Page 1 of 99
Michigan Residential Builder License EXAM ACTUAL
EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (ALL CONTENTS COVERED)
A) Business and Michigan Law
Licensing rules, builder responsibilities, penalties, contracts, documentation, liens, insurance, risk
management, estimating, job costing, project scheduling, and business operations.
B) Jobsite Safety
MIOSHA/OSHA rules including fall protection, scaffolds, ladders, trenching, electrical safety, hazard
communication, fire safety, PPE, and reporting requirements.
C) Residential Construction Technical Knowledge
Site work, foundations, concrete, framing, roofing, siding, moisture control, windows and doors,
insulation, ventilation, drywall, interior finishes, and builder-level mechanical awareness.
D) Plans and Math
Blueprint reading, interpreting specifications, construction calculations, and material takeoffs.
E) Inspections and Project Completion
Inspection sequencing, quality control, closeout, warranties, and handling homeowner disputes
professionally.
, Page 2 of 99
1.
A homeowner asks you to start framing immediately but refuses to sign a written agreement until later.
What is your best action?
A) Begin framing and trust the homeowner will sign later
B) Require a written contract signed before starting any work
C) Start only if the homeowner pays cash upfront
D) Ask the homeowner to sign after the first inspection passes
Answer: B
Rationale: Written contracts protect both parties and reduce disputes about scope, price, and timelines.
2.
During excavation, your crew discovers soft soil where footings were planned, and the inspector
requires correction. What is the proper response?
A) Ignore it because footings will harden the soil naturally
B) Notify the owner and engineer, then follow approved remediation steps
C) Pour concrete immediately before rain fills the excavation
D) Add extra water to concrete so it bonds into soft soil
Answer: B
Rationale: Soil issues require documented corrective action and sometimes engineering approval to
ensure structural stability.
, Page 3 of 99
3.
A subcontractor requests payment but cannot provide proof that their suppliers have been paid. What is
your safest step?
A) Pay immediately to avoid slowing the job schedule
B) Require lien waivers and proper documentation before releasing funds
C) Pay only half and ignore the rest until final completion
D) Tell the homeowner to pay the subcontractor directly
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper lien waivers reduce the risk of liens being filed against the property for unpaid
materials.
4.
A worker is installing roof sheathing on a steep roof without fall protection, claiming it slows
productivity. What should you do?
A) Allow it if the worker has years of experience
B) Stop work and require fall protection per MIOSHA standards
C) Only require fall protection when the roof is wet
D) Allow it if the homeowner is not watching
Answer: B
Rationale: Fall protection is mandatory and noncompliance can lead to severe injuries and legal
penalties.
, Page 4 of 99
5.
Your contract includes a fixed price, but lumber costs increased dramatically after signing. What is the
correct legal assumption?
A) The homeowner must pay the difference automatically
B) You must absorb the increase unless the contract allows adjustments
C) The city inspector must approve a new lumber price
D) Your supplier is legally required to reduce lumber prices
Answer: B
Rationale: Fixed-price contracts generally place cost risk on the contractor unless escalation clauses
exist.
6.
A foundation wall shows honeycombing after form removal, exposing aggregate and voids. What is the
best corrective action?
A) Leave it because backfill will hide the defect
B) Evaluate severity and repair using approved patching methods
C) Spray paint it to match surrounding concrete color
D) Add more anchor bolts to compensate for the voids
Answer: B
Rationale: Honeycombing may weaken concrete and must be repaired according to acceptable
construction practices.
Michigan Residential Builder License EXAM ACTUAL
EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (ALL CONTENTS COVERED)
A) Business and Michigan Law
Licensing rules, builder responsibilities, penalties, contracts, documentation, liens, insurance, risk
management, estimating, job costing, project scheduling, and business operations.
B) Jobsite Safety
MIOSHA/OSHA rules including fall protection, scaffolds, ladders, trenching, electrical safety, hazard
communication, fire safety, PPE, and reporting requirements.
C) Residential Construction Technical Knowledge
Site work, foundations, concrete, framing, roofing, siding, moisture control, windows and doors,
insulation, ventilation, drywall, interior finishes, and builder-level mechanical awareness.
D) Plans and Math
Blueprint reading, interpreting specifications, construction calculations, and material takeoffs.
E) Inspections and Project Completion
Inspection sequencing, quality control, closeout, warranties, and handling homeowner disputes
professionally.
, Page 2 of 99
1.
A homeowner asks you to start framing immediately but refuses to sign a written agreement until later.
What is your best action?
A) Begin framing and trust the homeowner will sign later
B) Require a written contract signed before starting any work
C) Start only if the homeowner pays cash upfront
D) Ask the homeowner to sign after the first inspection passes
Answer: B
Rationale: Written contracts protect both parties and reduce disputes about scope, price, and timelines.
2.
During excavation, your crew discovers soft soil where footings were planned, and the inspector
requires correction. What is the proper response?
A) Ignore it because footings will harden the soil naturally
B) Notify the owner and engineer, then follow approved remediation steps
C) Pour concrete immediately before rain fills the excavation
D) Add extra water to concrete so it bonds into soft soil
Answer: B
Rationale: Soil issues require documented corrective action and sometimes engineering approval to
ensure structural stability.
, Page 3 of 99
3.
A subcontractor requests payment but cannot provide proof that their suppliers have been paid. What is
your safest step?
A) Pay immediately to avoid slowing the job schedule
B) Require lien waivers and proper documentation before releasing funds
C) Pay only half and ignore the rest until final completion
D) Tell the homeowner to pay the subcontractor directly
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper lien waivers reduce the risk of liens being filed against the property for unpaid
materials.
4.
A worker is installing roof sheathing on a steep roof without fall protection, claiming it slows
productivity. What should you do?
A) Allow it if the worker has years of experience
B) Stop work and require fall protection per MIOSHA standards
C) Only require fall protection when the roof is wet
D) Allow it if the homeowner is not watching
Answer: B
Rationale: Fall protection is mandatory and noncompliance can lead to severe injuries and legal
penalties.
, Page 4 of 99
5.
Your contract includes a fixed price, but lumber costs increased dramatically after signing. What is the
correct legal assumption?
A) The homeowner must pay the difference automatically
B) You must absorb the increase unless the contract allows adjustments
C) The city inspector must approve a new lumber price
D) Your supplier is legally required to reduce lumber prices
Answer: B
Rationale: Fixed-price contracts generally place cost risk on the contractor unless escalation clauses
exist.
6.
A foundation wall shows honeycombing after form removal, exposing aggregate and voids. What is the
best corrective action?
A) Leave it because backfill will hide the defect
B) Evaluate severity and repair using approved patching methods
C) Spray paint it to match surrounding concrete color
D) Add more anchor bolts to compensate for the voids
Answer: B
Rationale: Honeycombing may weaken concrete and must be repaired according to acceptable
construction practices.
