VIRGINIA HIC EXAM (HOME IMPROVEMENT EXAM) QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE
The MOST specific information about the size and location of windows would be
found in a - CORRECT ANSWER -Floor plan
What direction does heat flow? - CORRECT ANSWER -Hot to cold
What are batter boards - CORRECT ANSWER -stakes and ledger boards
marking building lines
What is the MAXIMUM distance between a ventilating opening in an under-floor
space and each corner of the building? - CORRECT ANSWER -3 feet
What is NOT required in exterior nonbearing walls? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Load-bearing headers
A lengthwise grain separation between or through the growth rings of lumber is
called a - CORRECT ANSWER -Shake (c 326)
The abbreviation "d" in "16d" means - CORRECT ANSWER -Penny
Notches may not be located in the ____________ of a joist span - CORRECT
ANSWER -Middle 1/3
,How should board and batten be installed? - CORRECT ANSWER -1 inch
overlap 10d nails
What is the maximum allowable notch in ceiling joists - CORRECT ANSWER -
1/6 the depth of the member
How MUST rafters be framed to each other - CORRECT ANSWER -Gusset plate
(R802.3)
What is used to prevent buckling at points of high stress? - CORRECT ANSWER
-Squash blocks
Prior to the installation of wood floor how long for acclimation? - CORRECT
ANSWER -4-5 days
Where do you start laying parquet flooring - CORRECT ANSWER -Centerline
What is the first step in carpet installation? - CORRECT ANSWER -Tackless
strip
What type of nail is used in floor installation - CORRECT ANSWER -7d or 8d
threaded/Cut steel
What should be applied to crevices in wood flooring? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Filling
What is the best nail for hardwood - CORRECT ANSWER -Ring shank nail
,What is the maximum size of a floor frame opening? - CORRECT ANSWER -5
sq ft (62) (R310.2.1)/ 4 ft header joist (130) (R502.10)
When installing a string of wall cabinets, the cabinets should - CORRECT
ANSWER -Be attached to the adjacent cabinets before to the wall
What is the MINIMUM height for a stairway handrail - CORRECT ANSWER -
34 inches
A third stairway stringer should be used when the stair width exceeds -
CORRECT ANSWER -30 inches
What type of nail are best for general construction? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Smooth shank
What is the MAXIMUM flame spread index for insulation materials - CORRECT
ANSWER -25 (R302.10.1)
What is the MAXIMUM dimension of the ventilation coverings for under-floor
space - CORRECT ANSWER -1/4 inch (R 408.2)
Flexible insulation placed in floor joists above an unheated crawl space should -
CORRECT ANSWER -Be well supported between joists/using a wire mesh or
rigid board (c 904-5)
, In a crawl space how far from the floor joints do you need to place vapor retarder -
CORRECT ANSWER -Top Soil
Ice dam protection needs to be _________ from the edge of eaves - CORRECT
ANSWER -24 inches (R905.1.2)
Where to install radiant heat barrier in attic - CORRECT ANSWER -Rafters
What is the major advantage of icynene over polyurethane foam - CORRECT
ANSWER -Can be poured instead of sprayed
In a crawl space, what kind of vapor retarder should be used? - CORRECT
ANSWER -6 mil or 8 mil
When batt insulation is installed a vapor retarder that __________ is commonly -
CORRECT ANSWER -4 mil polyethylene
What is the minimum amount of space that is allowed between roof sheeting and
insulation to allow the passage of air? - CORRECT ANSWER -1 1/2 in
In a ceiling batt insulation where is the vapor retarder placed? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Against the back of ceiling finish
A vapor retarder on blanket installation MUST - CORRECT ANSWER -Face the
warm side of the wall
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE
The MOST specific information about the size and location of windows would be
found in a - CORRECT ANSWER -Floor plan
What direction does heat flow? - CORRECT ANSWER -Hot to cold
What are batter boards - CORRECT ANSWER -stakes and ledger boards
marking building lines
What is the MAXIMUM distance between a ventilating opening in an under-floor
space and each corner of the building? - CORRECT ANSWER -3 feet
What is NOT required in exterior nonbearing walls? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Load-bearing headers
A lengthwise grain separation between or through the growth rings of lumber is
called a - CORRECT ANSWER -Shake (c 326)
The abbreviation "d" in "16d" means - CORRECT ANSWER -Penny
Notches may not be located in the ____________ of a joist span - CORRECT
ANSWER -Middle 1/3
,How should board and batten be installed? - CORRECT ANSWER -1 inch
overlap 10d nails
What is the maximum allowable notch in ceiling joists - CORRECT ANSWER -
1/6 the depth of the member
How MUST rafters be framed to each other - CORRECT ANSWER -Gusset plate
(R802.3)
What is used to prevent buckling at points of high stress? - CORRECT ANSWER
-Squash blocks
Prior to the installation of wood floor how long for acclimation? - CORRECT
ANSWER -4-5 days
Where do you start laying parquet flooring - CORRECT ANSWER -Centerline
What is the first step in carpet installation? - CORRECT ANSWER -Tackless
strip
What type of nail is used in floor installation - CORRECT ANSWER -7d or 8d
threaded/Cut steel
What should be applied to crevices in wood flooring? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Filling
What is the best nail for hardwood - CORRECT ANSWER -Ring shank nail
,What is the maximum size of a floor frame opening? - CORRECT ANSWER -5
sq ft (62) (R310.2.1)/ 4 ft header joist (130) (R502.10)
When installing a string of wall cabinets, the cabinets should - CORRECT
ANSWER -Be attached to the adjacent cabinets before to the wall
What is the MINIMUM height for a stairway handrail - CORRECT ANSWER -
34 inches
A third stairway stringer should be used when the stair width exceeds -
CORRECT ANSWER -30 inches
What type of nail are best for general construction? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Smooth shank
What is the MAXIMUM flame spread index for insulation materials - CORRECT
ANSWER -25 (R302.10.1)
What is the MAXIMUM dimension of the ventilation coverings for under-floor
space - CORRECT ANSWER -1/4 inch (R 408.2)
Flexible insulation placed in floor joists above an unheated crawl space should -
CORRECT ANSWER -Be well supported between joists/using a wire mesh or
rigid board (c 904-5)
, In a crawl space how far from the floor joints do you need to place vapor retarder -
CORRECT ANSWER -Top Soil
Ice dam protection needs to be _________ from the edge of eaves - CORRECT
ANSWER -24 inches (R905.1.2)
Where to install radiant heat barrier in attic - CORRECT ANSWER -Rafters
What is the major advantage of icynene over polyurethane foam - CORRECT
ANSWER -Can be poured instead of sprayed
In a crawl space, what kind of vapor retarder should be used? - CORRECT
ANSWER -6 mil or 8 mil
When batt insulation is installed a vapor retarder that __________ is commonly -
CORRECT ANSWER -4 mil polyethylene
What is the minimum amount of space that is allowed between roof sheeting and
insulation to allow the passage of air? - CORRECT ANSWER -1 1/2 in
In a ceiling batt insulation where is the vapor retarder placed? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Against the back of ceiling finish
A vapor retarder on blanket installation MUST - CORRECT ANSWER -Face the
warm side of the wall
