Mississippi Residential Remodeler

(5 questions, 10% of exam | Reference: 29 CFR 1926)

Key Concepts

Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926 Subpart M)

• Fall protection required at 6 feet above a lower level in construction.
• Guardrail systems: Top rail at 42 inches (±3 in.), midrail at approximately 21 inches, withstand 200 lbs of force.
• Safety nets: Must be installed within 30 feet below the working surface; impact load tested.
• Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS): Must stop a fall within 3.5 feet of free fall, limit deceleration force to 1,800 lbs, and prevent worker from contacting lower level. Anchorage must support 5,000 lbs per worker.

Ladder Safety (29 CFR 1926 Subpart X)

• Portable ladders must extend 3 feet above the upper landing surface.
• Set at a 4:1 angle (1 foot out for every 4 feet of height).
• Type I (Industrial): 250 lbs; Type IA (Extra Heavy Duty): 300 lbs; Type II (Commercial): 225 lbs; Type III (Household): 200 lbs.
• Never use the top two rungs of a stepladder.…

Key Concepts

Door Types and Construction

• Solid-core doors: Dense interior (particleboard, mineral core, or wood blocks); heavier, better sound/fire resistance; used for exterior and high-traffic interior applications
• Hollow-core doors: Honeycomb or grid interior; lightweight; used for interior residential applications only
• Raised-panel doors: Panels are beveled/elevated above the frame rails and stiles; traditional/classic aesthetic
• Flat-panel (recessed-panel) doors: Panels sit flush or below the frame; cleaner, contemporary look

Door Hand Determination

To determine door hand (handing): stand on the exterior (or pull) side of the door facing it. If hinges are on the left → left-hand door. If hinges are on the right → right-hand door. A "reverse" designation applies when the door swings toward you (rather than away).

(11 questions, 22% of exam — highest-weighted topic)

Key Concepts

Wall Framing Components

• Bottom plate (sole plate): Single plate nailed to subfloor; top plate is doubled (double top plate) to carry loads and tie corners.
• Studs: Typically 2×4 or 2×6, spaced 16" or 24" o.c. Standard wall stud height is 92⅝" for an 8' finished ceiling.
• King studs: Full-height studs on each side of an opening; run from plate to plate.
• Trimmer (jack) studs: Nailed to king studs; support the header directly.
• Headers: Carry load over openings. Size is determined by span and load. Common: doubled 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12 with ½" OSB spacer to match 2× wall width, or solid LVL.
• Cripple studs: Short studs above a header (to top plate) or below a rough sill (to bottom plate). They are NOT load-bearing but must be present for nailing and code compliance.

12% of exam — 6 questions

Key Concepts

Molding & Trim Installation - Molding = narrow lengths of wood shaped to a profile; trim = square-edged stock surfaced on 4 sides (S4S) - Coped joints are preferred over miter joints at inside corners — they stay tight even when wood expands/contracts with moisture changes - Reveal: the small offset (typically ¼"–3/16") between the edge of the door/window jamb and the edge of the casing — must be consistent and marked before installing casing - Crown molding installs at a springing angle — the angle at which it sits against wall and ceiling; backing blocks may be needed in corners - Chair rail installs at approximately 32"–36" AFF; picture rail installs near ceiling line - Return: a short mitered piece that terminates a molding profile at a wall or door

6 Questions | 12% of Exam

Key Concepts

Plumbing – Supply & DWV

• Copper pipe types: Type K (thickest, underground), Type L (general interior supply), Type M (light duty, drain lines). CPVC is approved for hot/cold supply; PVC for DWV only.
• Cast iron used for DWV in noise-sensitive applications; joined with hub-and-spigot or no-hub couplings.
• Drain slope: ¼" per foot (1/8" per foot allowed for 4" and larger pipes).
• Trap requirements: Every fixture needs a trap; maximum trap-to-vent distance varies by pipe diameter (e.g., 1.25" pipe = 30" max, 1.5" = 42", 2" = 60").
• DWV materials: ABS and PVC plastic are common; must be rated for drain, waste, and vent use.

Fuel Gas Piping

• Materials: Black steel pipe (most common), CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing), copper (only where not prohibited by local code).
• Sizing: Based on BTU demand, pipe length, and pressure drop—use manufacturer's sizing tables.
• Pressure testing: Test at 1.5× working pressure, minimum 3 psi for 30 minutes (or 10 psi…

Key Concepts

Concrete Mixture Components

• Four required ingredients: Portland cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (gravel/crushed stone), and water. Remove any one and it is no longer concrete (e.g., no coarse aggregate = mortar or grout).
• Hydration: Chemical reaction between cement and water that causes hardening; generates heat as concrete cures.
• Water-cement ratio: Lower ratio = higher strength. Excess water weakens concrete and increases shrinkage cracking.
• Admixtures modify concrete properties: accelerators (speed set time), retarders (slow set), plasticizers (improve workability), air-entraining agents (freeze-thaw resistance), and waterproofing agents.

Portland Cement Types (ASTM)

Key Concepts

Mortar Types & Proportions

• Type M – Highest strength; use below grade, retaining walls, exterior/heavy-load applications
• Type S – High strength; use at/below grade, exterior walls, foundation walls
• Type N – Medium strength; general above-grade exterior use, veneers, chimneys above roofline
• Type O – Low strength; interior non-load-bearing walls only
• Mortar consists of Portland cement, hydrated lime, and sand — proportions vary by type. Type S: 1 part cement, ½ part lime, 4½ parts sand. Type N: 1 part cement, 1 part lime, 6 parts sand.
• Retempering: Adding water to restore workability to stiffened mortar. Mortar must be used within 1.5–2 hours of mixing; discard after that window.

Brick & CMU Classifications

• Standard modular brick nominal size: 4" × 2⅔" × 8" (actual: 3⅝" × 2¼" × 7⅝")
• Coursing: three courses of standard brick = 8" height with mortar joints
• Joint thickness: typically ⅜" to ½"
• CMU (concrete masonry units): standard nominal size 8" × 8" × 16"

Key Concepts

Roof Sheathing

• Panel sheathing must carry a span rating stamped on the panel (e.g., 24/16 means 24" roof span / 16" floor span).
• Common thicknesses: 7/16" for 16" o.c. rafters; 15/32" or 1/2" for 24" o.c. rafters.
• Panels installed with face grain perpendicular to rafters; stagger end joints.
• Edge support required (H-clips or blocking) when span exceeds panel rating without edge support.
• Nail with 8d common nails at 6" o.c. panel edges and 12" o.c. field minimum.

Rafter Sizing

• Sized by species, grade, spacing, and span using IRC span tables (Chapter 8).
• Larger rafter depth = longer allowable span; reducing spacing (24" → 16" o.c.) increases allowable span.
• Ridge board must be one size wider than rafter stock (2×8 rafters → 2×10 ridge board).