Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Mississippi Remodeling

Mississippi · 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

Passing score

70%

Exam time

135 min

Administered by

PSI Services Contractor

Format

Reference materials allowed

Mississippi State Portion 60 questions

Safety 6 Q · 10%

OSHA employer and contractor safety responsibilitiesFall protection systems and requirements (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest)Fire protection and prevention on construction sitesPersonal protective equipment (PPE) requirementsSafety training and hazard communication requirementsHousekeeping, sanitation, and site safety standardsHandling and storage of flammable and hazardous materialsFirst aid, medical services, and emergency action plans

Windows and Doors 3 Q · 5%

Types of windows and their operational characteristics (double-hung, casement, awning, hopper, horizontal-sliding, stationary)Window building code requirements (egress dimensions, minimum glazing area, ventilation area percentages)Window energy efficiency features (glazing types, U-values, SHGC, low-e coatings, weatherstripping)Safety glazing requirements and hazardous locations (IBC Section 2406)Window installation procedures (flanged windows, flashing, shimming, plumb and level)Types of exterior and interior doors and their construction (solid-core, hollow-core, raised-panel, sliding, bifold, pocket, fire-rated)Door hardware and locksets (hinges, hinge gains, entry/privacy/passage locksets, strike plate installation)Skylight types, installation, and flashing requirements (fixed vs. ventilating, step flashing, pan flashing, curb mounting)

Rough Carpentry 11 Q · 18%

Framing systems: platform, balloon, post-and-beam, and SIP constructionFloor framing components: girders, posts, sill plates, joists, and subflooringWall framing components: studs, plates, headers, cripple studs, trimmer studs, and rough openingsRoof framing: common rafters, ridge boards, span tables, and rafter layout methodsStructural design values, load types, and span tables for lumber selectionNails and metal framing connectors: types, sizes, and installation requirementsSpecial framing details: bearing walls, openings, bridging, blocking, and shear wallsRoof trusses: types, components, installation, and bracing

Finish Carpentry 11 Q · 18%

Stairway components, terminology, and types of constructionBuilding code requirements for stairs (risers, treads, headroom, handrails, balusters)Stair layout calculations (unit rise, unit run, total rise, total run)Cut-stringer layout and installation proceduresDoor and window casing installation (reveals, miter joints, coped joints)Baseboard and ceiling molding installation techniquesCabinet types, construction, and installation (base and wall cabinets)Countertop types and plastic laminate installationStair trim-out components and terminologyInstalling skirt boards on open and closed stair sidesInstalling treads and risersBalustrade installation including newel posts and balusters +4 more

Siding 3 Q · 5%

Types of siding materials (wood, vinyl, plywood, fiber cement, stucco)Moisture protection methods (building paper, housewrap, flashing, caulking, drainage plane)Wood bevel siding installation (layout, story pole, exposure, coursing, nailing)Wood shingle siding coursing styles and installation (single, double, ribbon, decorative)Vinyl siding installation and fastening techniques (nailing, expansion gaps, J-channel, accessories)Fiber cement siding installation and safety (cutting methods, dust exposure, nailing)Stucco application (scratch coat, brown coat, finish coat, metal lath)Estimating siding materials quantities (area calculations, coverage factors, waste allowances)

Drywall 2 Q · 3%

Types of drywall panels and their applicationsFire-code drywall requirements (Type X and Type C)Moisture-resistant and specialty drywall productsDrywall fasteners (nails and screws) and fastening schedulesJoint compound types and taping proceduresDrywall installation methods (vertical vs. horizontal application)Trim accessories (corner bead, J-trim)Common drywall defects and repairs (nail pops, blistered tape, cracked joints)

Concrete 7 Q · 12%

Concrete ingredients and mix proportions (cement, aggregate, water ratios)Types of Portland cement and their characteristicsHydration process and curing methodsAdmixtures and their effects on concrete propertiesConcrete placement, consolidation, and slump testingSteel reinforcement (rebar sizes, placement, chairs, welded-wire fabric)Concrete flatwork finishing steps (screeding, bullfloating, edging, jointing, troweling)Common concrete defects and troubleshooting (crazing, efflorescence, scaling, chalking)Subgrade and subbase preparation (compaction, moisture control, vapor retarders)Formwork design, materials, and form release agentsConcrete joints (control joints, construction joints, isolation joints, dowels)Hot weather and cold weather concreting precautions +4 more

Masonry 7 Q · 12%

Masonry construction materials (units, mortar, grout, reinforcement)Masonry fireplace construction requirements and dimensionsMasonry chimney construction, flue sizing, and terminationAllowable stress and strength design methods for masonrySeismic reinforcement and anchorage for fireplaces and chimneysGlass unit masonry limitations and installationAdobe masonry empirical design requirementsOSHA safety requirements for masonry construction (limited access zones, bracing)Mortar joint types, profiles, and tooling techniquesBrick and block wall layout, coursing, and bond patternsMasonry wall types (solid, cavity, composite, veneer, hollow)Flashing, weep holes, and moisture control in masonry walls +4 more

Roofing – Residential and Commercial 10 Q · 17%

Roof covering types and minimum slope requirementsUnderlayment types, application, and attachment requirementsFlashing installation at valleys, walls, chimneys, and roof penetrationsFire classification of roof assemblies (Class A, B, and C)Wind resistance requirements for roof coverings and edge systemsRoof drainage systems including primary drains, secondary drains, scuppers, and guttersReroofing requirements including roof recovery and roof replacementRooftop structures including penthouses, cooling towers, and mechanical equipment screens

Key Distinctions

Dead loadvsLive load

A dead load is the total weight of the building including the structural frame and anything permanently attached (such as wall coverings), while a live load is weight that is not permanently attached (such as furniture and people) and is determined by the building's use.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1 Framing Systems & Structural Design, Page 383

Face-frame (traditional) 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, use concealed cup hinges mounted on the side walls, and are supported on leveling feet or a wood base frame rather than resting directly on the subfloor.

Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 27.2, Page 788

Coped joint at inside cornersvsInside miter joint

A coped joint cuts the meeting edge to a knife edge that is pressure-fit into the mating piece and stays tight through shrinkage and movement, while inside miters are difficult to fit and gap open with the smallest movement.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Finish Carpentry, Chapter 11 (Cornice Moldings), The Coped Joint section

Isolation jointvsContraction joint

Isolation joints separate a placement from other parts of the structure (at floors meeting walls, columns, footings) and extend the full depth of the slab with a premolded joint filler, while contraction joints extend only to approximately one-quarter the concrete thickness.

Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 9 - Properties of Concrete, Page 184 (16th ed.: Page 282)

MuntinvsMullion strip

A muntin is a vertical or horizontal piece within a sash that holds an individual pane of glass, while a mullion strip is a vertical piece separating combined window units.

Windows & Skylights chapter, Double-Hung Windows section

Drip edge at eavesvsDrip edge at rake edges

At eaves the underlayment is installed over the drip edge, while at rakes the drip edge is installed over the underlayment; in both cases the drip edge is mechanically fastened at not more than 12 inches on center.

IBC 2021 Section 1507.2.8.3

Asphalt shingle underlayment at 4:12 or greatervsAsphalt shingle underlayment at 2:12 up to 4:12

Slopes of 4:12 or greater permit a single layer of underlayment lapped 2 inches, while slopes from 2:12 up to 4:12 require double underlayment application; asphalt shingles cannot be installed below 2:12.

IBC 2021 Table 1507.1.1(2)

Wood shakes minimum slopevsWood shingles minimum slope

Wood shakes shall be installed only on slopes of not less than 4:12, while wood shingles require a minimum of 3:12.

IBC 2021 Sections 1507.8.2 and 1507.9.2; Table 1507.8

Newel postvsBaluster

Newel posts at each end are the primary support for the handrail and must be firmly anchored, while balusters are the vertical members on open stairs that support the handrail but are not its primary support.

Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 25, Section 25.2, 'Handrail — newel post anchoring'

Cavity wallvsVeneered wall

A cavity wall has two walls 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

Step flashing (skylight)vsPan flashing (skylight)

Step flashing consists of small pieces of L-shaped metal interwoven with the roof shingles, while pan flashing is a one-piece metal assembly.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 20 — Skylight Flashing

Panel stamp number before the slash (e.g., 32/16)vsPanel stamp number after the slash

The first number is the maximum spacing in inches of supports when the panel is used for roof sheathing, while the number after the slash is the maximum support spacing for subflooring.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.5 Roof Sheathing, Page 562-563

Type-X fire-code drywallvsType-C drywall

Type-X is ⅝ inch thick and contains glass fibers that prevent crumbling in extreme heat, while Type-C contains vermiculite and is even more fire resistant.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Section: Fire-Code Drywall

Key Terms

Consolidation Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 8.2, Page 227

The process that removes air pockets and forces concrete into all parts of the forms, accomplished with a concrete vibrator, by tamping, by spearing with a spade, or by tapping forms with a hammer.

Cold joint Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 10.2, Page 266

A joint that occurs where fresh concrete is poured on top of or next to concrete that has already begun to cure; it is weaker and more likely to leak, so concrete should be poured continuously without interruption.

Keyway Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 10.1, Page 258

A groove formed in the top of the footing (usually 3½" wide and 1½" deep because a 2×4 forms it) that locks the foundation wall to the footing and prevents moisture from seeping between them.

Efflorescence Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 8 — Troubleshooting Concrete section

A whitish crystalline deposit on the surface of concrete or mortar caused when salts in the mix combine with water or moisture vapor and rise to the surface; it is a cosmetic problem that generally does not affect strength or durability.

Face shell mortar bedding Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 13 — Laying Block, Section 13.2.2

Mortar bedding applied only on the outside edges of a hollow masonry unit rather than across the entire bearing surface.

Plaster back (mortar fins) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 12 — Laying Brick, Section 12.3.7

The recommended cavity-wall practice of flattening excess mortar fins over the backs of the masonry units instead of cutting them off, preventing mortar from falling into the cavity and bridging or blocking weep holes.

Isolation joint Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 9 - Properties of Concrete, Page 184 (16th ed.: Page 282)

A joint that separates a concrete placement from other parts of a structure to permit horizontal and vertical movement, used at junctions of floors with walls, columns, and footings, extending the full depth of the slab with a premolded joint filler.

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 allows water to drain freely; without it stucco would stick to the sheathing paper and block drainage.

Story pole Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 23 — Making a Story Pole section

A site-made measuring device of straight 1×2 stock with course spacing laid out on it, used to transfer consistent marks and ensure a uniform siding course layout all around the house.

Gain Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 21 — Hinge Gains

A mortise (notch) cut for a hinge leaf with a depth equal to the thickness of a single hinge leaf, laid out identically on the door edge and the hinge jamb.

Nosing Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 25 (Stairways)

The part of a stair tread that projects beyond the face of the riser (distinct from a bullnose, which is a rounded starting step).

Skirtboard Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 25.2, Page 751

A finished board nailed to the wall before the stringers are installed, to which risers and treads are butted; it protects the wall from damage and provides a finished edge.

Kick plate Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 25.2, Page 756

A short piece of framing lumber screwed or nailed to a concrete floor to anchor the bottom of a stair, providing a surface for toenailing the stringers that cannot be nailed directly into concrete.

Corner bead Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Section: Corner Bead and Trim

A vinyl or galvanized metal strip nailed, screwed, or crimped over the full length of an outside drywall corner to reinforce and protect it; joint compound is still applied over it, and it comes in square 90° and bullnose (rounded) forms.

Finger-jointed stock Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 26 (Molding & Trim)

Molding/trim made from short lengths of solid wood finger-jointed and glued together; it is paint-grade only, suitable if painted but not if stained.

Bird's mouth (heel and seat cuts) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 17.2, Page 481

A notch cut in a rafter with an overhang so it fits the plate; the plumb cut bearing against the side of the plate is the heel cut and the level cut bearing on top of the plate is the seat cut.

Collar tie Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 17.1, Page 468

A horizontal framing member that connects opposite pairs of rafters to help stiffen the roof (unlike the ridge board, which joins rafter upper ends along the house length).

Dropping the stringer Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 25 (Stairways)

Shortening the first riser of a cut stringer by the thickness of one tread so the finished first step height equals the unit rise.

Cricket (saddle) IBC 2021 Section 1503.5

A sheet-metal or matching-roof-material assembly required on the ridge side of any chimney or penetration greater than 30 inches wide measured perpendicular to the slope.

Reveal Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 26.2, Page 760

A small offset between a piece of trim and the surface it is applied to; door casing is typically set with about a 3/16 inch reveal on the face of the jamb.

Formulas to Know

Drywall sheets by the "figured solid" method (no deductions for openings)

Wall area = room perimeter × ceiling height; Ceiling area = length × width; Total ÷ 32 sq. ft. per 4'×8' sheet. Example: (60 × 8) + (14 × 16) = 704; 704 ÷ 32 = 22 sheets.

Joint tape quantity for drywall finishing370 lineal feet of joint tape per 1,000 sq. ft. of drywall; 2,000 ÷ 1,000 = 2.0, then 370 × 2.0 = 740 lineal feet.

Net wall area to be sided

(Perimeter × wall height) − openings greater than 50 sq. ft.; smaller openings (windows, standard doors) are not subtracted. Example: 160 × 8 = 1,280; 1,280 − 120 = 1,160 sq. ft.

Maximum exposure for plain-bevel siding

Actual width − required head lap (1" for 4" and 6" nominal widths; 1-1/4" for widths over 6"). Example: 9-1/4" − 1-1/4" = 8" exposure for nominal 10" bevel siding.

Number of risers in a stairway

Total rise (in inches) ÷ 7" ideal riser height, rounded to the nearest whole number. Example: 8'-11" = 107"; 107 ÷ 7 = 15.28 → 15 risers.

Total run of a stairway

Total run = unit run × number of treads (number of treads depends on how the upper end is anchored to the upper landing).

Miter angle for a multi-sided figureMiter angle = 90° − (180 ÷ number of sides). Example, five sides: 180 ÷ 5 = 36°; 90° − 36° = 54°.

Rebar diameter from bar numberDiameter = bar number × 1/8 inch. Example: No. 4 bar = 4 × 1/8 = 1/2 inch.

Gutter slope / total drop

Minimum slope 1 inch per 16 feet (1/16 inch per foot) toward the downspout; total drop = run × 1/16. Example: 32 ft × 1/16 = 2 inches.

Nominal maximum aggregate size

Not more than one-third the depth of a slab and not more than one-fifth the narrowest dimension of a vertical member; the smaller governs. Example: 4" slab ÷ 3 ≈ 1-1/3"; 12" member ÷ 5 = 2.4" → use 1-1/3".

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