Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Arkansas Masonry - Residential Exam

Arkansas  ·  PSI Services Contractor

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
30
Passing score
70%
Exam time
75 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed

Arkansas State Portion 30 questions

Estimating and Plan Reading 2 Q · 7%
Unit Masonry 10 Q · 33%
Mortar and Grout 7 Q · 23%
Accessories 4 Q · 13%
Wall ties: types and installation requirements (rectangular, Z, and corrugated ties)Adjustable ties and their applications in cavity and veneer wall constructionJoint reinforcement types (ladder, truss, and tab styles) and placement in mortar bedsReinforcing bars and rods: sizes, placement, and corrosion protectionAnchor bolts and strap anchors: types and installation in masonry constructionHardware cloth (mesh wall ties) for bonding intersecting masonry wallsCorrosion protection requirements for masonry metal accessoriesWall tie installation requirements per IRC (embedment depth, mortar coverage, spacing)
Stone 1 Q · 3%
Tools 2 Q · 7%
Restoration and Cleaning 2 Q · 7%
OSHA Safety 2 Q · 7%

Key Distinctions

Cavity wallvsVeneered wall

A cavity wall has two wythes separated by a continuous air space at least 2 inches wide; if the cavity is less than 2 inches the wall is classified as a veneered wall.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 13 — Laying Block, Section 13.2.3
Type S mortarvsType N mortar

Type S (medium-high strength, best bond/lateral and flexural strength) is required for cavity walls where wind velocities may exceed 80 mph and is recommended for reinforced masonry, while for lesser winds either Type S or Type N may be used and Type N is the general-purpose above-grade mortar.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10 — Mortar and Grout, Section 10.5.8 — Cavity Walls
Type M mortarvsType N mortar

Type M is used for masonry below grade and in contact with earth (foundations, retaining walls, manholes), while Type N is a general-purpose above-grade mortar.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Pages 191-192
Grade SW brickvsGrade MW and Grade NW brick

Grade SW is highly resistant to frost action for bricks exposed to freezing weather (foundation courses, retaining walls); Grade MW is for moderate exposure to below-freezing temperatures where the brick is not likely to be permeated with water; Grade NW is for backup on interior masonry.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 116
Mortar stiffened by evaporationvsMortar stiffened by hydration

Mortar stiffened by evaporation may be retempered with water, but mortar stiffened by hydration (chemical setting) must be discarded and not retempered.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Page 190
Mortar discard time — masonry mortarvsMortar discard time — glass masonry mortar

Mortar not used within 2 1/2 hours should be discarded in residential masonry work, while mortar for glass masonry not used within 1 1/2 hours after remixing must be discarded.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 222
Weep holes with mortar completely removed from head jointvsWeep holes using wicking material

Open head-joint weep holes with mortar completely removed should be spaced no more than 24 inches O.C., while wicking-material weep holes are spaced at a maximum of 16 inches O.C.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 335
Glass block wall anchor constructionvsGlass block chase construction vs. braced panel/curtain wall

Wall anchor construction is limited to a 100 sq ft panel (max 10 ft high, 10 ft wide), chase construction allows up to 144 sq ft (max 20 ft high, 25 ft wide), and panel/curtain wall sections may be erected up to 250 sq ft if properly braced to limit movement and settlement.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 8 — Concrete Masonry Units, Section 8.2.5
Ladder-type joint reinforcementvsTruss-type joint reinforcement

Ladder-type reinforcement is recommended to tie the wythes of a brick and block cavity wall because it allows in-plane movement between wythes; truss-type should NOT be used for that purpose.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 245
Common (American) bondvsFlemish, English, and stack bond

Common/American bond is a running-bond variation with full-length header courses at regular intervals (generally every fifth to seventh course) for structural bonding, while Flemish alternates headers and stretchers in every course, English uses alternating full courses of headers and stretchers, and stack bond is purely a pattern bond with no overlapping.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Pages 129-130
Foundation wall projection above grade where masonry veneer is usedvsFoundation wall projection above grade elsewhere

IRC R404.1.1.6 requires concrete and masonry foundation walls to extend a minimum of 4 inches above finished grade where masonry veneer is used, and a minimum of 6 inches elsewhere.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 313
8-inch minimum nominal loadbearing wall thicknessvs6-inch nominal loadbearing wall thickness

IRC requires an 8-inch minimum nominal wall thickness for loadbearing masonry structures over one story, but permits a nominal 6-inch wall for a single-story home or garage where wall height does not exceed 9 feet and gable height does not exceed 15 feet.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 248
Stiffened concrete before placementvsStiffened mortar

Concrete that dries out and stiffens before initial set may be remixed without adding water (retempering with water is not allowed), whereas mortar stiffened only by evaporation may be retempered with water.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 393

Key Terms

Cavity wall Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 13 — Laying Block, Section 13.2.3
Two walls (wythes) separated by a continuous air space at least 2 inches wide, which must be kept free of mortar droppings to work as a moisture barrier.
Solid masonry unit Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 123
A unit whose net cross-sectional area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface is 75% or more of its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane (cored brick still qualifies if holes are under 25%).
Green brick Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 115
Brick that has been formed but not yet fired, containing 5% to 30% moisture as it comes from the molding or extruding machine.
Concave joint Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Pages 131-132
A mortar joint compacted with a steel jointing tool that effectively prevents rain penetration; recommended where heavy rains and high winds are likely and the most popular joint profile.
Weep hole Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 330
An opening in the joints of the outer wythe placed directly on and immediately above the flashing that lets moisture collected in the cavity drain to the outside; normal practice is every 16 inches O.C., at the base of the cavity and at all other flashing levels.
Plaster back Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 243
Flattening excess mortar fins over the backs of the masonry units on the cavity side (instead of cutting them off) so mortar does not fall into the cavity and the surface stays smooth for insulation.
Chases and recesses Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 348
Spaces left in a wall for plumbing, heating ducts, electrical wiring, or other equipment; per the IRC they cannot be deeper than one-third the wall thickness.
Batter boards Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 226
Layout boards set with a builder's level, transit, or laser level, usually at the future final height of the top of the foundation walls, with stakes placed a minimum of 6' to 8' beyond the excavation so they are not disturbed.
Gravity-type retaining wall Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 339
A masonry retaining wall that depends primarily on its own weight to hold back earth pressure, with a base width at least 1/2 to 3/4 of the wall height (shown as 0.7H).
Pier and panel wall Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 340
A garden wall in which foundations are required only for the piers, extending below frost depth, making it economical through reduced panel thickness and footings only at piers.
Segmental retaining wall (SRW) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 347
A mortarless concrete block retaining wall set on 6 inches of compactable base aggregate (usually 1/2 to 3/4 inch crushed stone, recycled concrete, or gravel) that is graded, leveled, and compacted before the first course.
Hollow glass units Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 8 — Concrete Masonry Units, Section 8.2.5 — Hollow Glass Units Code Note
Per the IRC, glass masonry units that must be partially evacuated and have a minimum average glass face thickness of 3/16 inch (5 mm), with surfaces contacting mortar treated with polyvinyl butyral coating or latex-based paint.
Thumbprint hard Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 12 — Laying Brick
The proper condition for tooling mortar joints — mortar can be indented with a thumb without too much pressure but does not stick to the thumb; mortar too dry when tooled turns black from metal worn off the jointer.
Variegated Indiana limestone Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 9 — Stone, Section 9.2.1
One of the four ILI grades (Select, Standard, Rustic, Variegated); an unselected mixture of Select, Standard, and Rustic permitting both buff and gray colors.
Job hazard analysis (JHA) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 4 — Job Hazard Analysis section
A jobsite safety walk-through that may be performed multiple times a day on large jobs, usually one in the morning and another directly after lunch, because the construction site is constantly changing.
Emergency action plan (10 or fewer employees) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.35(e)(3)
Per OSHA §1926.35(e)(3), for employers with 10 or fewer employees the plan may be communicated orally and the employer need not maintain a written plan.
Personal protective equipment requirement OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.28, Page 31
Per 29 CFR §1926.28(a), the employer is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate PPE in all operations where there is exposure to hazardous conditions or where the part indicates the need to reduce hazards.
Hazardous waste containers OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.25(c)
Per OSHA §1926.25(c), containers used for garbage and other oily, flammable, or hazardous wastes (caustics, acids, harmful dusts, etc.) shall be equipped with covers.

Formulas to Know

Maximum height above grade of a straight freestanding masonry garden wall at 10 psf wind pressureHeight ≤ 3/4 × (wall thickness)²; worked example: 8-inch wall → 3/4 × 8² = 3/4 × 64 = 48 inches
Base width of a gravity-type masonry retaining wallBase width ≥ 1/2 to 3/4 of the wall height (shown on drawings as 0.7H)
Maximum size of coarse aggregate in concrete (rule of thumb)Never greater than 1/5 the thickness of a finished wall section, 1/3 the thickness of a slab, or 3/4 the width of the narrowest space the concrete must pass through during placing
Solid masonry unit classificationNet cross-sectional area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface ≥ 75% of gross cross-sectional area in the same plane (cores < 25%)
Maximum depth of chases and recesses in masonry (IRC)Depth ≤ 1/3 of the wall thickness
Header requirements in masonry-bonded brick wallsNot less than 4% headers in the wall surface; distance between nearest headers shall not exceed 24 inches vertically or horizontally
Cavity wall tie size and spacingTies 3/16 inch diameter or #9 gauge wire, placed one in every 4 1/2 sq ft of wall space when the cavity is no more than 4 inches (Z tie is most common)
Grout sampling and test specimen rule (ASTM C1019)Sample a minimum of 1/2 cubic foot of grout from material being placed; one sample = three 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7" specimens; take a sample for each 5,000 sq ft of masonry or whenever mix proportions, materials, or mixing method change; grout compressive strength at least equal to specified f'm but not less than 2000 psi (13.8 MPa)
Air entrainment for concrete exposed to freezing and thawing (IRC)Minimum total air content 5%; 2% or less does not gain the admixture's benefit and over 7% can reduce finished concrete strength
Grout/mortar fill of annular space at penetrations of fire-resistance-rated concrete or masonry assemblies (2015 IRC R302.4.1, Exception Item 1)Permitted for steel, ferrous or copper pipes, tubes or conduits where nominal diameter of the penetrating item is not more than 6 inches and the opening area does not exceed 144 square inches, with concrete/grout/mortar placed full thickness
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