Test Bank 3 Virginia Residential Contractor Exam
Prep test bank with 300 questions and correct answers
with rationales/ Virginia RBC - Residential Building
Contractor Exam Prep 2026-2027/ VI Contractor’s
Exam/ VI RBC Exam
On exterior walls that require bracing, walls parallel to a braced wall that are part
of that bracing structure line must not be offset more than ______ from the
designated braced wall line location.
A. 2 feet (610 mm)
B. 8 feet (2438 mm)
C. 4 feet (1219 mm)
D. 6 feet (1829 mm)
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: Walls parallel to a braced wall line that are part of that bracing structure
line must not be offset more than 4 feet (1219 mm) from the designated braced
wall line location.
Regarding handrails for stairways, the use of a volute, turnout, starting easing, or
starting newel shall be allowed over the ________ tread.
A. highest
B. lowest
C. middle
D. second
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: A volute, turnout, starting easing, or starting newel is allowed over the
lowest tread of a stairway.
On nonbearing walls with openings less than 8 feet in width and if the vertical
distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more than 24 inches,
_________.
1
,A. cripples or blocking are required above the header
B. double headers are required
C. cripples or blocking are not required above the header
D. a structural engineer must approve the design
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: On nonbearing walls with openings less than 8 feet in width, if the
vertical distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more than 24 inches,
cripples or blocking are not required above the header.
In what section of the span of a floor joist is it permitted to cut a notch?
A. The middle third of the span
B. The outer third of the span when less than one-sixth the depth of the joist
C. Anywhere along the span
D. The outer quarter of the span when less than one-fourth the depth of the joist
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: Notches are permitted only in the outer third of the span and must be
less than one-sixth the depth of the joist.
Where joists, trusses, or rafters are spaced more than 16 inches on center and the
bearing studs below are spaced 24 inches on center, such members must bear
within ____ inches of the studs beneath.
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 9
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: When joists, trusses, or rafters are spaced more than 16 inches on center
and bearing studs below are spaced 24 inches on center, the members must bear
within 5 inches of the studs beneath.
In floor systems, the diameter of holes bored or cut into solid joist members must
not exceed ____ the depth of the member.
A. 1/2
B. 1/4
2
,C. 1/3
D. 1/6
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: The diameter of holes bored or cut into solid joist members must not
exceed 1/3 the depth of the member.
For required braced wall lines, if they have a length of 16 feet or less, they must
have a minimum of two braced wall panels of any length or one braced wall panel
equal to ____ or more.
A. 24 inches
B. 36 inches
C. 48 inches
D. 60 inches
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: Braced wall lines 16 feet or less in length must have a minimum of two
braced wall panels of any length or one braced wall panel equal to 48 inches or
more.
Wood stud walls must be capped with a double top plate installed to provide
overlapping at corners and intersections with bearing partitions, with the end joints
in top plates offset at least _____ inches.
A. 12
B. 18
C. 24
D. 36
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: End joints in top plates must be offset at least 24 inches.
Any stud may be bored or drilled, provided that the diameter of the resulting hole
is no greater than ____ percent of the stud width, the edge of the hole is no closer
than 5/8 inch to the edge of the stud, and the hole is not located in the same section
as a cut or notch.
A. 40%
B. 50%
3
, C. 60%
D. 75%
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: The diameter of the hole must be no greater than 60 percent of the stud
width.
A single flat ____-inch by ____-inch member shall be permitted to be used as a
header in interior or exterior nonbearing walls for openings up to 8 feet (2438 mm)
in width if the vertical distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more
than 24 inches (610 mm).
A. 2-inch by 6-inch
B. 2-inch by 8-inch
C. 2-inch by 4-inch
D. 2-inch by 10-inch
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: A single flat 2-inch by 4-inch member is permitted as a header in
nonbearing walls for openings up to 8 feet in width under the specified conditions.
Subflooring may be omitted when joist spacing does not exceed _______ inches
and where a 1-inch nominal tongue-and-groove wood strip flooring is applied
perpendicular to the joists.
A. 12
B. 16
C. 20
D. 24
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: Subflooring may be omitted when joist spacing does not exceed 16
inches and 1-inch nominal tongue-and-groove wood strip flooring is applied
perpendicular to the joists.
In areas that do not require frost protection, exterior footings must be placed at
least ______ inches below the undisturbed ground surface.
A. 6
B. 12
4
Prep test bank with 300 questions and correct answers
with rationales/ Virginia RBC - Residential Building
Contractor Exam Prep 2026-2027/ VI Contractor’s
Exam/ VI RBC Exam
On exterior walls that require bracing, walls parallel to a braced wall that are part
of that bracing structure line must not be offset more than ______ from the
designated braced wall line location.
A. 2 feet (610 mm)
B. 8 feet (2438 mm)
C. 4 feet (1219 mm)
D. 6 feet (1829 mm)
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: Walls parallel to a braced wall line that are part of that bracing structure
line must not be offset more than 4 feet (1219 mm) from the designated braced
wall line location.
Regarding handrails for stairways, the use of a volute, turnout, starting easing, or
starting newel shall be allowed over the ________ tread.
A. highest
B. lowest
C. middle
D. second
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: A volute, turnout, starting easing, or starting newel is allowed over the
lowest tread of a stairway.
On nonbearing walls with openings less than 8 feet in width and if the vertical
distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more than 24 inches,
_________.
1
,A. cripples or blocking are required above the header
B. double headers are required
C. cripples or blocking are not required above the header
D. a structural engineer must approve the design
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: On nonbearing walls with openings less than 8 feet in width, if the
vertical distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more than 24 inches,
cripples or blocking are not required above the header.
In what section of the span of a floor joist is it permitted to cut a notch?
A. The middle third of the span
B. The outer third of the span when less than one-sixth the depth of the joist
C. Anywhere along the span
D. The outer quarter of the span when less than one-fourth the depth of the joist
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: Notches are permitted only in the outer third of the span and must be
less than one-sixth the depth of the joist.
Where joists, trusses, or rafters are spaced more than 16 inches on center and the
bearing studs below are spaced 24 inches on center, such members must bear
within ____ inches of the studs beneath.
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 9
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: When joists, trusses, or rafters are spaced more than 16 inches on center
and bearing studs below are spaced 24 inches on center, the members must bear
within 5 inches of the studs beneath.
In floor systems, the diameter of holes bored or cut into solid joist members must
not exceed ____ the depth of the member.
A. 1/2
B. 1/4
2
,C. 1/3
D. 1/6
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: The diameter of holes bored or cut into solid joist members must not
exceed 1/3 the depth of the member.
For required braced wall lines, if they have a length of 16 feet or less, they must
have a minimum of two braced wall panels of any length or one braced wall panel
equal to ____ or more.
A. 24 inches
B. 36 inches
C. 48 inches
D. 60 inches
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: Braced wall lines 16 feet or less in length must have a minimum of two
braced wall panels of any length or one braced wall panel equal to 48 inches or
more.
Wood stud walls must be capped with a double top plate installed to provide
overlapping at corners and intersections with bearing partitions, with the end joints
in top plates offset at least _____ inches.
A. 12
B. 18
C. 24
D. 36
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: End joints in top plates must be offset at least 24 inches.
Any stud may be bored or drilled, provided that the diameter of the resulting hole
is no greater than ____ percent of the stud width, the edge of the hole is no closer
than 5/8 inch to the edge of the stud, and the hole is not located in the same section
as a cut or notch.
A. 40%
B. 50%
3
, C. 60%
D. 75%
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: The diameter of the hole must be no greater than 60 percent of the stud
width.
A single flat ____-inch by ____-inch member shall be permitted to be used as a
header in interior or exterior nonbearing walls for openings up to 8 feet (2438 mm)
in width if the vertical distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more
than 24 inches (610 mm).
A. 2-inch by 6-inch
B. 2-inch by 8-inch
C. 2-inch by 4-inch
D. 2-inch by 10-inch
-ANSWER- C
Rationale: A single flat 2-inch by 4-inch member is permitted as a header in
nonbearing walls for openings up to 8 feet in width under the specified conditions.
Subflooring may be omitted when joist spacing does not exceed _______ inches
and where a 1-inch nominal tongue-and-groove wood strip flooring is applied
perpendicular to the joists.
A. 12
B. 16
C. 20
D. 24
-ANSWER- B
Rationale: Subflooring may be omitted when joist spacing does not exceed 16
inches and 1-inch nominal tongue-and-groove wood strip flooring is applied
perpendicular to the joists.
In areas that do not require frost protection, exterior footings must be placed at
least ______ inches below the undisturbed ground surface.
A. 6
B. 12
4
