Virginia HIC Exam | Complete Study Guide and
Practice Questions and Verified Answers
(Expert Graded A+) | Brand New Version
1. The MOST specific information about the size and location of windows
would be found in a - ANSWER Floor plan
2. What direction does heat flow? - ANSWER Hot to cold
3. What are batter boards - ANSWER stakes and ledger boards marking
building lines
4. What is the MAXIMUM distance between a ventilating opening in an under-
floor space and each corner of the building? - ANSWER 3 feet
5. What is the maximum size of a floor frame opening? - ANSWER 5 sq ft
(62) (R310.2.1)/ 4 ft header joist (130) (R502.10)
6. When installing a string of wall cabinets, the cabinets should - ANSWER
Be attached to the adjacent cabinets before to the wall
7. What is the MINIMUM height for a stairway handrail - ANSWER 34
inches
8. A third stairway stringer should be used when the stair width exceeds -
ANSWER 30 inches
,9. What type of nail are best for general construction? - ANSWER Smooth
shank
10.What is the MAXIMUM flame spread index for insulation materials -
ANSWER 25 (R302.10.1)
11.What is the MAXIMUM dimension of the ventilation coverings for under-
floor space - ANSWER 1/4 inch (R 408.2)
12.Flexible insulation placed in floor joists above an unheated crawl space
should - ANSWER Be well supported between joists/using a wire mesh or
rigid board (c 904-5)
13.In a crawl space how far from the floor joints do you need to place vapor
retarder - ANSWER Top Soil
14.Ice dam protection needs to be _________ from the edge of eaves -
ANSWER 24 inches (R905.1.2)
15.Where to install radiant heat barrier in attic - ANSWER Rafters
16.What is the major advantage of icynene over polyurethane foam -
ANSWER Can be poured instead of sprayed
17.In a crawl space, what kind of vapor retarder should be used? - ANSWER 6
mil or 8 mil
18.When batt insulation is installed a vapor retarder that __________ is
commonly - ANSWER 4 mil polyethylene
,19.What is the minimum amount of space that is allowed between roof sheeting
and insulation to allow the passage of air? - ANSWER 1 1/2 in
20.In a ceiling batt insulation where is the vapor retarder placed? - ANSWER
Against the back of ceiling finish
21.What is NOT required in exterior nonbearing walls? - ANSWER Load-
bearing headers
22.A lengthwise grain separation between or through the growth rings of
lumber is called a - ANSWER Shake (c 326)
23.The abbreviation "d" in "16d" means - ANSWER Penny
24.Notches may not be located in the ____________ of a joist span -
ANSWER Middle 1/3
25.How should board and batten be installed? - ANSWER 1 inch overlap 10d
nails
26.What is the maximum allowable notch in ceiling joists - ANSWER 1/6 the
depth of the member
27.How MUST rafters be framed to each other - ANSWER Gusset plate
(R802.3)
, 28.What is used to prevent buckling at points of high stress? - ANSWER
Squash blocks
29.Prior to the installation of wood floor how long for acclimation? -
ANSWER 4-5 days
30.Where do you start laying parquet flooring - ANSWER Centerline
31.What is the first step in carpet installation? - ANSWER Tackless strip
32.What type of nail is used in floor installation - ANSWER 7d or 8d
threaded/Cut steel
33.What should be applied to crevices in wood flooring? - ANSWER Filling
34.What is the best nail for hardwood - ANSWER Ring shank nail
35.A vapor retarder on blanket installation MUST - ANSWER Face the warm
side of the wall
36.How should radiant heat barrier be installed - ANSWER Either rafters (1st
choice)/ perforated
37.The nailing holes in aluminum and vinyl siding are elongated to allow for -
ANSWER Expansion and contraction
38.What is the MINIMUM lap of rabbeted horizontal lap siding - ANSWER
1/2 inches (R703.5.3)
Practice Questions and Verified Answers
(Expert Graded A+) | Brand New Version
1. The MOST specific information about the size and location of windows
would be found in a - ANSWER Floor plan
2. What direction does heat flow? - ANSWER Hot to cold
3. What are batter boards - ANSWER stakes and ledger boards marking
building lines
4. What is the MAXIMUM distance between a ventilating opening in an under-
floor space and each corner of the building? - ANSWER 3 feet
5. What is the maximum size of a floor frame opening? - ANSWER 5 sq ft
(62) (R310.2.1)/ 4 ft header joist (130) (R502.10)
6. When installing a string of wall cabinets, the cabinets should - ANSWER
Be attached to the adjacent cabinets before to the wall
7. What is the MINIMUM height for a stairway handrail - ANSWER 34
inches
8. A third stairway stringer should be used when the stair width exceeds -
ANSWER 30 inches
,9. What type of nail are best for general construction? - ANSWER Smooth
shank
10.What is the MAXIMUM flame spread index for insulation materials -
ANSWER 25 (R302.10.1)
11.What is the MAXIMUM dimension of the ventilation coverings for under-
floor space - ANSWER 1/4 inch (R 408.2)
12.Flexible insulation placed in floor joists above an unheated crawl space
should - ANSWER Be well supported between joists/using a wire mesh or
rigid board (c 904-5)
13.In a crawl space how far from the floor joints do you need to place vapor
retarder - ANSWER Top Soil
14.Ice dam protection needs to be _________ from the edge of eaves -
ANSWER 24 inches (R905.1.2)
15.Where to install radiant heat barrier in attic - ANSWER Rafters
16.What is the major advantage of icynene over polyurethane foam -
ANSWER Can be poured instead of sprayed
17.In a crawl space, what kind of vapor retarder should be used? - ANSWER 6
mil or 8 mil
18.When batt insulation is installed a vapor retarder that __________ is
commonly - ANSWER 4 mil polyethylene
,19.What is the minimum amount of space that is allowed between roof sheeting
and insulation to allow the passage of air? - ANSWER 1 1/2 in
20.In a ceiling batt insulation where is the vapor retarder placed? - ANSWER
Against the back of ceiling finish
21.What is NOT required in exterior nonbearing walls? - ANSWER Load-
bearing headers
22.A lengthwise grain separation between or through the growth rings of
lumber is called a - ANSWER Shake (c 326)
23.The abbreviation "d" in "16d" means - ANSWER Penny
24.Notches may not be located in the ____________ of a joist span -
ANSWER Middle 1/3
25.How should board and batten be installed? - ANSWER 1 inch overlap 10d
nails
26.What is the maximum allowable notch in ceiling joists - ANSWER 1/6 the
depth of the member
27.How MUST rafters be framed to each other - ANSWER Gusset plate
(R802.3)
, 28.What is used to prevent buckling at points of high stress? - ANSWER
Squash blocks
29.Prior to the installation of wood floor how long for acclimation? -
ANSWER 4-5 days
30.Where do you start laying parquet flooring - ANSWER Centerline
31.What is the first step in carpet installation? - ANSWER Tackless strip
32.What type of nail is used in floor installation - ANSWER 7d or 8d
threaded/Cut steel
33.What should be applied to crevices in wood flooring? - ANSWER Filling
34.What is the best nail for hardwood - ANSWER Ring shank nail
35.A vapor retarder on blanket installation MUST - ANSWER Face the warm
side of the wall
36.How should radiant heat barrier be installed - ANSWER Either rafters (1st
choice)/ perforated
37.The nailing holes in aluminum and vinyl siding are elongated to allow for -
ANSWER Expansion and contraction
38.What is the MINIMUM lap of rabbeted horizontal lap siding - ANSWER
1/2 inches (R703.5.3)
