CONTRACTOR EXAM C 33 TRADE
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
SOLUTIONS
1. What is the correct first step before repainting exterior wood that has peeling
paint?
A. Apply topcoat directly over the peeling paint
B. Remove loose and peeling paint, sand edges, and prime bare wood
C. Spot-prime only with water
D. Paint over it with oil-based paint without preparation
Rationale: Peeling paint must be removed because topcoats will not bond
to loose material. Sanding feathered edges and priming bare wood restore
adhesion and uniformity.
2. Which methods are acceptable for testing moisture in concrete before applying
a coating? SATA
A. Plastic sheet test
B. Calcium chloride test
C. Moisture meter
D. Visual inspection only
Rationale: Plastic sheet, calcium chloride, and moisture meters are
standard moisture tests. Visual inspection alone cannot reliably determine
moisture vapor emission.
3. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule, what is the threshold for
lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 housing?
A. 6 square feet interior or 20 square feet exterior
B. 10 square feet interior or 50 square feet exterior
C. 25 square feet interior or 100 square feet exterior
D. No threshold applies
Rationale: The RRP rule generally applies when disturbing more than 6
,square feet of interior painted surface or 20 square feet of exterior painted
surface per room or area.
4. What is the proper ladder setup angle?
A. 1:4 base-to-height
B. 4:1 height-to-base
C. 1:1
D. 2:1
Rationale: A ladder should be set with the base 1 foot out for every 4 feet
of working height, commonly expressed as a 4:1 ratio.
5. Which primer is best for bare cedar or redwood to prevent tannin bleed?
A. Latex flat paint
B. Stain-blocking oil or alkyd primer
C. Clear sealer
D. No primer
Rationale: Cedar and redwood contain tannins that can bleed through
latex coatings. A stain-blocking oil or alkyd primer helps seal them in.
6. What is the correct treatment for exterior mildew before repainting?
A. Sand dry and paint
B. Clean with a bleach solution, rinse, allow to dry, then use a mildew-
resistant coating
C. Paint over it
D. Apply oil primer only
Rationale: Mildew must be killed and removed. Bleach solution cleaning,
rinsing, drying, and a mildew-resistant coating prevent rapid recurrence.
7. What roller nap is best for smooth drywall?
A. 3/4 inch
B. 3/16 to 1/4 inch
C. 1/2 to 3/4 inch
D. 1-1/4 inch
Rationale: Smooth drywall requires a short nap to avoid stipple. A 3/16 to
1/4 inch nap gives a smooth finish.
,8. Which factors can cause paint blistering? SATA
A. Moisture
B. Poor surface preparation
C. Incompatible coatings
D. Overbrushing
Rationale: Blistering is commonly caused by moisture, poor prep, or
incompatible coatings. Overbrushing usually causes brush marks, not blisters.
9. How should waste paint be disposed of?
A. Pour down sewer
B. Put in regular trash while wet
C. Per local hazardous waste rules
D. Pour into storm drain
Rationale: Paint may be hazardous and cannot go into sewers or storm
drains. Local hazardous waste rules must be followed.
10. What is required when using coatings in a VOC-regulated area?
A. Ignore rules
B. Use low-VOC compliant coatings
C. Dilute with solvent
D. Mix extra solvents
Rationale: VOC regulations limit volatile organic compounds. Compliant
low-VOC coatings must be used where rules apply.
11. What does “cutting in” mean?
A. Painting large fields with a roller
B. Painting edges and corners with a brush before rolling
C. Spraying only
D. Sanding between coats
Rationale: Cutting in establishes clean edges and corners. It is done with a
brush before rolling the larger field.
12. Recoat time depends on which factors? SATA
A. Manufacturer instructions
B. Temperature
C. Humidity
, D. Film thickness
Rationale: Recoat time varies with the product, temperature, humidity,
and how thick the film was applied. Always follow the manufacturer’s data sheet.
13. What defect is caused by spray gun fluid pressure that is too high?
A. Dry spray or overspray
B. Perfect finish
C. Sagging
D. No effect
Rationale: Excess pressure can atomize too much and cause dry spray or
overspray. It can also waste material and create a rough finish.
14. How do you prevent lap marks with latex paint?
A. Let each section dry completely
B. Maintain a wet edge
C. Thin with water
D. Use a smaller roller
Rationale: Lap marks occur when paint dries before the next section is
blended. Maintaining a wet edge allows the coating to fuse smoothly.
15. Which are signs of surfactant leaching? SATA
A. Amber or brown streaks
B. Appears after rain
C. Common on light-colored latex paint
D. Indicates lead
Rationale: Surfactant leaching appears as amber or brown streaks, often
after rain, and is common on light latex paints. It is not a lead indicator.
16. What are safe practices for a rolling scaffold? SATA
A. Lock casters
B. Use guardrails
C. Do not ride while moving
D. Move while a worker is on the platform
Rationale: Rolling scaffolds must have locked casters and guardrails, and
workers must not ride them while they are moved.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
SOLUTIONS
1. What is the correct first step before repainting exterior wood that has peeling
paint?
A. Apply topcoat directly over the peeling paint
B. Remove loose and peeling paint, sand edges, and prime bare wood
C. Spot-prime only with water
D. Paint over it with oil-based paint without preparation
Rationale: Peeling paint must be removed because topcoats will not bond
to loose material. Sanding feathered edges and priming bare wood restore
adhesion and uniformity.
2. Which methods are acceptable for testing moisture in concrete before applying
a coating? SATA
A. Plastic sheet test
B. Calcium chloride test
C. Moisture meter
D. Visual inspection only
Rationale: Plastic sheet, calcium chloride, and moisture meters are
standard moisture tests. Visual inspection alone cannot reliably determine
moisture vapor emission.
3. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule, what is the threshold for
lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 housing?
A. 6 square feet interior or 20 square feet exterior
B. 10 square feet interior or 50 square feet exterior
C. 25 square feet interior or 100 square feet exterior
D. No threshold applies
Rationale: The RRP rule generally applies when disturbing more than 6
,square feet of interior painted surface or 20 square feet of exterior painted
surface per room or area.
4. What is the proper ladder setup angle?
A. 1:4 base-to-height
B. 4:1 height-to-base
C. 1:1
D. 2:1
Rationale: A ladder should be set with the base 1 foot out for every 4 feet
of working height, commonly expressed as a 4:1 ratio.
5. Which primer is best for bare cedar or redwood to prevent tannin bleed?
A. Latex flat paint
B. Stain-blocking oil or alkyd primer
C. Clear sealer
D. No primer
Rationale: Cedar and redwood contain tannins that can bleed through
latex coatings. A stain-blocking oil or alkyd primer helps seal them in.
6. What is the correct treatment for exterior mildew before repainting?
A. Sand dry and paint
B. Clean with a bleach solution, rinse, allow to dry, then use a mildew-
resistant coating
C. Paint over it
D. Apply oil primer only
Rationale: Mildew must be killed and removed. Bleach solution cleaning,
rinsing, drying, and a mildew-resistant coating prevent rapid recurrence.
7. What roller nap is best for smooth drywall?
A. 3/4 inch
B. 3/16 to 1/4 inch
C. 1/2 to 3/4 inch
D. 1-1/4 inch
Rationale: Smooth drywall requires a short nap to avoid stipple. A 3/16 to
1/4 inch nap gives a smooth finish.
,8. Which factors can cause paint blistering? SATA
A. Moisture
B. Poor surface preparation
C. Incompatible coatings
D. Overbrushing
Rationale: Blistering is commonly caused by moisture, poor prep, or
incompatible coatings. Overbrushing usually causes brush marks, not blisters.
9. How should waste paint be disposed of?
A. Pour down sewer
B. Put in regular trash while wet
C. Per local hazardous waste rules
D. Pour into storm drain
Rationale: Paint may be hazardous and cannot go into sewers or storm
drains. Local hazardous waste rules must be followed.
10. What is required when using coatings in a VOC-regulated area?
A. Ignore rules
B. Use low-VOC compliant coatings
C. Dilute with solvent
D. Mix extra solvents
Rationale: VOC regulations limit volatile organic compounds. Compliant
low-VOC coatings must be used where rules apply.
11. What does “cutting in” mean?
A. Painting large fields with a roller
B. Painting edges and corners with a brush before rolling
C. Spraying only
D. Sanding between coats
Rationale: Cutting in establishes clean edges and corners. It is done with a
brush before rolling the larger field.
12. Recoat time depends on which factors? SATA
A. Manufacturer instructions
B. Temperature
C. Humidity
, D. Film thickness
Rationale: Recoat time varies with the product, temperature, humidity,
and how thick the film was applied. Always follow the manufacturer’s data sheet.
13. What defect is caused by spray gun fluid pressure that is too high?
A. Dry spray or overspray
B. Perfect finish
C. Sagging
D. No effect
Rationale: Excess pressure can atomize too much and cause dry spray or
overspray. It can also waste material and create a rough finish.
14. How do you prevent lap marks with latex paint?
A. Let each section dry completely
B. Maintain a wet edge
C. Thin with water
D. Use a smaller roller
Rationale: Lap marks occur when paint dries before the next section is
blended. Maintaining a wet edge allows the coating to fuse smoothly.
15. Which are signs of surfactant leaching? SATA
A. Amber or brown streaks
B. Appears after rain
C. Common on light-colored latex paint
D. Indicates lead
Rationale: Surfactant leaching appears as amber or brown streaks, often
after rain, and is common on light latex paints. It is not a lead indicator.
16. What are safe practices for a rolling scaffold? SATA
A. Lock casters
B. Use guardrails
C. Do not ride while moving
D. Move while a worker is on the platform
Rationale: Rolling scaffolds must have locked casters and guardrails, and
workers must not ride them while they are moved.
