Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - 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
5 Q · 17%
Surface Preparation and Planning
4 Q · 13%
Steep Slope Roofing, including BUR, Waterproofing
14 Q · 47%
Roofing Components
4 Q · 13%
Roof covering types and material standards (asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, metal shingles, slate, wood shakes/shingles)Underlayment types, application methods, and attachment requirements by roof covering and wind speedFlashing components (drip edge, valley, step, apron, base, cap, counterflashing, crickets/saddles)Roof deck requirements and minimum slope by covering typeIce barrier and water/ice-dam protection membrane installationRoof accessories (roof vents, skylights, equipment curbs, expansion joints, prefabricated pipe flashings, snow guards, photovoltaic supports)Chimney flashing, counterflashing, and crickets/saddlesFire classification of roof assemblies and wind resistance ratings
OSHA Safety
3 Q · 10%
Key Distinctions
Positive method of roof measurementvsNegative method of roof measurement
The positive method divides an irregular roof into rectangles and adds their areas, while the negative method extends the roof lines into one large rectangle and subtracts the areas that are not roof; both give identical results.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 1, Pages 7-8Fiberglass asphalt shinglesvsOrganic asphalt shingles
Fiberglass shingles use a fiberglass base mat saturated and coated with flexible asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules, whereas organic shingles use a cellulose-fiber base mat.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 4—Asphalt ShinglesNailing asphalt shingles to wood plank/board decksvsNailing asphalt shingles to plywood decks less than ¾ inch thick
On wood plank or board decks nails must penetrate at least ¾ inch into the deck, while on plywood/wood panel decks less than ¾ inch thick nails must extend a minimum of ⅛ inch through the underside.
NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 4.2—Asphalt Shingle Roof System Design and Installation (Fasteners)Unit run of a common raftervsUnit run of a rafter at 45° to the ridge (hip rafter)
A common rafter (90° to the ridge) always has a unit run of 12 inches, while a rafter at a 45° angle to the ridge has a unit run of 17 inches.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 17.1, Page 470Single-layer mechanically attached underlayment (slopes 4:12 or greater)vsDouble-layer mechanically attached underlayment (slopes 2:12 to 4:12)
IBC 2024 and IRC 2024 prescribe a single layer of mechanically attached underlayment for asphalt shingle systems on slopes of 4:12 or greater outside high-wind regions, but a double layer on slopes from 2:12 to 4:12 outside high-wind regions.
NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 3.2—Underlayment Design and InstallationFour nails per strip shinglevsSix nails per strip shingle
Full-length three-tab strip shingles require a minimum of four roofing nails per strip under normal conditions, while six nails per strip may be required by local codes in high-wind areas and are recommended by NRCA (with hand-tabbing) on slopes of 18:12 and greater.
NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 4.2—Asphalt Shingle Roof System Design and InstallationTemporary truss bracingvsPermanent truss bracing
Temporary bracing serves during initial installation (the gable-end truss is braced first with lumber standoffs anchored to ground stakes), while permanent bracing keeps the bottom chords of long-span trusses from moving as the ceiling finish is applied.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 17 Review, Page 501Number before the slash on a performance-rated panel stamp (e.g., 32/16)vsNumber after the slash
The number in front of the slash is the maximum spacing of supports in inches for roof sheathing use; the number after the slash is the maximum support spacing for subflooring use.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.5, Pages 562-563Eaves protection extending 22 inches inside the exterior wall line (textbook)vsIce-dam protection extending not less than 24 inches inside the exterior wall line (code/NRCA)
Carpentry and Building Construction states eaves protection should reach at least 22 inches inside the exterior wall line, while IRC 2024 Section R905.1.2 / IBC 1507.1.2 and the NRCA Manual require not less than 24 inches (measured in the level plane) inside the exterior wall line — on a code question use 24 inches.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 22.1 — Eaves Protection / Placement of Eaves FlashingBattens permitted on tile roofsvsBattens required on tile roofs
Battens can be installed on tile roof slopes of 2½ in 12 and steeper, but they are required on slopes of 7 in 12 and steeper.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 7 — Tile RoofingASTM C1167vsASTM C1492
ASTM C1167 is the product standard clay roof tile must comply with (IRC 2024 R905.3.4 / IBC 1507.3.4), while ASTM C1492 is the standard for concrete tile.
NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Clay and Concrete Tile Roof Systems, Appendix 1—Building Code Compliance for Clay and Concrete Tile Roof SystemsClass A fire extinguishervsClass B fire extinguisher
Class A covers fires involving wood, paper, cloth and plastic, while Class B covers grease, oil and chemical fires (Class C is electrical equipment; Class D is combustible metals).
Carpentry and Building Construction, Construction Safety & Health, Page 81Closed cornicevsCornice with rafter overhang
A closed cornice has no rafter overhang and is seldom used on newer houses because adequate attic ventilation (soffit venting) is difficult to provide.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.4, Page 552Key Terms
Competent person OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.32(f), Page 31
Per OSHA §1926.32(f), one capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Carpentry and Building Construction, Construction Safety & Health, Book Page 92
A manufacturer-supplied document shipped with products that lists physical data (such as melting or flash point), toxicity levels, first-aid recommendations, storage and disposal, protective equipment and spill/leak response, and must be accessible to every worker on the job site.
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.
Collar tie Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 17.1, Page 468
A horizontal tie connecting opposite pairs of rafters to help stiffen the roof.
Ridge board Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.1, Page 530
Usually nominal 2-inch lumber slightly wider than the rafter stock (e.g., a 2×10 ridge with 2×8 rafters) so the angled rafter end cuts bear fully on it.
Stub joists Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 17.3, Page 490
Short ceiling joists installed at right angles to the regular joists, spaced 16 inches on center, used where the first ceiling joist interferes with the bottom edge of rafters on a shallow-slope hip roof, and located so rafters can be nailed directly to their sides.
Skirtboard Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 723
A finish trim piece running 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.
Equiviscous temperature (EVT) Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 10 — Built-Up Roofing
The temperature at which a bitumen attains 125 centipoise — the optimum application temperature/viscosity; roofing bitumen should be applied within 25°F of the EVT.
ASTM D3462 NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 4.1—Asphalt Shingle Standards
'Standard Specification for Asphalt Shingles Made from Glass Felt and Surfaced with Mineral Granules,' addressing tear strength, fastener pull-through resistance and pliability; NRCA recommends specifying fiberglass-reinforced shingles complying with it.
ASTM D1970 NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 3.1—Underlayment Materials
'Standard Specification for Self-Adhering Polymer Modified Bituminous Sheet Materials Used as Steep Roofing Underlayment for Ice Dam Protection,' covering thickness, tear resistance, adhesion, low-temperature flexibility and thermal stability.
ASTM D8257 NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 3.1—Underlayment Materials (Synthetic Sheets)
'Standard Specification for Mechanically Attached Polymeric Roof Underlayments Used in Steep Slope Roofing,' applicable to synthetic sheet underlayments; originally approved December 2020 and referenced in the 2024 IBC and IRC.
ASTM C1167 tile grades NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 4.1—Clay and Concrete Tile Materials (Standards)
Clay roof tile classification by frost resistance: Grade 1 — resistance to severe frost action; Grade 2 — resistance to moderate frost action; Grade 3 — negligible resistance to any frost action.
ASTM D7158 wind classes NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 4.2—Wind Resistance
Asphalt shingle wind-resistance classification: Class D passes at a basic wind speed up to and including 90 mph, Class G up to and including 120 mph, and Class H up to and including 150 mph.
Closed-cut valley NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Asphalt Shingle Roof Systems — Chapter 4
An asphalt shingle valley in which shingles from the overlapping side are cut back about 2 inches short of the valley centerline.
Hand-tabbing NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 4.2—Attachment of shingles on very steep slopes
Applying asphalt roof cement in spots approximately 1 inch in diameter between shingle courses; NRCA recommends six-nail fastening plus hand-tabbing on slopes of 18:12 and greater.
Panel edge clips NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems (2025), Section 2.1—Wood Panels
Clips NRCA recommends when wood panel sheathing of ½-inch nominal thickness (actual 15/32 inch) or less is installed over supporting members spaced 24 inches on center.
4-inch shingle pattern Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 4 — Asphalt Shingles
The pattern used on low-slope roofs of 2 through 3 in 12, where the first shingle of each course is trimmed in a multiple of 4 inches and a full-width shingle begins again at the 10th course; never use a pattern less than 4 inches.
Bathroom natural light and ventilation glazing (IRC 2015 R303.3) IRC 2015 Section R303.3
Bathrooms, water closet compartments and similar rooms must have an aggregate glazing area in windows of not less than 3 square feet, one-half of which must be openable; not required where artificial light and a local exhaust system are provided.
Formulas to Know
Labor unit price per square
Total daily crew cost ÷ daily crew production (squares). Example: 8 hrs × ($25.00 roofer + $10.00 laborer = $35.00/hr) = $280.00; $280.00 ÷ 6.37 squares = $43.96 per square (Equation 14-1).Roof slope in rise per 12 inches of run
Slope = (Total Rise ÷ Total Run) × 12. Example: 7'6" = 7.5 ft; (7.5 ÷ 15) × 12 = 6, i.e., 6 in 12.Actual common rafter length
Actual rafter length = Run × roof-slope factor (Column 2 of the conversion factor table). Example: 14 ft × 1.202 = 16.83 linear feet on an 8 in 12 slope.Valley length where roofs of unequal slopes intersect
Actual valley length = Run of the low-sloping roof × valley length factor (Appendix B). Example: 24 ft × 1.247 = 29.93 linear feet.Plan length of a hip rafter (conventional framing)
Plan length = 1.414 × run (1.414 = √2, for the 45° plan angle). Example: 1.414 × 14 ft = 19.80 feet.Allowance factor for waste, lapping and starter courses
Allowance factor = Gross area including allowances ÷ Net roof area. Example: 18 squares ÷ 15 squares = 1.20 (a 20 percent allowance).Roof area by the negative method
Area = Extended large rectangle − areas that are not roof. Example: (80 × 50 = 4,000 SF) − [(20 × 15 = 300) + (10 × 15 = 150) = 450 SF] = 3,550 SF.Board feet for rafters, ridge board and collar ties (table method)
Board feet = (Roof surface area ÷ 100) × table board feet per 100 SF. Example: 2×6 rafters at 16" OC = 102 bf per 100 SF; 2,100 ÷ 100 = 21; 21 × 102 = 2,142 board feet (includes common rafters, hip and valley rafters, ridge boards and collar ties).Roof sheathing panel count with waste allowance
Panels = total roof area ÷ 32 SF per panel, then add 5 percent for trim and waste. Example: 72.19 × 0.05 = 3.6; 72.19 + 3.6 = 75.79, rounded up to 76 sheets.Gutter slope / total drop
Metal gutters must slope at least 1 inch every 16 feet (1/16 inch per foot) toward the downspout; the maximum distance from the gutter high point to the downspout should not ordinarily exceed 25 feet. Example: 32 ft × 1/16 = 2 inches of total drop.