Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone
Louisiana · 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
60
Passing score
70%
Exam time
150 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Louisiana State Portion 60 questions
Estimating and Plan Reading
5 Q · 8%
Reading and interpreting construction drawings (plans, elevations, sections, details)Alphabet of Lines and drawing symbols (object, hidden, center, dimension, cutting plane, section lines)Drawing scales and converting scaled measurements to actual dimensionsTypes of working drawings and their content (site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, electrical, mechanical, detail drawings)Specifications: general conditions and technical sectionsEstimating brick quantities using the wall-area method (gross vs. net wall area, modular and nonmodular units)Mortar estimation and correction factors (wythe thickness, joint size, bond patterns)Applied masonry math (fractions, decimals, percentages, area and volume calculations)Math for Masonry CareersPrint Reading
Unit Masonry
12 Q · 20%
Brick types, grades, and classification (ASTM standards)Concrete masonry unit types, sizes, and classificationMortar joint types, tooling techniques, and joint finishingWall types and systems (solid, cavity, composite, veneer, reinforced)Laying brick and block techniques (leads, corners, coursing, mason's line)Flashing, weep holes, and moisture control in masonry wallsWall ties, joint reinforcement, and structural bonding methodsIBC requirements for masonry construction, lintels, and archesLaying BrickWall SystemsClay Masonry Materials
Mortar and Grout
11 Q · 18%
Mortar type selection by application (Types M, S, N, O, K) and compressive strength ratingsMortar ingredients and proportions by volume (Portland cement, hydrated lime, lime putty, sand, water)Properties of plastic and hardened mortar (workability, water retentivity, bond strength, compressive strength, durability)Repointing and tuckpointing procedures for deteriorated mortar jointsMortar mixing procedures, retempering limits, and time constraintsCold and hot weather mortar and grout placement precautions and temperature requirementsGrout composition, consistency, placement methods (low-lift and high-lift grouting), and compressive strength requirementsMortar coloring with pigments and aggregates, including pigment quantity limitsRepointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry BuildingsMasonryMortar and Grout
Accessories and Specialties
10 Q · 17%
Wall ties and metal wire ties (rectangular, Z, and corrugated types)Joint reinforcement (ladder, truss, and tab styles)Reinforcing bars and rods (sizes, placement, and applications)Anchors and anchor bolts (types, materials, and installation)Flashing, counterflashing, reglets, and weep systems for limestone constructionFireplace and chimney components (firebox, damper, smoke shelf, flue lining)Brick, block, and stone paving systems (base preparation, drainage, and edge restraints)Limestone anchors, supports, and embeds (stainless steel anchors, angle/plate supports)Paving and Masonry Construction DetailsAnchors, Ties, and ReinforcementFabrication Tolerances, Lintel Table, Arch Theory, Steel Lintels, Cleaning New ConstructionDampproofing, Water Repellents, Flooring and Paving, Reglets, Flashing, Weeps, Carving and Inscriptions
Stone
3 Q · 5%
Classification of stone by formation type (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)Indiana Limestone grades and color classifications (Select, Standard, Rustic, Variegated)Stone surface finishes (smooth, plucked, machine tooled, split face, rock face, shot sawed)Types of stonemasonry construction (rubble, ashlar, trimmings, panel)Mortar selection and joint formation for stoneworkHandling, storage, and rigging of stoneLimestone panel installation (anchors, expansion joints, pointing, cold weather setting)Staining, efflorescence prevention, and cleaning of stoneworkStonemasonry
Tools
4 Q · 7%
Trowel types and selection (Philadelphia, London, Wide London patterns)Jointers and joint rakers for finishing mortar jointsMeasuring and marking tools (folding rules, retractable tapes, chalk box, steel square)Levels and alignment tools (mason's level, rotary laser level, line and line holders)Chisels and brick hammers for cutting and shaping masonry unitsSite preparation equipment (tampers, compactors, wheelbarrows, mortar mixers)Concrete flatwork finishing tools (screeds, darbies, bull floats, edgers, groovers, hand and power trowels)Scaffolding types and safe use
Restoration and Cleaning
4 Q · 7%
Identifying causes of mortar deterioration before repointingMortar composition and compatibility requirements for historic masonry repointingMortar joint preparation methods and depth requirementsMortar mix types and proportions (ASTM Types M, S, N, O, K) for repointingJoint filling, layering, tooling, and curing proceduresCleaning methods for historic masonry buildings (wet, dry, chemical)Stone replacement and repair techniques for limestone (cementitious and epoxy patch materials)Cleaning new limestone construction and protecting limestone from acid cleanersRepointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry BuildingsRestoration, Seismic Considerations, Storage and Handling, Metric Equivalents, Masonry Wall Nominal Heights
Reinforced Masonry
6 Q · 10%
Steel reinforcement placement, sizing, and spacing requirementsGrouting techniques and requirements for reinforced masonry wallsReinforced masonry retaining wall design and constructionMetal ties, anchors, and joint reinforcement types and installationLap splices and development length for reinforcement barsSpecial inspection requirements for masonry construction (IBC Chapter 17)Seismic reinforcement requirements for masonry fireplaces and chimneysBond beams and horizontal reinforcement placementWall SystemsSpecial Inspections and TestsMasonry
Safety
5 Q · 8%
Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for masonry workScaffold safety requirements and erection procedures (OSHA Subpart L)Fall protection systems for overhand bricklaying and masonry operations (OSHA Subpart M)Limited access zones for masonry wall construction (OSHA 1926.706)Lockout/tagout procedures for masonry equipmentSilica dust exposure and respiratory protectionFalling object protection on scaffolds and at elevated work areasFirst aid, safety data sheets (SDS), and jobsite safety programsSubpart M—Fall Protection
Key Distinctions
Type F paving brickvsType R paving brick
Type F (heavy vehicular, set in a sand base with sand-filled joints) must be at least 2 5/8" thick, while Type R (set in mortar or asphalt over a compacted, drained subbase) need be only 2 1/4" thick.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 116Anchored terra cotta/ceramic unitsvsAdhesion ceramic veneer
Anchored terra cotta or ceramic units must be not less than 1 5/8" thick and are anchored directly to masonry, concrete or stud construction, while the 1" thickness is typical of adhesion ceramic veneer held by mortar backing rather than metal anchors.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 139Mortar 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.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Page 190Ladder-type joint reinforcementvsTruss-type joint reinforcement
Ladder type is recommended where block cores will receive reinforcing bars and grout because the diagonal wires of truss type may interfere with placing bars and filling cores.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 208Adjustable tie assembliesvsUnit ties and anchors
Adjustable assemblies are made in ladder and truss styles for masonry-backed cavity, veneer and grouted walls, while rectangular, Z and corrugated are unit tie types and dovetail and strap are anchor types.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Pages 208 to 209Grade LB clay loadbearing wall tilevsGrade LBX clay loadbearing wall tile
Grade LB is for areas NOT exposed to frost action; Grade LBX is suitable where the tile is exposed to frost action.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 134Grade SW building brickvsGrade MW / Grade NW building brick
Grade SW is highly resistant to frost action for exposure to freezing weather (foundation courses, retaining walls), while MW is for moderate exposure and NW is for interior backup masonry.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 116Type M mortarvsType N mortar
Type M is used for masonry below grade and in contact with earth such as foundations, retaining walls and manholes, while Type N is a general-purpose above-grade mortar.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Pages 191-192Type S mortarvsType N mortar (cavity walls)
Type S is required for cavity walls where wind velocities may exceed 80 mph, while for locations with lesser winds either Type S or Type N may be used.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10 — Mortar and Grout, Section 10.5.8 — Cavity WallsSolid masonry unitvsHollow masonry unit
A unit with net cross-sectional area 75% or more of gross area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface is solid; less than 75% solid material makes it a hollow unit.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 123Common (American) bondvsFlemish / English / stack bond
Common bond is a running-bond variation with full-length header courses every fifth to seventh course, 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 129-130Weep holes with mortar completely removed from head jointvsWeep holes using wicking material
Open head-joint weep holes are spaced no more than 24" O.C., while wicking-material weep holes are spaced at a maximum of 16" O.C.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 335Foundation wall projection with masonry veneervsFoundation wall projection elsewhere
Per IRC R404.1.1.6, foundation walls must extend above finished grade a minimum of 4 inches where masonry veneer is used and a minimum of 6 inches elsewhere.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 3138-inch minimum nominal wall thicknessvs6-inch nominal wall permitted
IRC requires 8-inch minimum nominal thickness for loadbearing masonry over one story, but a nominal 6-inch wall is permitted 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 248Scale (1/4" = 1'-0")vs1/4 size
Scale means inches to feet (40 ft × 1/4" = 10" on the drawing), while size means inches to inches.
Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 70Dampproofing all unexposed limestone surfacesvsSetting mats or pedestals
Back-coating every unexposed surface isolates rising damp by sealing the stone, while setting mats or pedestals (best with open or butt joints) let moisture move below the stone's lower face along the concrete base to located drains.
Indiana Limestone Handbook, Pages 32 to 33VeilingvsBloom/efflorescence and subflorescence
Veiling is the residue inevitably left on brick faces by surface grouting, while bloom and efflorescence are salt deposits on the surface and subflorescence is salt deposited below the surface of a masonry unit.
Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings, Page 13Key Terms
Plaster back Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 243
The practice of flattening protruding mortar fins over the backs of the masonry units (rather than cutting them off) so mortar does not fall into the cavity and the surface stays smooth for insulation.
Grout sample (ASTM C1019) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10 — Mortar and Grout, Section 10.9.8
One grout sample consists of three 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7" specimens prepared per ASTM C1019, not cast in concrete cylinder molds.
Grout minimum compressive strength Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10 — Mortar and Grout, Section 10.9.4
MSJC specifications require grout strength at least equal to the specified compressive strength of masonry, but not less than 2000 psi per ASTM C1019.
Moisture bulking of sand Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 188
The volume increase of damp sand — fine sands can increase almost 40% at only 5% moisture by weight and coarse sands about 18% — which is why shovel measurement should not be permitted and cubic-foot boxes are recommended.
Weep holes Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 330
Openings in the joints of the outer wythe located immediately above the flashing that let moisture collected in the wall cavity drain to the outside; in cavity wall construction the maximum spacing is 16" O.C. (brick veneer: 24" O.C. max for open head joints, 16" O.C. max with wicking).
Cavity wall cavity Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 330
The space between wythes that must be kept free of mortar droppings so it works as a moisture barrier; droppings that bridge the cavity let moisture transfer to the inner wythe.
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 and is recommended where heavy rains and high winds occur; also the most popular joint.
Joint raker Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 3, Section 3.1.3 Joint Rakers
A tool used to remove a portion of the mortar from a joint just before the mortar hardens, required for raked joints.
Brick set Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 3, Section 3.1.9 Chisels
A chisel type used to cut brick to exact dimensions.
Hardware cloth (mesh wall tie, MWT) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 214
A galvanized metal fabric bedded in mortar joints that adds bonding strength where one block wall butts against another, frequently used with a metal tie bar to tie nonloadbearing walls to intersecting walls.
Masonry cement Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings, Page 2
A premixed, bagged mortar combining portland cement and ground limestone, introduced in the 1930s; because it is not required to contain hydrated lime it yields high-strength mortars generally not recommended for historic masonry.
Surface grouting Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings, Page 13
A thin cement-based grout applied over joints and the mortar/brick interface that cannot substitute for repointing, visually widens joints, and leaves residue called veiling.
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.
Rustic grade Indiana limestone Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 9 — Stone, Section 9.2.1
Fine to very coarse grained stone permitting an above average amount of natural characteristics such as fossils, pit holes and honeycomb formations.
Plucked finish Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 9 — Stone, Section 9.3
A stone surface obtained by rough planing then textured by plucking out small particles, used mainly for limestone.
Chases and recesses Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 348
Spaces left in a wall for plumbing, ducts, wiring or other equipment; per IRC they cannot be deeper than one-third the wall thickness.
Batter boards Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 226
Layout boards set on stakes a minimum of 6' to 8' beyond the excavation so they are not disturbed, usually installed with the top edge at the future final height of the top of the foundation walls.
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 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 and those foundations extend below the frost depth, making the wall economical through reduced panel thickness.
Job hazard analysis (JHA) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 4 — Job Hazard Analysis section
A jobsite hazard walk-through that, because the site constantly changes, may be performed multiple times a day — usually one in the morning and another directly after lunch.
Section symbol (e.g., S2/A2.1) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 84
A circular indicator whose top half gives the detail designation and bottom half gives the sheet number where the detail is drawn, with the attached cutting plane line showing where the wall is sectioned.
Formulas to Know
Drawing length at 1/4" = 1'-0" scale (worked example)
Each foot = 1/4" on the drawing; 40 ft × 1/4" = 10" for a 40'-0" wallSquaring a layout (Pythagorean Theorem)
a² + b² = c²; example: b² = 15² − 12² = 225 − 144 = 81, so b = 9'-0" (a 3-4-5 multiple)Maximum height of straight freestanding garden wall at 10 psf wind
Height above grade shall not exceed 3/4 × (wall thickness)²; example: 3/4 × 8² = 48 inches for an 8" wallRule-of-thumb residential footing width (average soil)
Footing width = 2 × wall thicknessMaximum coarse aggregate size (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 throughNet wall area to be laid
Net area = (length × height) − sum of opening areas; e.g., 40 × 12 = 480 − (6×4 + 3×7 = 45) = 435.0 sq ftBrick quantity from the printed table (no waste)
Bricks = net sq ft × 675 per 100 sq ft (6.75 per sq ft); e.g., 435.0 × 6.75 = 2,936 bricksBrick order with 5% waste
Order = bricks × 1.05, rounded up; e.g., 2,936 × 1.05 = 3,083.1 → 3,084 bricksMortar for brick at 1/2-in joints (before waste)
Mortar = (net sq ft ÷ 100) × 7.0 cu ft per 100 sq ft; e.g., 4.35 × 7.0 = 30.4 cu ftMortar with 10% allowance and sand required
Mortar × 1.10; damp loose sand = 1 cu ft per 1 cu ft of mortar; e.g., 30.4 × 1.10 = 33.5 cu ft mortar and 33.5 cu ft sandConcrete block quantity (no waste) and blocks in openings
Blocks = sq ft ÷ 8 × 9, rounded up; e.g., 315.0 ÷ 8 × 9 = 354.4 → 355 blocks; openings 45 sq ft ÷ 8 × 9 = 50.6 → 51 blocks savedBlock order with 5% waste
Order = blocks × 1.05, rounded up; e.g., 354.4 × 1.05 = 372.1 → 373 blocksMortar for concrete block (before waste)
Mortar = (net sq ft ÷ 100) × 3.25 cu ft; e.g., 3.15 × 3.25 = 10.2 cu ftBlock courses and blocks per course
Courses = height(ft) × 3 ÷ 2 (three courses per 2 ft); blocks per course = length(ft) × 3 ÷ 4 (three blocks per 4 ft); e.g., 8 ft → 12 courses, 32 ft → 24 blocksModular brick courses and bricks per course
Courses = height in inches ÷ 8 × 3 (three courses per 8 in); bricks per course = length in inches ÷ 8 (one brick per 8 in); e.g., 10 ft → 45 courses, 24 ft → 36 bricksVeneer tie count (IRC 2021 R703.8.4.1)
Ties = net sq ft ÷ 2.67 sq ft per tie, rounded up; e.g., 299.0 ÷ 2.67 = 112.0 → 112 ties