Free NC-RC Practice Questions

Question 1

A second-story bedroom window has a net clear opening of 5.25 square feet, a clear height of 36 inches, a clear width of 21 inches, and a sill 42 inches above the floor. The applicable requirements are at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, 24 inches of clear height, 20 inches of clear width, and a sill no more than 44 inches high. How should this opening be classified?

Accepted Answer

It fails because the net clear opening is below 5.7 square feet.

Answer

It complies because the width, height, and sill limits are satisfied.

Answer

It complies because every bedroom window may use the 5.0-square-foot exception.

Answer

It fails only because the sill is more than 44 inches above the floor.

Question 2

The approved earthwork specification requires structural fill beneath a footing to reach at least 95% of the referenced laboratory maximum dry density. A field test reports 93%, and no concrete has been placed. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Adjust moisture as needed, recompact the affected lift, and obtain a passing retest.

Answer

Place the footing and increase its concrete depth to compensate for the low density.

Answer

Accept the lift because a result within two percentage points is considered equivalent.

Answer

Suspend the entire project and obtain a redesigned foundation before attempting rework.

Question 3

At a one-year-old house, a stair-step crack in the brick veneer widens toward one corner, a nearby door has become racked, and the downspout discharges beside that same corner. Before making a cosmetic repair, what should the contractor do?

Accepted Answer

Evaluate drainage, soil support, and structural movement, then correct the underlying cause.

Answer

Repoint the crack with high-strength mortar and check it again at final warranty inspection.

Answer

Cut a vertical control joint through the veneer at the corner to release masonry stress.

Answer

Replace the visibly cracked brick and seal the head joints against future rain entry.

Question 4

On a reinforced CMU wall, a foreman proposes filling the cells containing vertical reinforcing steel with the same stiff mortar being used in the bed joints. Which response is correct?

Accepted Answer

Reject the proposal because grout fills cells around reinforcement, while mortar bonds the units.

Answer

Accept the proposal because Type S mortar has adequate compressive strength for reinforced cells.

Answer

Accept the proposal only in cells that do not have cleanout openings at the bottom course.

Answer

Replace the vertical bars with ladder-type joint reinforcement before filling the cells.

Question 5

Before a slab placement, welded wire reinforcement is lying directly on the vapor retarder. The approved detail requires it at a stated elevation within the slab, but the foreman says workers will pull it upward with hooks as concrete is placed. Which site instruction is technically sound?

Accepted Answer

Support the reinforcement at the specified elevation with suitable chairs or spacers before placement.

Answer

Leave it on the bottom and increase the specified concrete strength to compensate for its position.

Answer

Allow workers to pull it upward during placement because final elevation cannot be checked afterward.

Answer

Omit it because concrete carries slab tension without reinforcement once it has fully cured.

Question 6

A continuous footing is 72 feet long, 18 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. The estimate must include 8% waste, and the supplier sells concrete in 0.25-cubic-yard increments. The concrete purchase order should list:

Accepted Answer

3.75 cubic yards

Answer

3.25 cubic yards

Answer

3.50 cubic yards

Answer

4.00 cubic yards

Question 7

A plumber asks to drill a hole through the top chord of a metal-plate-connected roof truss because a vent pipe conflicts with the planned route. No truss penetration is shown. How should this request be handled?

Accepted Answer

Obtain a written repair or alteration detail from the truss designer or registered design professional.

Answer

Permit a centered hole if it remains at least two feet from the nearest bearing point and does not touch a connector plate.

Answer

Sister the chord with a short 2x4 on each side, then allow the plumber to drill through all members.

Answer

Remove the nearest connector plate, drill the chord, and reinstall the plate after the pipe is placed.

Question 8

During inspection of a wood-sheathed braced wall, many panel-edge nail heads are driven deeply enough to crush the face veneer, although the nail spacing matches the plans. How should the superintendent address the finding?

Accepted Answer

Assess the extent and repair or renail to approved requirements because overdriving weakens the connection.

Answer

Accept the panels because matching the specified nail spacing is sufficient for the braced-wall connection.

Answer

Cover each recessed nail head with sealant and leave the fastening pattern otherwise unchanged.

Answer

Replace every sheathing panel on the elevation before determining whether an approved localized repair is available.

Question 9

A bathroom ceiling becomes damp after showers on cold winter mornings, but a controlled rain test produces no leakage. The bath fan terminates in the attic, attic-side penetrations are unsealed, and soffit intake is partly blocked. What is the most likely diagnosis and first corrective approach?

Accepted Answer

Indoor moisture is condensing on cold attic surfaces; vent the fan outdoors and restore air sealing and airflow.

Answer

The roof underlayment has failed; replace the shingles and underlayment over the entire roof slope.

Answer

Groundwater is rising through the slab; install a footing drain before repairing the ceiling finish.

Answer

A concealed supply pipe is leaking; shut off the dwelling water and remove every affected ceiling panel.

Question 10

Interior staining repeatedly appears where the lower end of a roof slope meets a two-story wall. The shingles and deck are sound, but no kick-out flashing is present and the wall drainage plane is not integrated at that termination. Which repair most directly addresses the defect?

Accepted Answer

Install kick-out flashing integrated with the step flashing and drainage plane to divert runoff away.

Answer

Apply a bead of sealant at the roof-to-siding joint and renew it during annual maintenance.

Answer

Install a larger gutter while leaving the existing step flashing and wall drainage plane unchanged.

Answer

Replace the entire roof covering and repaint the stained interior without opening the wall assembly.

Free NC-RC Practice Questions

Domain 1: Site work, Footings and Foundations

Question 1

Question 2

Domain 2: Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement

Question 3

Question 4

Domain 3: Masonry

Question 5

Domain 4: Carpentry

Question 6

Question 7

Domain 5: Associated Construction trades, including Energy Conservation and Drywall

Question 8

Domain 6: Roofing

Question 9

Domain 7: Estimating, Plan Reading and General Residential Code Requirements

Question 10

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