do not use framing lumber with a moisture content that EXCEEDS __ %.
A. 10
B. 15
C. 19
D. 24 - ✔✔C.
19%
Multi-story construction more than two stories requires drier framing material - check the
Code.
✔✔Use __ nails on all plate breaks.
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6 - ✔✔D.
6 nails.
✔✔Chimney chases shall be framed on_ side(s).
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four - ✔✔D.
Four
✔✔All house garage walls shall have _ braces.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4 - ✔✔B.
2
✔✔Beams and posts shall not be twisted more than __ inch per 8 feet.
A. 1/4
B. 3/16
C. 1/2
,D. 3/4 - ✔✔D.
3/4"
✔✔Exposed beams or posts shall not have splits or checks that EXCEED _____ inch in
width.
A. 5/8
B. 1/2
C. 1/4
D. 1/8 - ✔✔A.
5/8 inch max is standard.
✔✔Nail all double floor joists _ inches o.c., staggered.
A. 12
B. 14
C. 16
D. 24 - ✔✔C.
16
✔✔Connect all floor joist boards lapped over one another with at LEAST four ______
nails.
A. 10d
B. 12d
C. 16d
D. 20d - ✔✔C.
16d = 3½" length
✔✔Holes in floor joists shall be no more than_ inch(es) in diameter.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4 - ✔✔B.
2
✔✔All of the following statements are true of ridge-boards EXCEPT:
A. Ridge-boards are only used on roofs with a siope of 2-in-12 or less.
B. Ridge-boards are typically a nominal one-inch board.
C. Ridge-boards are usually one size larger than the rafters.
D. If there is a ridge-board, some authorities may allow opposing rafters to be offset by
their width. - ✔✔A.
Ridge-boards are only used on roofs with a slope of 2-in-12 or less. Ridge-boards
should not be used below a slope of 4-in-12.
✔✔What is another term for a beam?
A. span
B. girder
,C. joist
D. header - ✔✔B.
Girder is another name for a beam.
✔✔Shear plywood is to be_ to steel studs.
A. glued
B. nailed
C. screwed
D. bolted - ✔✔C.
Screwed
✔✔Nail heads driven over ___ inch below the outer face of a shear panel have less
shear value and are considered unacceptable.
A. 1/64
B. 1/32
C. 1/16
D. 3/32 - ✔✔B.
1/32"
✔✔Shear panels width shall be a MINIMUM of_ inches
wide.
A. 30
B. 32
C. 34
D. 36 - ✔✔B.
32
✔✔Cut fascia to proper overhang length with plumb or square cut. Use _ to _ lengths in
high exposure areas.
A. 12 feet ... 16 feet
B. 14 feet ... 18 feet
C. 16 feet ... 20 feet
D. 18 feet ... 24 feet - ✔✔C.
16 feet ... 20 feet
✔✔Fascias shall not bow out of plane by more than __ inch inward or outward.
A. 1/16
B. 1/8
C. 3/16
D. 1/4 - ✔✔D.
1/4"
✔✔Fascia gaps between wood trim and stucco shall not
exceed·-- inch or warp more than _ inch away from the face of the building.
A. 1/6 ... 1/8
, B. 1/8 ... 1/8
C. 1/4 ... 1/4
D. 1/4 ... 1/8 - ✔✔C.
1/4 ... 1/4
✔✔Roof sheathing shall have a MAXIMUM deviation from a plane of __ inch up or
down per 2 feet of length.
A. 1/8
B. 1/4
C. 3/8
D. 7/16 - ✔✔C.
3/8 inch MAXIMUM deviation from a plane up or down is standard in trades.
✔✔Generally, floor sheathing shall not be less than __ in width or as required by the
structural engineer.
A. 1 foot
B. 3 feet
C. 2 feet
D. 4 feet - ✔✔B.
3 feet
Generally, the standard is 2 feet.
✔✔Sub-floors shall not have ridges or depressions that are more than _-inch in a 32-
inch x 32-inch area.
A. 1/16
B. 1/8
C. 1/4
D. 5/16 - ✔✔C.
1/4"
✔✔Sub-floors shall not have any point that is _-inch higher or lower than any other point
on the same surface within 20 feet in any direction.
A. 1/16
B. 1/8
C. 1/4
D. 1/2 - ✔✔D.
1/2"
✔✔39. Roof load has been completed. Check horizontal alignment of ceiling framing _
days after roof load completion for any significant deflection.
A. two
B. three
C. four
D. five - ✔✔B.
Three
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Plates shall break no less than ____inches from channels, corners, or any other
discontinuity in walls.
A. 6
B. 8
C. 12
D. 16 - ✔✔C.
12 inches is standard.
✔✔Do not use framing lumber with a moisture content that EXCEEDS __ %.
A. 10
B. 15
C. 19
D. 24 - ✔✔C.
19%
Multi-story construction more than two stories requires drier framing material - check the
Code.
✔✔Use __ nails on all plate breaks.
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6 - ✔✔D.
6 nails.
✔✔Chimney chases shall be framed on_ side(s).
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four - ✔✔D.
Four
✔✔All house garage walls shall have _ braces.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4 - ✔✔B.
2
✔✔Beams and posts shall not be twisted more than __ inch per 8 feet.
A. 1/4
B. 3/16
C. 1/2
,D. 3/4 - ✔✔D.
3/4"
✔✔Exposed beams or posts shall not have splits or checks that EXCEED _____ inch in
width.
A. 5/8
B. 1/2
C. 1/4
D. 1/8 - ✔✔A.
5/8 inch max is standard.
✔✔Nail all double floor joists _ inches o.c., staggered.
A. 12
B. 14
C. 16
D. 24 - ✔✔C.
16
✔✔Connect all floor joist boards lapped over one another with at LEAST four ______
nails.
A. 10d
B. 12d
C. 16d
D. 20d - ✔✔C.
16d = 3½" length
✔✔Holes in floor joists shall be no more than_ inch(es) in diameter.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4 - ✔✔B.
2
✔✔All of the following statements are true of ridge-boards EXCEPT:
A. Ridge-boards are only used on roofs with a siope of 2-in-12 or less.
B. Ridge-boards are typically a nominal one-inch board.
C. Ridge-boards are usually one size larger than the rafters.
D. If there is a ridge-board, some authorities may allow opposing rafters to be offset by
their width. - ✔✔A.
Ridge-boards are only used on roofs with a slope of 2-in-12 or less. Ridge-boards
should not be used below a slope of 4-in-12.
✔✔What is another term for a beam?
A. span
B. girder
,C. joist
D. header - ✔✔B.
Girder is another name for a beam.
✔✔Shear plywood is to be_ to steel studs.
A. glued
B. nailed
C. screwed
D. bolted - ✔✔C.
Screwed
✔✔Nail heads driven over ___ inch below the outer face of a shear panel have less
shear value and are considered unacceptable.
A. 1/64
B. 1/32
C. 1/16
D. 3/32 - ✔✔B.
1/32"
✔✔Shear panels width shall be a MINIMUM of_ inches
wide.
A. 30
B. 32
C. 34
D. 36 - ✔✔B.
32
✔✔Cut fascia to proper overhang length with plumb or square cut. Use _ to _ lengths in
high exposure areas.
A. 12 feet ... 16 feet
B. 14 feet ... 18 feet
C. 16 feet ... 20 feet
D. 18 feet ... 24 feet - ✔✔C.
16 feet ... 20 feet
✔✔Fascias shall not bow out of plane by more than __ inch inward or outward.
A. 1/16
B. 1/8
C. 3/16
D. 1/4 - ✔✔D.
1/4"
✔✔Fascia gaps between wood trim and stucco shall not
exceed·-- inch or warp more than _ inch away from the face of the building.
A. 1/6 ... 1/8
, B. 1/8 ... 1/8
C. 1/4 ... 1/4
D. 1/4 ... 1/8 - ✔✔C.
1/4 ... 1/4
✔✔Roof sheathing shall have a MAXIMUM deviation from a plane of __ inch up or
down per 2 feet of length.
A. 1/8
B. 1/4
C. 3/8
D. 7/16 - ✔✔C.
3/8 inch MAXIMUM deviation from a plane up or down is standard in trades.
✔✔Generally, floor sheathing shall not be less than __ in width or as required by the
structural engineer.
A. 1 foot
B. 3 feet
C. 2 feet
D. 4 feet - ✔✔B.
3 feet
Generally, the standard is 2 feet.
✔✔Sub-floors shall not have ridges or depressions that are more than _-inch in a 32-
inch x 32-inch area.
A. 1/16
B. 1/8
C. 1/4
D. 5/16 - ✔✔C.
1/4"
✔✔Sub-floors shall not have any point that is _-inch higher or lower than any other point
on the same surface within 20 feet in any direction.
A. 1/16
B. 1/8
C. 1/4
D. 1/2 - ✔✔D.
1/2"
✔✔39. Roof load has been completed. Check horizontal alignment of ceiling framing _
days after roof load completion for any significant deflection.
A. two
B. three
C. four
D. five - ✔✔B.
Three
