Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Mississippi Residential Remodeler

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

150 min

Administered by

PSI Services Contractor

Format

Reference materials allowed

Mississippi State Portion 50 questions

Safety 5 Q · 10%

Fall protection systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest)Ladder safety requirements and classificationsScaffold types, capacity, and safe useFire protection, prevention, and extinguisher selectionPersonal protective equipment (PPE) selection and requirementsHazardous and toxic substances exposure limits (asbestos, silica, lead)Confined space entry procedures and permit requirementsHand and power tool safety and guarding requirements

Windows and Doors 4 Q · 8%

Door types and construction (solid-core, hollow-core, raised-panel, flat-panel)Rough opening sizing and framing requirements for doors and windowsDoor hardware selection and installation (hinges, locksets, strikes)Window types and operational styles (double-hung, casement, awning, hopper, sliding, stationary)Exterior door installation (plumbing, shimming, clearances, weatherstripping, thresholds)Window and door trim installation (casing styles, stool and apron, extension jambs, reveals)Door hand determination and swing directionWindow energy efficiency (glazing types, low-e coatings, U-values, weatherstripping, frame materials)

Rough Carpentry 11 Q · 22%

Wall framing components and assembly (plates, studs, headers, cripple studs, trimmer studs)Floor framing systems (sill plates, girders, joists, bridging, subfloor)Roof framing types and rafter layout (common, hip, valley, jack rafters, ridge board)Wall and roof sheathing installation and fastening requirementsStair framing and construction (stringers, treads, risers, stairwell framing)Lumber grades, species, and engineered wood products (LVL, I-joists, glulam, OSB, plywood)Wall bracing methods and braced wall panel requirements (IRC prescriptive methods)Deck and porch structural framing (posts, beams, ledger attachment, preservative-treated wood)

Finish Carpentry 6 Q · 12%

Molding and trim installation (base, crown, cornice, chair rail, picture rail)Interior door and window casing and trim detailsHardwood and engineered-wood finish flooring installationCabinet and countertop installation (base units, wall units, layout, leveling)Wall treatments (tongue-and-groove wainscot, frame-and-panel wainscot, sheet paneling)Stair trim-out (treads, risers, skirt boards, balustrade components)Ceiling treatments (strip ceilings, panel ceilings, applied beams)Fireplace surrounds and mantel installation

Associated Trades 6 Q · 12%

Plumbing supply and DWV system materials and installation (copper, plastic, cast iron)Fuel gas piping systems: sizing, materials, and pressure testingHVAC equipment installation: clearances, access, and appliance location requirementsDuct system construction, sealing, and insulation requirementsExhaust systems: clothes dryer, cooking equipment, and whole-house ventilationElectrical system basics: circuits, service panels, and wiring requirements for dwellingsThermal insulation types, R-values, vapor retarders, and climate zone requirementsSteel framing: materials, fastening methods, and structural considerations

Concrete 5 Q · 10%

Concrete mixture components and proportioning (cement types, aggregates, water-cement ratio, admixtures)Formwork design, materials, and types (job-built, prefabricated, gang, ICF, slipforms)Foundation and footing design requirements (size, depth, frost protection, soil bearing capacity)Steel reinforcement types, placement, and cover requirementsConcrete placement methods and consolidation techniques (pumping, vibration, lift sequence)Concrete finishing operations for flatwork (screeding, floating, troweling, curing)Joints in concrete construction (contraction, isolation, construction joints — slabs and walls)Common concrete field problems, causes, and prevention (cracking, bleeding, scaling, honeycombing)

Masonry 5 Q · 10%

Mortar types, proportions, and mixing proceduresBrick and concrete masonry unit types, sizes, and classificationsMasonry wall systems (solid, cavity, composite, veneer, and reinforced walls)Brick and block laying techniques, leads, and coursingFlashing, weep holes, and moisture control in masonry wallsWall ties, anchors, and joint reinforcementMasonry fireplaces and chimney construction requirementsBrick and masonry paving, steps, and exterior applications

Residential Roofing 8 Q · 16%

Roof sheathing types, span ratings, and installation requirementsRafter sizing and span tables for wood roof framingRoof covering materials and minimum slope requirements by product typeUnderlayment types, application methods, and ice barrier requirementsFlashing installation at valleys, chimneys, sidewalls, and roof penetrationsAttic and rafter space ventilation requirementsWood roof trusses: design, bracing, and alteration restrictionsGutter systems: components, slope requirements, and installation

Key Distinctions

Quantity takeoff estimatevsPre-design / parametric estimate

A quantity takeoff is prepared after design is complete by counting and measuring actual material quantities from finished construction documents, while pre-design estimates are rough approximations made before drawings exist and parametric estimates use historical cost-per-unit data.

IRC Section R602.3, Table R602.3(1)

Nominal lumber dimensionsvsActual (dressed) dimensions

Board feet are always figured on nominal size (a 2×6 counts as 2 in. × 6 in.), never on the actual dressed size of 1½ in. × 5½ in.

IRC Section R602.1, R602.3; IRC 2018 Section R602.1

Rafter span measured along horizontal projectionvsActual sloped rafter length

IRC R802.4.1 requires rafter spans in span tables to be measured along the horizontal projection of the rafter, not along the rafter's actual sloped length.

IRC Section R802.4.1; IRC 2018 Section R802.4.1

Span tablevsSchedule

A span table lists the distances a structural product can span between supports such as walls or columns, while a schedule is a chart in the plan set giving items such as window/door rough-opening sizes and styles.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 13.2, Page 355

Collar ties for structural purposes onlyvsCollar ties supporting a ceiling

Structural-only collar ties go at every fourth rafter pair at 16" OC (every third pair at 24" OC), whereas collar ties at every rafter pair are required only when they will support a ceiling.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.3, Page 542

Shear wallvsHold-down anchor

A shear wall is a wall (created in part by close sheathing nail spacing) that resists lateral sideways forces, while a hold-down anchor is a steel bracket at each corner that keeps walls from tipping over during seismic events.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1, Page 14-11 (Book Page 378)

Holes in the web of steel framingvsHoles in the flange of steel framing

Web holes/punchouts are permitted for utility routing, 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 - Punchouts

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

The first number is the maximum support spacing 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 562-563

Grade SW building brickvsGrade MW / Grade NW building brick

Grade SW is highly frost-resistant for bricks exposed to freezing weather (foundation courses, retaining walls), while MW is for moderate exposure and NW is for interior backup masonry (FBX is a facing-brick classification, not a building-brick grade).

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 116

Common (American) bondvsFlemish, English, and stack bonds

Common bond is a running-bond variation with full-length header courses every fifth to seventh course for structural bonding; Flemish alternates headers and stretchers in every course, English uses alternating full courses of headers and stretchers, and stack bond is purely a pattern with no overlapping.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Pages 129-130

8d ring-shank nail (2½ in. × 0.131 in.) tie fastenervs8d common nail tie fastener

Per IRC Table R703.8.4(1) footnote c, brick-veneer corrugated tie fasteners must be 8d ring-shank nails in Seismic Design Categories D₀, D₁, or D₂, an upgrade from the 8d common nail allowed in lower seismic design categories.

IRC 2021 Table R703.8.4(1), footnote c; IRC 2018 Table R703.8.4(1)

Coping sawvsFlush-cutting saw

A coping saw (20 teeth per inch) is used mainly to cut coped molding joints at inside corners, while a flush-cutting saw trims bungs, pins, and other protrusions flush to a surface.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 2 - Finish Carpentry Hand Tools

Assembling picture-frame casing on a flat work surfacevsAssembling it around the window

A full-surround (picture frame) casing should be mitered, splined/biscuited, and glued on a flat work surface and then lifted to the window — not assembled directly around the window.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 9 — Casing Surround Frames: The Picture Frame Method

Hip and valley rafter sizevsCommon rafter size

Hip and valley rafters are 2 inches wider in nominal dimension than the common rafters (2×8 hips with 2×6 commons) so intersecting jack rafter ends get full bearing.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 18, Page 504

Key Terms

Quantity takeoff estimate IRC Section R602.3, Table R602.3(1)

An estimate prepared after design is complete, using actual counts and measurements of materials taken from the finished plans and specifications.

Board foot Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 13.2, Page 359

A unit of lumber volume equal to a piece measuring 1" × 12" × 12", computed from nominal thickness and width times length in feet divided by 12.

Span table Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 13.2, Page 355

A list of distances that a particular structural product can span between structural supports such as walls or columns, supplied with installation details by each manufacturer.

Schedule (window/door) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 16.2, Page 440

A chart included in building plans that gives rough-opening sizes and related information for windows and doors; dimensions list width first, then height, followed by number of lites and style (e.g., "24½" x 24", 2 lites D.H.").

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 in seismic zones and created in part by a specific sheathing nail spacing, with panels set vertically and fastened to framing above and to the sill plate/foundation below.

Hold-down anchor Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1, Page 14-12 (Book Page 379)

A steel bracket installed at each corner of the house (or as local codes require), bolted to the foundation and lag-screwed or bolted to framing, that prevents walls from tipping over in a seismic event.

Cripple stud Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 16.1 (Book Page 434)

A shortened stud above a header or below a rough sill, placed where a full-length precut stud would fall, that provides a nailing surface for exterior sheathing and interior wall covering while maintaining the 16" or 24" OC layout.

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, done with a vibrator, tamping, spearing with a spade, or tapping the forms.

Reveal Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 26 (Molding & Trim)

A small offset between a piece of trim and the surface it is applied to; door casings are nailed to the jamb leaving about a ³⁄₁₆" reveal on the jamb face.

Purlin and brace system Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.3, Page 544

Purlins reduce rafter span and must be continuous between braces; braces must be at least 2×4 stock, run to bearing walls (never non-bearing walls) at not less than a 45° angle, be no longer than 8', and be spaced not more than 4' OC.

Ridge board (nonstructural ridge) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.1, Page 530

Nominal 2" lumber slightly wider than the rafter stock (2×10 ridge with 2×8 rafters) so the angled cuts at the rafter ends bear fully on it.

False riser Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 18 — Installing the Open-Side Skirt Board

A scrap piece of riser stock cut to fit loosely between skirt boards, plumbed and slid against the open-side skirt to mark where the inside edge of the mitered riser joint will be cut.

3-4-5 rule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 16.2, Pages 438-439

A squaring check in which 3 feet measured along one layout line and 4 feet along the other must give exactly a 5-foot diagonal; if not, adjust one layout line until the corner is square before locating remaining walls.

Architect's scale at ¼" = 1'-0" IRC Section R502.2, Figure R502.2; IRC 2018 Section R502.2

A common residential plan scale in which each ¼ inch measured on the drawing represents 1 foot of actual building dimension.

Presumptive load-bearing value IRC Table R401.4.1; IRC 2018 Table R401.4.1

The assumed soil bearing pressure used with prescriptive footing tables; sandy gravel and/or gravel (GW and GP) is 3,000 pounds per square foot per IRC Table R401.4.1.

DFL IRC Table R502.3.1(2); IRC 2018 Table R502.3.1(2)

Plan and span-table abbreviation for Douglas fir-larch, a standard lumber species group listed for floor joists in IRC Tables R502.3.1(1) and R502.3.1(2).

HDR Carpentry and Building Construction, Ready Reference Appendix, Page 1024

Standard architectural abbreviation for Header (HDW is the separate abbreviation for Hardware).

Formulas to Know

Board feet of lumber (per piece and per order)

BF per piece = (nominal thickness in. × nominal width in. × length ft) ÷ 12; total BF = BF per piece × number of pieces. Ex: (2×10×22)÷12 = 36.67 BF × 24 pcs ≈ 880 BF; (2×4×10)÷12 = 6.67 BF × 35 pcs ≈ 233 BF; 2×6×12' = 12 BF × 50 pcs = 600 BF.

Number of studs in a wall at 16" OCStuds = (wall length in ft ÷ 1.333 ft) + 1, not counting extras for corners/openings. Ex: (48 ÷ 1.333) + 1 = 37 studs.

Roof sheathing panel count with waste

Panels = total roof area ÷ 32 sq ft per panel, then add 5% for trim and waste and round up. Ex: 72.19 × 0.05 = 3.6; 72.19 + 3.6 = 75.79 → 76 sheets.

Roof framing lumber by board-feet table (rafters, ridge, collar ties)

BF = (roof surface area ÷ 100) × table BF per 100 sq ft. Ex: 2×6 rafters @16" OC = 102 BF/100 sq ft; (2,100 ÷ 100) × 102 = 2,142 BF.

Rough floor-joist material estimate (first step)

Step 1: floor area = length × width for each level (20' × 40' = 800 sq ft); then apply the board-feet-per-100-sq-ft factor and the cost per board foot.

Crawl-space ventilation net areaNet vent area = crawl-space area ÷ 150 (1 sq ft of venting per 150 sq ft of crawl space). Ex: 1,200 ÷ 150 = 8 sq ft.

Gutter slope total dropDrop = run in ft × 1/16 in. per ft (minimum 1 in. per 16 ft toward downspout). Ex: 32 × 1/16 = 2 in.

Roof rise from span and pitch

Run = span ÷ 2; Rise = run × (rise per 12 ÷ 12). Ex: 56 ÷ 2 = 28; 28 × (6/12) = 14.00'. Ex: 63 ÷ 2 = 31.50; 31.50 × (8/12) = 21.00'.

Ridge elevationRidge elevation = top-of-wall elevation + rise. Ex: 9.00' + 14.00' = 23.00'; 12.00' + 21.00' = 33.00'.

Sloped rafter / top-chord lengthLength = √(run² + rise²). Ex: √(24² + 12²) = √720 = 26.8 ft; √(31.50² + 21.00²) = √1433.25 = 37.86'.

Roof slope as x-in-12 and as an angle

Slope = rise ÷ run; x-in-12 = (rise ÷ run) × 12 (12 ÷ 24 = 0.5 → 6 in 12); angle = arctan(rise ÷ run) = arctan(0.5) = 26.6°.

Scale conversion from drawing to actual length (¼" = 1'-0")Actual ft = drawing inches ÷ 0.25. Ex: 3 in. ÷ 0.25 = 12 ft.

Footing size adjustment for wide buildings

For building width perpendicular to the wall footing greater than 32 ft: increase footing width 2 in. and footing depth 1 in. for every 4 ft of added width. Ex: 36 ft wide = +2 in. width, +1 in. depth.

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