Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Alabama Home Builder Skill Exam
Alabama · Prov
Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
80
Passing score
66%
Exam time
240 min
Administered by
Prov
Format
Reference materials allowed
Alabama State Portion 80 questions
Plan Reading
10 Q · 12%
Types of construction drawings (plan views, elevations, sections, detail drawings)Reading and interpreting lines, symbols, and abbreviations on drawingsScales and dimensions used in architectural drawingsSchedules and specifications in a plan setSite plans and plot plans (building location, setbacks, property lines)Quantity takeoff and material measurement from drawingsDrawing notes, addenda, and change ordersGeometric calculations for areas and volumes (mensuration)
Sitework and Foundations
10 Q · 12%
Footing design, sizing, and reinforcement requirements (IRC R403, soil bearing values)Foundation wall types: poured concrete, concrete masonry unit (CMU), and insulating concrete forms (ICF)Site layout and building location using batter boards, levels, and transitsExcavation planning: mass excavation, trench excavation, slope/bank stability, and OSHA shoring requirementsSoil classification, bearing capacity, and compaction standards (Proctor test, optimum moisture)Drainage, dampproofing, and waterproofing of foundation walls and footingsCompaction equipment selection and soil stabilization methodsBackfill procedures, grading, and surface drainage requirements
Concrete and Reinforcement
7 Q · 9%
Concrete mix design and proportioning (water-cement ratio, slump, aggregate sizing)Types and properties of Portland cement and admixturesReinforcing steel types, sizes, placement, and bar supportsFormwork materials, design, and component selection (lumber, plywood, engineered wood, metal)Formwork construction, erection, and bracing for footings, walls, columns, and slabsConcrete placement, consolidation, and finishing of flatwork and formed shapesFoundation and footing requirements per IRC (dimensions, reinforcement, frost depth, drainage)Form stripping, surface quality, and formed concrete surface finishes
Masonry
6 Q · 8%
Brick types, grades, and ASTM classificationsMortar types, composition, and mixing proceduresMasonry wall systems (solid, cavity, veneer, composite, reinforced)Brick bonds and pattern bondsConcrete masonry units (CMU) types, sizes, and propertiesAnchors, wall ties, and joint reinforcementBrick and block laying techniques and proceduresStone types, classification, and stonemasonry construction
Carpentry
20 Q · 25%
Wood properties, grading, and lumber species selectionFloor framing components, joist spans, and subfloor installationWall framing layout, stud sizing, and plate requirementsWall bracing methods and sheathing installationRoof framing types, rafter layout, and span tablesHip, valley, and jack rafter calculationsRoof assembly, ridge installation, and roof sheathingStairway design, stringer layout, and code requirements
Roofing
7 Q · 9%
Roof slope classification and minimum slope requirements by material typeUnderlayment types, application methods, and IRC requirements by roof coveringAsphalt shingle installation methods, patterns, and fastening requirementsFlashing types and installation (step, base, cap, valley, drip edge, chimney cricket)Wood shingles and shakes: grades, exposure, nailing, and installation detailsTile roofing installation, fastening requirements, and underlayment systemsRoof area measurement, slope factors, and material quantity estimationRoofing repair, leak detection, hail damage assessment, and re-roofing procedures
Interior Finish
4 Q · 5%
Gypsum wallboard (drywall) types, sizes, and installation methodsDrywall finishing levels and joint compound applicationPlaster systems: gypsum lath, scratch/brown/finish coats, and veneer plasterCeramic, quarry, and stone tile installation methods and setting materialsSuspended and acoustical ceiling systemsWood finish flooring types, grading, and installation (strip, plank, parquet)Resilient flooring installation (vinyl sheet, vinyl tile, rubber tile, cork tile)Interior painting and coating: surface preparation, coverage rates, and application methods
Exterior Finish
5 Q · 6%
Water-resistive barriers and housewrap installationExterior wall flashing requirements and locationsSiding types, materials, and installation methods (wood, vinyl, fiber cement, aluminum, stucco)Window types, sizing, rough openings, and installationExterior and interior door types, frames, and installationDeck and porch construction materials, fasteners, and structural elementsExterior and interior paint types, preparation, and application techniquesSkylights and roof windows installation and flashing
Associated Trades
6 Q · 8%
Plumbing system components and pipe materials (supply, DWV, copper, plastic)Fuel gas piping installation, sizing, and materialsElectrical service entrance, conductors, and service panel requirementsHVAC heating and cooling equipment installation and clearancesCombustion air and venting requirements for fuel-burning appliancesThermal insulation types, R-values, and vapor retarder installationGrounding, bonding, and grounding electrode systemsFuel gas piping testing, inspection, and leak detection
OSHA
5 Q · 6%
Fall protection requirements and height thresholds (6-foot rule)Scaffold safety requirements and load capacitiesPersonal protective equipment (PPE) selection and employer responsibilitiesExcavation and trenching safety requirements and cave-in protectionLadder and stairway safety requirementsHazard communication and safety data sheetsMedical services, first aid, and emergency action plansOccupational health controls (noise exposure, air contaminants, sanitation)
Key Distinctions
Face-frame cabinetvsFrameless (European-style) cabinet
Face-frame cabinets have a hardwood frame around the front of the carcase that provides the mounting surface for hinges and drawer hardware, while frameless cabinets have no frame around the opening—concealed cup hinges mount directly on the side walls and the cabinet sits on leveling feet or a wood base frame rather than directly on the subfloor.
Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 27.2, Page 78832-mm system cabinetsvsFrameless cabinets generally
All 32-mm system cabinets are frameless and use a 32-millimeter modular dimension to locate hinges and other features, but not all frameless cabinets use the 32-mm module.
Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 27.2, Page 788Blind nailing (strip flooring)vsMastic (parquet flooring)
Solid-wood tongue-and-groove strip flooring is blind nailed—fasteners driven at an angle through the tongue edge so each is concealed by the next board—while parquet flooring is set in mastic, a thick adhesive applied to the subfloor.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 972Penetrating floor finishvsSurface-coating floor finishes
A penetrating finish soaks into the wood fibers and becomes part of the wood, so it wears only as the wood wears and can be retouched without a patched look, but it is less shiny than finishes that form a surface coating.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 34 - Types of FinishesOSHA Type B soilvsOSHA Type C soil
Type B is cohesive soil with unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa); Type C is cohesive soil at 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less (Type A requires 1.5 tsf or greater).
29 CFR 1926, Subpart P, Appendix A(b)Fissured cohesive soil (drying test)vsGranular / unfissured cohesive soil (drying test)
In the drying test, a sample that develops cracks as it dries indicates significant fissures (fissured cohesive material); samples that pulverize easily are granular, and those that break only with considerable force are unfissured cohesive.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Appendix A to Subpart P of 29 CFR Part 1926, §(d)(2)(v)Positive method (roof/irregular area takeoff)vsNegative method
The positive method divides the shape into rectangles and adds their areas, while the negative method extends the roof lines into one large rectangle and subtracts the rectangular areas lying outside the actual roof—both give the same result.
Roofing Construction & Estimating, Pages 7-8Builder's level (dumpy level)vsTheodolite
A builder's level is the least expensive instrument, accurate to about ±1/4" at 75', while a theodolite is a transit that reads horizontal and vertical angles electronically on an LCD screen with no vernier scale and is used when extremely accurate measurements are required.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Types of Instruments / LevelsTile battens permittedvsTile battens required
Battens may be installed on tile roof slopes of 2-1/2 in 12 and steeper, but they are required on slopes of 7 in 12 and steeper.
Tile Roofing, Chapter 7Single-coursed shingle sidingvsDouble-coursed shingle siding
Double coursing lays high-grade shingles over a fourth-grade (utility-grade) undercourse, which makes it less expensive than single coursing.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 23 — Shingle Siding, Grades and Sizes sectionHoles in the web of steel framingvsHoles in the flange of steel framing
Web holes/punchouts are permitted for routing utilities (though holes still reduce stud strength), but a hole must never be punched in the flange of a stud, joist, or track because it reduces structural strength.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 29.3, Builder's Tip - PunchoutsUnit of measure for walls in a unit-cost estimatevsUnit of measure for floors and roofs
Interior partition walls are measured in lineal feet (LF), with the cost per lineal foot covering everything from framing to finish, while floors and roofs are measured in square feet (SF).
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.4, Pages 61-62Corner beadvsSegmented corner bead
Standard corner bead (vinyl or metal) protects straight outside drywall corners and gives a smooth edge for finishing, while segmented bead flexes to finish the edges of arches and similar curved surfaces.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Trim Accessories sectionStory pole (siding)vsCorner pole / story pole (masonry)
A siding story pole is a site-made 1×2 marked with course spacing to keep bevel-siding courses uniform around the house, while a masonry corner pole (1"×2", 8–10' long) is marked on three sides with mortar joint heights plus window, door, and sill heights for each course.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 23 — Making a Story Pole sectionKey Terms
Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1, Page 14-11 (Book Page 378)
A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces, commonly used to strengthen houses in seismic zones and often created by a specific sheathing nail spacing—3 inches on center into all studs, blocking, and sills with 8d common or galvanized box nails—with sheathing panels set vertically so connections can be made at both the top framing and the sill plate.
Hold-down anchors Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1, Page 14-12 (Book Page 379)
Steel brackets that prevent walls from tipping over during seismic events, attached to the foundation with anchor bolts and to the framing with lag screws or machine bolts, installed at each corner of the house or as required by local codes.
Plot plan Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Basic Techniques / Using Surveying Instruments / Plot Plan
The part of the house plans showing the location of the building on the lot along with related land elevations; it is the basis for marking the building position on the land, a process called site layout.
Room-finish schedule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3, Page 57
A schedule on the plans identifying the materials and finishes for floors, walls, and ceilings in each room and hallway.
Reference line Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Basic Techniques / Measuring From a Reference Line
An existing line such as a street or marked property line that a building is planned parallel to, allowing the site to be staked out by measuring from it without a surveying instrument.
Differential leveling Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Measuring a Difference in Elevation
The process of determining differences in elevation between points remote from each other, requiring one or more additional intermediate instrument setups.
Porosity Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — The Excavation
The measurement of the ability of water to flow through soil; poorly draining soil may have to be excavated and replaced with better soil.
Bearing capacity Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — The Excavation / Soil Testing
A measure of how well soil can support the weight of a house—one of the purposes of test borings performed before excavation.
Overdig Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — The Excavation / Overdig
The additional excavation beyond the foundation walls that provides clearance to install and remove concrete forms, lay up block, waterproof exterior surfaces, and install foundation drainage.
Wet soil (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P, Appendix A(b), Wet soil definition
Under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, Appendix A(b), soil in which granular material that would exhibit cohesive properties when moist loses those cohesive properties when wet.
Limited access zone 29 CFR 1926, §1926.700(b)(4)
Per 29 CFR 1926.700(b)(4), an area alongside a masonry wall under construction that is clearly demarcated to limit access by employees.
Emergency respiratory protection for excavation rescue 29 CFR 1926, §1926.57(i)(11)(v)
Per 29 CFR 1926.57(i)(11)(v), entry into a space that may contain a hazardous atmosphere for rescue requires suitable respirators such as self-contained breathing apparatus, or a hose mask with blower if oxygen deficiency is possible.
Masonry saw blade enclosure 29 CFR 1926, §1926.702(i)(2)
Per 29 CFR 1926.702(i)(2), the semicircular enclosure over a masonry saw blade must also incorporate a method for retaining blade fragments.
Efflorescence Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 8 — Troubleshooting Concrete section
A whitish crystalline deposit on concrete or mortar surfaces caused by salts in the mix rising to the surface with water or moisture vapor; it is a cosmetic problem that generally does not affect strength or durability.
Consolidation Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 8 — Placement section (Consolidation)
The process of removing air pockets and forcing concrete into all parts of the forms, done with a concrete vibrator, tamping, spearing with a spade, or tapping the forms with a hammer.
Plyform Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 19, Page 402
An exterior-type plywood specially manufactured for concrete forming from special wood species and veneer grades, available in Class I and Class II grades.
Drainage plane Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 23 — Stucco section (drainage plane definition)
A gap or series of gaps behind siding such as stucco that lets water drain freely; without it the stucco would stick to the sheathing paper and block drainage.
Equiviscous temperature (EVT) NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems, Chapter 5—Roof Membranes
The temperature at which a bitumen attains 125 centipoise—the optimum application temperature and viscosity; roofing bitumen should be applied within 25°F of the EVT.
Nail pop Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 914-915
A drywall defect in which a fastener pushes back through the finished surface over time, creating a visible blemish.
Sleeper Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 982
A preservative-treated length of lumber used to support wood flooring over a concrete slab, creating a nailing surface and elevating the flooring above the concrete.
Skirtboard Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 723
A finish trim board along the wall on the closed side of a stairway that covers the joint where tread and riser ends meet the wall, serving a decorative and protective function.
Stringer / housed stringer Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 747
A stringer is the long piece of 2× lumber that supports stair treads and risers; a housed stringer has recesses in its sides into which treads and risers fit and are held with wood wedges, common in prefabricated stair systems.
Cripple studs Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 16.1 (Book Page 434)
Studs installed above headers and below rough sills, located where a full-length precut stud would fall if there were no opening, providing a nailing surface for sheathing outside and wall covering inside, and maintaining the same 16" or 24" on-center layout as the full-length studs.
Rebar bar number Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 8 — Table 8-5: Size and Weight of Reinforcing Bars
Reinforcing bar numbers represent multiples of 1/8 inch of diameter, so a number 4 bar is 4 × 1/8 = 1/2 inch in diameter.
Jointer (jointing tool) Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 24, Page 688
A metal bar with a shaped end run over mortar joints to pack the mortar into them and give the joints a particular shape.
Formulas to Know
Cubic feet to cubic yards (excavation volume)
cubic yards = total cubic feet ÷ 27 (there are 27 cu ft in 1 cu yd); excavation costs are based on total cubic yards removedExcavation volume including side clearance (overdig)
Length = house length + clearance both sides; Width = house width + clearance both sides; Volume (cf) = L × W × depth; then ÷ 27 for cu yd. Example: (40+2+2) × (26+2+2) × 7 = 9,240 cf ÷ 27 ≈ 342 cy. Alternative factor method for a 7-ft depth: area (sf) × 0.259 cy/sf = 1,320 × 0.259 ≈ 342 cyTrench excavation by lineal-foot factor
cu yd = factor per 100 LF × (trench length ÷ 100). Example: a 42" deep × 18" wide trench = 19.4 cy per 100 LF; 19.4 × 0.30 (30 ft) = 5.82 cyAverage lot elevation and fill volume to a uniform grade
Average elevation = sum of corner spot elevations ÷ 4; Average fill depth = target elevation − average existing elevation; Fill volume (cy) = lot area (sf) × fill depth (ft) ÷ 27. Example: (4.00+3.00+2.00+3.00)÷4 = +3.00'; 4.00−3.00 = 1.00'; 100'×60' = 6,000 sf × 1.00' = 6,000 cf ÷ 27 = 222.2 cy. Max elevation difference = highest corner − lowest cornerSetbacks and diagonals from a site plan
Equal side setback = (lot dimension − house dimension) ÷ 2, e.g., (78 − 42) ÷ 2 = 18'-0"; Rear yard = lot width − front setback − house width, e.g., 110 − 24 − 30 = 56'-0"; Corner diagonal = √(a² + b²), e.g., √(24² + 18²) = 30'-0"Squaring a corner by the 3-4-5 method
Measure legs in multiples of 3 and 4 and check the diagonal at the matching multiple of 5 (6-8-10, 9-12-15); 9 ft on one string and 12 ft on the adjoining string gives a 15 ft diagonal for a true 90°Roof slope from rise and run, and from pitch
Slope = (total rise ÷ total run) × 12, e.g., (7.5 ÷ 15) × 12 = 6, i.e. 6 in 12; Slope = 2 × pitch, so 1/4 pitch = 1/2 → (1/2) × 12 = 6 in 12Roof area by the negative method
Total roof area = area of extended bounding rectangle − areas of rectangles outside the actual roof. Example: (80 × 50) − [(20 × 15) + (10 × 15)] = 4,000 − 450 = 3,550 SFRoofing labor unit price per square
Labor unit price = total daily crew cost ÷ daily crew production. Example: 8 hr × ($25.00 + $10.00) = $280.00 ÷ 6.37 squares = $43.96 per square (Equation 14-1)Drywall sheet count (figured solid) and joint tape
Wall area = wall perimeter × ceiling height; add ceiling area (L × W); sheets = total sq ft ÷ 32 (a 4'×8' sheet). Example: 60 × 8 = 480 + (14 × 16 = 224) = 704 ÷ 32 = 22 sheets, with no deduction for door/window openings to allow for waste. Joint tape = 370 LF per 1,000 sq ft, so 2,000 sq ft needs 370 × 2.0 = 740 LFSiding net wall area and bevel-siding exposure
Net wall area = (wall perimeter × wall height) − areas greater than 50 sq ft that will not be sided; smaller windows and standard doors are not deducted. Example: 160 × 8 = 1,280 − 120 = 1,160 sq ft. Maximum exposure = actual siding width − required head lap (1" for 4" and 6" widths, 1-1/4" over 6"), e.g., 9-1/4" − 1-1/4" = 8"