BC OWNER BUILDER FINAL TEST 2026
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ When is it the best to use sanded grout?.
Answer: a. When the gaps between tiles are biggerb. When the slab is
smallerc. Neverd. OtherAnswer a
◍ Some high efficiency windows have a gas injected between the panes. What
is the gas?.
Answer: a. Nitrogenb. Hydrogenc. Oxygend. ArgonAnswer d
◍ Occupational Health and Safety considers what kind of person a "qualified"
worker?.
Answer: a. Someone with 5 years of experience b. A qualified
tradespersonc. A registered apprentice d. Someone who knows enough to do
the workNote: OHS Regs state, "qualified" means being knowledgeable of
the work, the hazards involved and the means to control the hazards, by
reason of education, training, experience or a combination of thereof."
◍ Builder.
Answer: Someone who engages in the activity of constructing buildings
◍ How does the use of insulation minimize heat loss?.
Answer: a. By providing a weather barrier b. By providing a thermal barrier
c. By providing a vapour barrierd. By providing an acoustic barrierAnswer:
b
◍ Minimum horizontal overlap for building paper?.
Answer: a. 250mmb. 150mmc. 100mm or 4"d. 50mmAnswer c
◍ Which of these statements is false?.
, Answer: a. There are water resistant barriers that are also vapor barriers, and
there are materials that are water resistant barriers that are not vapor
barriers. b. There are materials that are air barriers and are also vapor
barriers, and there are materials that are air barriers but are not vapor
barriers. c. There are materials that are water resistant barriers but not air
barriers, and there are materials that are water resistant barriers that are air
barriers. d. Each individual vapor barrier, water resistant barrier or air
barrier material performs only one function in an air barrier system.Answer:
d
◍ Which statement is true?.
Answer: a. The title of an owner-built home cannot be legally transferred
during constructionb. Title must only be legally transferred to family
member of the owner builder c. Title can be legally transferred to
non-family members after 6 months of occupancy d. The tile of an owner
built-home can be legally transferred at any timeAnswer: a
◍ Appropriate location for water heater?.
Answer: It is recommended that the water heater be located near the center
of greatest hot water usage to prevent heat loss through the pipesand not be
installed outdoor. Do not locate the water heater where water lines could be
subject to freezing temperatures or in a tiny closet or hard to access spot.
◍ . When is a footing needed?.
Answer: Footings shall be provided under walls, columns, pilasters, piers,
fireplaces and chimneys that bear on soil or rock, except that footings may
be omitted under piers or monolithic concrete walls if the loadbearing
capacity of the soil or rock is not exceeded.
◍ Can the title of an owner builder-built home be transferred to a family
member?.
Answer: Not sure, but I think its not allowed in the first year.
◍ Which statement about R-Value is false?.
Answer: a. when calculating the R-value of a multi layered assembly (ex,
insulation, drywall, exterior cladding etc) the R-values of each componentb.
, the R-value of the thermal insulation depends on the type of material c. each
component in the assembly has the same R-value, and when combined
determines the overall R-value of of the assembly.d. The higher the r-value,
the greater the insulation effectivenessAnswer c
◍ How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab?.
Answer: a. 1/4 of the slab b. 1/2 of the slab c. 3/8 of the slab d. 7/8 of the
slabAnswer: A
◍ The owner-builder's brother in law is a licensed builder. What are the
restrictions regarding his involvement?.
Answer: a. There are no restrictions since the brother in law is licensedb.
The brother in law cannot directly supervise workersc. The brother in law
cannot fulfil any general contractor dutiesd. OtherAnswer c.
◍ At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation
is shoring required?.
Answer: 1.2 Meters or 4 feet
◍ What type of fasteners are used on rigid insulation?.
Answer: Plasti-grip
◍ Why schedule inspections far in advance?.
Answer: To avoid delays to schedule
◍ After building your second house how long do you have to wait to build
your third house?.
Answer: a. 3 yearsb. 18 monthsc. 5 yearsd. No waitAnswer a
◍ Due to its low-cost ABS pipe is used extensively for.
Answer: a. Directing steam b. Carrying hot water c. Carrying drain waste
vent d. Otheranswer c
◍ When does the 10-years warranty start?.
Answer: Either on the occupancy permit date or when you occupy the home.
Whatever is earliest
◍ Why do builders/contractors need to be insured?.
, Answer: Builders need to be insured to protect the owner's property from
damage.
◍ Can you build an attached residential building to a new multi-unit residential
building?.
Answer: No
◍ Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder
program?.
Answer: New dwelling unit attached to building newer than 10 years old
◍ . What is the moisture permeability of 6mil poly?.
Answer: 0.03 US perm (1.7 SI perm) or 1.7 ng
◍ Question about which is false regarding gas and propane fireplaces?.
Answer: a. Must be direct ventb. Must have intermittent ignitionc. Must
have constant pilotd. OtherAnswer a
◍ HRV questions about distance between external in and out vents?.
Answer: 6" apart and 18" off the ground
◍ Know how to do conversions of mm → inches.
Answer: 1"=25.4mm
◍ Rain barriers and how to make them more effective:.
Answer: a. Seal along a continuous gapb. Include drain holes every 4 ft.c.
OtherAnswer a
◍ Who issues permits for a gas fireplace?.
Answer: Safety Authority → now call Technical Safety BC
◍ How do you properly install rigid insulation in a cavity wall?.
Answer: a. Directly against the exteriorb. Directly against the sheathingc.
With airspace (two dimensions)d. Directly against the concreteAnswer d
◍ Definition of a tread run.
Answer: a. Face of one riser to face of the next b. From nosing to face of
next riser or the horizontal distance between two adjacent tread nosing on a
stair
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ When is it the best to use sanded grout?.
Answer: a. When the gaps between tiles are biggerb. When the slab is
smallerc. Neverd. OtherAnswer a
◍ Some high efficiency windows have a gas injected between the panes. What
is the gas?.
Answer: a. Nitrogenb. Hydrogenc. Oxygend. ArgonAnswer d
◍ Occupational Health and Safety considers what kind of person a "qualified"
worker?.
Answer: a. Someone with 5 years of experience b. A qualified
tradespersonc. A registered apprentice d. Someone who knows enough to do
the workNote: OHS Regs state, "qualified" means being knowledgeable of
the work, the hazards involved and the means to control the hazards, by
reason of education, training, experience or a combination of thereof."
◍ Builder.
Answer: Someone who engages in the activity of constructing buildings
◍ How does the use of insulation minimize heat loss?.
Answer: a. By providing a weather barrier b. By providing a thermal barrier
c. By providing a vapour barrierd. By providing an acoustic barrierAnswer:
b
◍ Minimum horizontal overlap for building paper?.
Answer: a. 250mmb. 150mmc. 100mm or 4"d. 50mmAnswer c
◍ Which of these statements is false?.
, Answer: a. There are water resistant barriers that are also vapor barriers, and
there are materials that are water resistant barriers that are not vapor
barriers. b. There are materials that are air barriers and are also vapor
barriers, and there are materials that are air barriers but are not vapor
barriers. c. There are materials that are water resistant barriers but not air
barriers, and there are materials that are water resistant barriers that are air
barriers. d. Each individual vapor barrier, water resistant barrier or air
barrier material performs only one function in an air barrier system.Answer:
d
◍ Which statement is true?.
Answer: a. The title of an owner-built home cannot be legally transferred
during constructionb. Title must only be legally transferred to family
member of the owner builder c. Title can be legally transferred to
non-family members after 6 months of occupancy d. The tile of an owner
built-home can be legally transferred at any timeAnswer: a
◍ Appropriate location for water heater?.
Answer: It is recommended that the water heater be located near the center
of greatest hot water usage to prevent heat loss through the pipesand not be
installed outdoor. Do not locate the water heater where water lines could be
subject to freezing temperatures or in a tiny closet or hard to access spot.
◍ . When is a footing needed?.
Answer: Footings shall be provided under walls, columns, pilasters, piers,
fireplaces and chimneys that bear on soil or rock, except that footings may
be omitted under piers or monolithic concrete walls if the loadbearing
capacity of the soil or rock is not exceeded.
◍ Can the title of an owner builder-built home be transferred to a family
member?.
Answer: Not sure, but I think its not allowed in the first year.
◍ Which statement about R-Value is false?.
Answer: a. when calculating the R-value of a multi layered assembly (ex,
insulation, drywall, exterior cladding etc) the R-values of each componentb.
, the R-value of the thermal insulation depends on the type of material c. each
component in the assembly has the same R-value, and when combined
determines the overall R-value of of the assembly.d. The higher the r-value,
the greater the insulation effectivenessAnswer c
◍ How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab?.
Answer: a. 1/4 of the slab b. 1/2 of the slab c. 3/8 of the slab d. 7/8 of the
slabAnswer: A
◍ The owner-builder's brother in law is a licensed builder. What are the
restrictions regarding his involvement?.
Answer: a. There are no restrictions since the brother in law is licensedb.
The brother in law cannot directly supervise workersc. The brother in law
cannot fulfil any general contractor dutiesd. OtherAnswer c.
◍ At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation
is shoring required?.
Answer: 1.2 Meters or 4 feet
◍ What type of fasteners are used on rigid insulation?.
Answer: Plasti-grip
◍ Why schedule inspections far in advance?.
Answer: To avoid delays to schedule
◍ After building your second house how long do you have to wait to build
your third house?.
Answer: a. 3 yearsb. 18 monthsc. 5 yearsd. No waitAnswer a
◍ Due to its low-cost ABS pipe is used extensively for.
Answer: a. Directing steam b. Carrying hot water c. Carrying drain waste
vent d. Otheranswer c
◍ When does the 10-years warranty start?.
Answer: Either on the occupancy permit date or when you occupy the home.
Whatever is earliest
◍ Why do builders/contractors need to be insured?.
, Answer: Builders need to be insured to protect the owner's property from
damage.
◍ Can you build an attached residential building to a new multi-unit residential
building?.
Answer: No
◍ Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder
program?.
Answer: New dwelling unit attached to building newer than 10 years old
◍ . What is the moisture permeability of 6mil poly?.
Answer: 0.03 US perm (1.7 SI perm) or 1.7 ng
◍ Question about which is false regarding gas and propane fireplaces?.
Answer: a. Must be direct ventb. Must have intermittent ignitionc. Must
have constant pilotd. OtherAnswer a
◍ HRV questions about distance between external in and out vents?.
Answer: 6" apart and 18" off the ground
◍ Know how to do conversions of mm → inches.
Answer: 1"=25.4mm
◍ Rain barriers and how to make them more effective:.
Answer: a. Seal along a continuous gapb. Include drain holes every 4 ft.c.
OtherAnswer a
◍ Who issues permits for a gas fireplace?.
Answer: Safety Authority → now call Technical Safety BC
◍ How do you properly install rigid insulation in a cavity wall?.
Answer: a. Directly against the exteriorb. Directly against the sheathingc.
With airspace (two dimensions)d. Directly against the concreteAnswer d
◍ Definition of a tread run.
Answer: a. Face of one riser to face of the next b. From nosing to face of
next riser or the horizontal distance between two adjacent tread nosing on a
stair
