Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
South Carolina (Limited) Building Contractor
South Carolina · 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
80
Passing score
70%
Exam time
300 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
South Carolina State Portion 80 questions
Sitework
7 Q · 9%
Underground utility locating and damage prevention (SC 811 one-call requirements)Excavator responsibilities under South Carolina Underground Facility Damage Prevention ActTolerance zone requirements and hand-digging near marked utilitiesSite layout and building location on a plot (batter boards, reference lines, surveying instruments)Soil classification, bearing capacity, and geotechnical investigation requirements (SC Building Code Chapter 18)Soil compaction methods, testing, and specifications (Proctor test, moisture content, lift thickness)Trench excavation, shoring systems, and trench safety (open ditch, shoring jacks, trench boxes)Site preparation (clearing, grading, drainage, backfill placement, and site grading slopes)
Concrete
10 Q · 12%
Concrete mixture components and proportioning (cement, aggregates, water, admixtures)Portland cement types and supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag)Formwork design, materials, and types (job-built, prefabricated, gang, slipforms, ICFs)Formwork safety requirements and OSHA Subpart Q complianceSteel reinforcement types, sizing, placement, and cover requirementsConcrete placement methods (chute, pump, buggy, bucket) and consolidationFlatwork finishing operations (screeding, floating, troweling, curing, jointing)Joints in concrete (contraction, isolation, construction) for slabs and structures
Masonry
10 Q · 12%
Masonry materials: brick types, classifications, and sizesConcrete masonry units (CMU): types, grades, and propertiesMortar types, proportions, and proper useMasonry wall systems: solid, cavity, veneer, composite, and reinforcedLaying brick: techniques, leads, corners, and mason's lineLaying concrete block: techniques, wall types, and joint beddingAnchors, ties, and joint reinforcement in masonry constructionSC Building Code Chapter 21: masonry construction requirements and design methods
Metals
10 Q · 12%
Open web steel joist types and designations (K-, LH-, DLH-, CJ-Series, Joist Girders)Steel joist erection procedures and OSHA safety requirements (29 CFR 1926.757)Bridging types, installation sequence, and anchorage requirementsErection bridging requirements by joist span and load table shading zonesJoist and joist girder end bearing and seat attachment specificationsHandling, receiving, unloading, and jobsite storage of steel joist productsCold-formed steel framing members, designations, and construction methodsSC Building Code Chapter 22 governing standards for structural steel, cold-formed steel, and steel joists
Carpentry
12 Q · 15%
Wood properties, moisture content, and lumber gradingEngineered wood products (plywood, OSB, LVL, glulam, I-joists)Structural framing systems (platform, balloon, post-and-beam, SIP)Floor framing (sill plates, girders, joists, subfloor installation)Wall framing components and assembly (studs, plates, headers, sheathing)Roof framing (common, hip, valley, and jack rafters; ridge layout; trusses)Stairway construction (stringers, risers, treads, handrails, code requirements)Carpentry hand tools, power saws, and pneumatic/power tool usage and safety
Thermal and Moisture Protection
9 Q · 11%
R-value and insulation requirements by climate zoneTypes of insulation materials (batts, loose-fill, rigid board, spray-foam)Vapor retarders: classes, placement, and code requirementsUnderlayment types, application, and attachment requirements for sloping roofsRoof covering materials and installation requirements (asphalt shingles, tile, wood shakes, slate, metal, roll roofing, built-up, elastomeric)Flashing installation (step, valley, drip edge, eaves, chimney, parapet)Weather-resistive barriers and exterior wall moisture protectionRoof fire classification and wind resistance requirements
Doors and Windows
2 Q · 2%
Door types: exterior and interior (passage, sliding, folding, pocket, bifold, French, fire-rated, garage)Door construction: solid-core vs. hollow-core and raised-panelDoor hardware: hinges, locksets (entry, privacy, passage), and strike platesDoor hand (swing direction) determination methodsExterior door installation: rough opening, framing, sill, shimming, and weatherstrippingInterior door installation: pre-hung units, jamb assembly, clearances, and door stopsWindow types: double-hung, casement, awning, hopper, horizontal-sliding, and stationarySafety glazing requirements: hazardous locations, impact standards, and identification markings
Finishes
2 Q · 2%
Drywall types, installation, and fastening requirementsJoint compound application, taping, and finishing techniquesInterior finish flame spread and smoke-developed classifications (SC Building Code Chapter 8)Gypsum board and plaster code requirements (SC Building Code Chapter 25)Hardwood and engineered-wood flooring installationResilient, ceramic tile, and carpet flooring installationInterior and exterior paint types, application, and surface preparationMolding and trim installation (baseboard, crown, casing, and door/window details)
Safety
5 Q · 6%
OSHA regulations and employer/employee responsibilities under 29 CFR 1926Fall protection systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest)Scaffold safety requirements and load capacitiesLadder and stairway safety requirementsExcavation and trenching safety (cave-in protection, shoring, sloping)Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and useFire prevention, fire protection equipment, and flammable liquid storageHazardous materials handling, confined spaces, and occupational health controls
General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating
13 Q · 16%
Occupancy classification and use groups (Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U)Building height and area limitations by construction type and occupancyTypes of construction (Types I–V) and fire-resistance rating requirementsMeans of egress requirements (occupant load, exit configuration, egress width, travel distance)Fire and smoke protection features (fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers)Reading architectural and construction plans (plan views, elevations, symbols, scales, schedules)Cost estimating methods (quantity takeoff, direct vs. indirect costs, unit cost estimating, bidding)Structural design loads and load combinations (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow)
Key Distinctions
SlopevsPitch
Slope is the ratio of rise to run (and is the term best suited to roof framing), while pitch is the ratio of rise to span.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 470MuntinvsMullion strip
A muntin is the vertical or horizontal piece within a sash that holds an individual pane of glass, while a mullion strip is the vertical piece separating combined window units.
Windows & Skylights chapter, Double-Hung Windows sectionCasement windowvsDouble-hung window
A casement has a side-hinged sash that swings in or out so the entire window area can be opened for ventilation, an advantage over the double-hung type.
Windows & Skylights chapter, Types of Windows sectionMetal roof shinglevsMetal roof panel
Per Section 202, a metal roof shingle is an interlocking metal sheet with installed weather exposure less than 3 square feet per sheet; a metal roof panel has a minimum installed weather exposure of 3 square feet or more per sheet.
SC Building Code 2021, Section 202 Definitions — Metal Roof Shingle / Metal Roof PanelDrip edge at eavesvsDrip edge at rakes
Underlayment is installed over the drip edge along eaves (drip edge first), while the drip edge is installed over the underlayment along rakes (underlayment first).
SC Building Code 2021, Section 1507.2.8.3Fiberglass asphalt shinglevsOrganic asphalt shingle
Fiberglass shingles use a fiberglass base mat saturated and covered with flexible asphalt and mineral granules, while organic shingles use a cellulose-fiber base mat.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 4—Asphalt ShinglesDirect construction costvsDirect (job) overhead cost
Direct construction costs are labor, material, and equipment tied to a specific trade or phase (pipe materials, backhoe rental, bedding aggregate), while direct (job) overhead covers job-specific administrative items not tied to a trade or phase, such as traffic control (barricades, flaggers, lane delineators) and pipe/soil density testing.
Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 20-21Active soil pressurevsAt-rest soil pressure
Per IBC 1610.1 Exception, foundation walls extending not more than 8 feet below grade and laterally supported at the top by flexible diaphragms are permitted to be designed for active pressure, whereas at-rest pressure is required where horizontal movement at the top is restricted.
IBC 2021 Section 1610.1Type III portland cementvsType I portland cement
Type III is high-early-strength, reaching in 7 days about the strength Type I (general purpose) reaches in 28 days, though beyond 2 or 3 months there is little difference in long-term strength.
Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Pages 14-15Solid-core doorvsHollow-core door
Solid-core doors (wood strips, particleboard, or rigid foam core with thin veneer) reduce warping and are more fire-resistant, so they are generally preferred for exterior doors.
Residential Doors chapter, Flat-Panel Doors sectionSlab thickened under interior bearing wallvsStandard footing
The thickened slab area acts like a footing but is formed by a trench dug in the subgrade rather than by formwork, and should be strengthened with rebar.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 11.1, Page 295Type M mortarvsType N / S / O mortar
Type M has high compressive strength and durability for heavily loaded or below-grade foundation walls; Type N is general masonry above grade, Type S is for earthquake/high-wind zones, and Type O is low-strength for interior walls.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 10.3, Page 279Single-layer underlayment (asphalt shingles)vsDouble underlayment (asphalt shingles)
Per IBC 1507.2.2, slopes from 2:12 up to 4:12 require double underlayment, while at 4:12 or greater a single layer applied shingle fashion with 2-inch laps is permitted.
IBC Section 1507.2.2Key Terms
Interlayment SC Building Code 2021, Section 202 Definitions — Interlayment
A layer of felt or nonbituminous saturated felt not less than 18 inches wide, shingled between each course of a wood-shake roof covering.
Steep slope (roof) SC Building Code 2021, Section 202 Definitions — Steep Slope
A roof slope of 2 units vertical in 12 units horizontal (17-percent slope) or greater.
Roof assembly SC Building Code 2021, Section 202 Definitions - Roof Assembly
A system providing weather protection and resistance to design loads consisting of a roof covering and roof deck (or a single component serving as both), and which can include underlayment, a thermal barrier, insulation, or a vapor retarder — but not structural framing.
Keyway Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 10.1, Page 258
A groove formed in the top of a footing (usually 3½" wide and 1½" deep, formed with a 2×4) that locks the foundation wall to the footing and prevents moisture seeping between them.
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, spading, or tapping the forms.
Porosity Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — The Excavation
The measurement of the ability of water to flow through soil, determined by soil testing before construction.
Differential leveling Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Measuring a Difference in Elevation
Determining differences in elevation between remote points requiring one or more additional intermediate instrument setups.
Reference line Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Basic Techniques / Measuring From a Reference Line
An existing line such as a street or marked property line that a building is planned parallel to, allowing site stakeout by measuring from it without a surveying instrument.
Theodolite Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Types of Instruments
A transit that reads horizontal and vertical angles electronically, needs no vernier scale, displays measurements on an LCD screen, and is used where extremely accurate measurements are required.
Batter boards Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Setting Up Batter Boards
Corner layout boards supported on three 2×4 stakes driven at each building corner at least 4 feet beyond the foundation lines to clear excavation.
Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 378
A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces, often created by a specific sheathing nail spacing and fastened to the framing above and to the sill plate and foundation below.
Collar tie Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 542
A horizontal framing member connecting opposite rafter pairs that prevents them from spreading apart and from bowing inward under load, and may support attic ceiling surfaces.
Ridge board Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 468
The horizontal framing member that connects the upper ends of the rafters and extends the full length of the house.
Room-finish schedule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3, Page 57
A plan schedule identifying the materials and finishes for floors, walls, and ceilings in each room and hallway.
Escalation allowance Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Page 27
A bid allowance for the increase in costs of labor, materials, and equipment between bid submission and the time the work is done and paid for, especially important during high inflation.
Reveal Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 26 (Molding & Trim)
A small offset between trim and the surface it is applied to — about ³⁄₁₆" on the face of a door jamb when nailing casing.
Gain Residential Doors chapter, Hinges section
A mortise (notch) cut for a hinge whose depth equals the thickness of a single hinge leaf, with one gain on the door edge and one on the jamb.
Sound Transmission Class (STC) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.2 — How Sound Travels
A numerical rating of a material's or assembly's ability to reduce airborne sound transmission; the higher the number, the better the sound barrier.
Plyform Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 19, Page 402
An exterior-type plywood specially manufactured for concrete forming from special wood species and veneer grades, available in Class I and Class II grades.
Non-standard SJI product SJI Technical Digest, Chapter 1 - Products
Special truss configurations such as barrel, bowstring, gable, and scissor joists that must be erected per the AISC Code of Standard Practice Section 7 and OSHA 1926.756 rather than typical SJI erection procedures.
Formulas to Know
Rain load on an undeflected roof (IBC 1611.1)
R = 5.2(ds + dh), where ds = static head (depth of water up to the secondary drainage inlet with primary drainage blocked) and dh = hydraulic head (added depth above that inlet at design flow); design rainfall based on the 100-year, 15-minute eventExcavation volume and conversion to cubic yards
Volume (cf) = (building width + clearance each side) × (building length + clearance each side) × depth; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Example: (26+2+2) × (40+2+2) × 7 = 9,240 cf ÷ 27 ≈ 342 cyRoof rise from span and pitch
Run = span ÷ 2; Rise = run × (pitch rise ÷ 12). Example: 63' span → run 31.50'; 8:12 → rise = 31.50 × 8/12 = 21.00'Ridge elevation
Ridge elevation = top-of-wall elevation + rise. Example: 12.00' + 21.00' = 33.00'Sloped rafter / top-chord length (no overhang)
Rafter length = √(run² + rise²). Example: √(31.50² + 21.00²) = √1,433.25 = 37.86'Roof slope angle from horizontal
Angle = arctan(rise ÷ run). Example: arctan(12 ÷ 24) = 26.6 degreesSloped roof area and squares from plan footprint
Slope factor = √(12² + rise²) ÷ 12 (6:12 = 1.118); Roof area = footprint area × slope factor; Squares = roof area ÷ 100. Example: 2,160 sf × 1.118 = 2,415 sf = 24.2 squaresFooting formwork contact area and concrete volume
Contact area = length × form height × number of faces (200 × 1.0 × 2 = 400 sf); Concrete = length × width × depth ÷ 27 (200 × 2 × 1 = 400 cf ÷ 27 = 14.8 cy, order 15 cy)Labor price with burden and overhead & profit
Total = (contact area × unit labor rate) × (1 + burden %) × (1 + O&P %). Example: 400 sf × $1.25 = $500 × 1.25 = $625 × 1.15 = $718.75Site fill volume from average elevations
Average existing elevation = sum of corner elevations ÷ 4; Average fill depth = target elevation − average existing; Volume (cy) = lot area × fill depth ÷ 27. Example: 6,000 sf × 1.00' = 6,000 cf ÷ 27 = 222.2 cy