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