Construction Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Construction facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. _______ have four different orientations of slope. → Hipped roof
2. Which type of wood joint uses a toothed metal plate connector pressed into both wood members at a truss joint? → Truss plate (Gang-nail plate)
3. What is the minimum clearance required between the top of a residential electrical panel and the ceiling? → 6.5 feet
4. ________ are the best kind of piles for soft soil with little resistance to the flow of concrete. → Vibro pile
5. Choose two of the following to represent the widely used geophysical approach in civil engineering: → The seismic method
6. _______ is a type of mortar that uses both cement and lime as binding agents. → Gauged mortar
7. The wedge-shaped bricks used to create the arch ring are known as → Voussoirs
8. When pulling wire through conduit, what material is commonly used to reduce friction? → Wire pulling lubricant (wire pulling gel)
9. Which of the following is NOT a type of cave-in protection system recognized by OSHA for excavations? → Drainage matting
10. Which of the following is a leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry according to OSHA's 'Fatal Four'? → Falls
11. Which wire color is used for the grounding conductor in standard US residential wiring? → Green or bare copper
12. What is the standard spacing for wall studs in residential wood-frame construction in the US? → 16 inches on center
13. The Auger boring technique is inappropriate for _______. → All of the options are correct
14. What is the standard size of a modular brick in the United States? → 3-5/8" × 2-1/4" × 7-5/8"
15. For a single-story building, the minimum thickness of cement mortar (1: 6) walls is _______. → 20 cm
16. _______ is a style of pointing that provides a V-shaped projection outside the wall surface. → Weather pointing
17. Which drawing type shows the vertical cross-section of a building cut from top to bottom? → Section view
18. ________ refers to exposed vertical surfaces that are perpendicular to door or window frames. → Reveals
19. When must a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) be accessible to workers on a construction site? → At all times during work shifts
20. What scale is most commonly used for architectural floor plan drawings? → 1/4" = 1'-0"
21. Choose one of the following to represent the false statement: → The only purpose of adding cement to lime mortar is to improve its hydraulic qualities.
22. What type of mortar joint is most water-resistant and recommended for exterior masonry? → Concave (tooled) joint
23. What does 'on center' (OC) mean in framing dimensions? → The measurement from the center of one framing member to the center of the adjacent member
24. Dado is typically offered in _______. → Bath rooms
25. Only after ______ may the form work, including the supports, be removed from the beams. → 2 weeks
26. What is the minimum curing time for standard Portland cement concrete to achieve adequate strength? → 7 days
27. What is the minimum depth required for direct-burial electrical cable (UF cable) under a residential driveway? → 24 inches
28. What does a dashed (hidden) line represent on a construction drawing? → An element hidden from the current view
29. Which OSHA standard governs the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) on construction sites? → 29 CFR 1926.100
30. What is the standard thickness of plywood or OSB sheathing used for residential wall sheathing? → 7/16 to 1/2 inch