403A Study Guide 2026

A story pole (or storey rod) is a long straight board marked with all vertical heights — floor-to-floor, window heights, door heights — used to quickly transfer identical measurements to walls, frames, and openings throughout the building.

A cut (open) stringer has triangular notches cut from its top edge to form seats for the treads and risers, creating a visible sawtooth profile.

Hurricane ties (also called rafter ties or H-straps) are metal connectors that anchor rafters directly to the wall framing. They resist uplift forces from wind pressure acting on the underside of roof overhangs and from negative pressure on the roof surface.

A roof truss is a pre-engineered, prefabricated triangulated framework typically made from 2×4 or 2×6 lumber connected with metal connector plates. Unlike conventional rafters that may require interior bearing walls, trusses span the full width of the building.

Contour lines connect points of equal elevation on a site plan, showing the topography and slope of the land. Closely spaced contour lines indicate steep terrain, while widely spaced lines indicate gentle slopes.

Control joints (contraction joints) are weakened planes that cause the concrete to crack at a predetermined location rather than randomly — they do not allow movement. Expansion joints use a compressible filler to allow adjacent slabs to move toward each other without cracking.