North Carolina General Contractor Exam Preparation

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering construction terms, safety, math, and project management for the North Carolina General Contractor exam.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Ladder Extension (Above Roof)

Minimum of $3\,feet$ extension.

Call 811

The first thing to do before digging.

Footing

Spreads building load.

Foundation

Supports the structure.

Frost Line

Depth where ground freezes.

Dead Load

Weight of the building.

Live Load

People, furniture, and snow.

Bearing Wall

A wall that holds weight.

Joist

Supports a floor or ceiling.

Beam

Carries heavy loads.

Header

Supports the opening above doors or windows.

Rafter

Roof support.

Truss

Engineered roof frame.

Stud Spacing

Usually $16\text{" O.C.}$

O.C.

On center.

Anchor Bolts

Hold framing to the foundation.

Sill Plate

The first board on the foundation.

Concrete Cure Time

About $28\,days$.

Slump Test

Measures concrete consistency.

Rebar

Strengthens concrete.

Mortar

Holds bricks together.

Grout

Fills spaces or tile joints.

Flashing

Keeps water out.

Vapor Barrier

Stops moisture.

R-value

Insulation rating or efficiency.

GFCI

Protects from shock; located in wet areas.

AFCI

Prevents electrical fires; located in living areas.

P-trap

Blocks sewer gas.

Vent Pipe

Helps drains flow.

Blueprint

Building drawings.

Elevation

Side view drawing.

Section

Cut-through view drawing.

Change Order

A written contract change.

Punch List

Final repairs or items left to finish.

Certificate of Occupancy

Official approval for a building to be used.

Lien

Legal claim for unpaid work.

Critical Path

The longest project schedule sequence.

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment.

Fall Protection Threshold

Required when working at heights of $6\,feet$ or more.

Class A Fire

Involves wood and paper.

Class B Fire

Involves flammable liquids.

Class C Fire

Involves electrical equipment.

Class D Fire

Involves metals.

Class K Fire

Involves cooking oils.

Easement

The right to use another person's land.

Setback

Minimum distance from the property line.

Sheathing

Covers framing.

Underlayment

Layer under roofing or flooring.

Ridge

Peak of the roof.

Valley

Roof intersection or inside corner.

Fascia

Board at the roof edge.

Soffit

Underside of the eave.

PSI

Pounds per square inch.

Level

Perfectly horizontal.

Plumb

Perfectly vertical.

Square

$90\text{-degree}$ angle.

Benchmark

Fixed reference point.

Deflection

Bending under load.

Compression

A pushing force.

Tension

A pulling force.

Shear

A sliding force.

Torque

Twisting or turning force.

Joist Hanger

Supports joists.

Bridging

Keeps joists straight.

Rim Joist

Outside floor joist.

Subfloor

Base floor layer.

Tempered Glass

Safety glass.

Low-E Glass

Energy-saving glass.

Condenser

Outdoor AC unit.

Evaporator Coil

Indoor cooling coil.

Water Hammer

Banging sound in pipes.

Ampere

Unit of electrical current.

Volt

Unit of electrical pressure.

Watt

Unit of electrical power.

Ohm

Unit of electrical resistance.

Conduit

Protects electrical wire.

As-built Drawings

Final drawings showing changes.

RFI

Request for Information.

Shop Drawings

Detailed fabrication drawings.

Liquidated Damages

Agreed penalties for being late.

Substantial Completion

The stage where the building can be used.

Lump Sum Contract

One fixed price.

Cost-plus Contract

Total cost plus a contractor fee.

Time and Material Contract

Paying for actual labor and materials used.

Float

Extra time available in a schedule.

Lead Time

Wait time before materials arrive.

Ladder Angle (4:1 Rule)

For every $4\,feet$ in height, move the base out $1\,foot$.

Shoring

Supports trench walls.

Benching

Stepped trench walls.

OSB

Oriented Strand Board.

Gable

Triangle end of a roof.

Dormer

Window sticking out of a roof.

Area Formula (Rectangle)

$$\text{Length} \times \text{Width}$$

Triangle Area Formula

$$\text{Base} \times \text{Height} \div 2$$

Circle Area Formula

$$\pi \times r^2$$

Cubic Yards Formula

$$\text{Cubic feet} \div 27$$

1 Acre

$$43,560\,sq. ft.$$

Gross Profit

$$\text{Sales} - \text{Direct costs}$$

Labor Burden

$$\text{Taxes} + \text{insurance} + \text{benefits}$$