Alabama Painting and Wall Covering Contractor Examination

Before applying a latex topcoat over existing interior walls, what is the primary reason for washing the surface with detergent or TSP substitute?

• ATo raise the grain of the drywall paper
• BTo remove grease, dirt, and contaminants that block adhesion
• CTo add moisture so the paint levels better
• DTo convert oil-based paint into latex

What is the purpose of spot priming bare areas after scraping and sanding a previously painted wall?

• ATo make the entire wall glossier before topcoating
• BTo seal only exposed substrate so suction is even and flashing is reduced
• CTo remove all remaining sound paint film
• DTo replace the need for a finish coat

Why must new concrete, masonry, or cement plaster cure adequately before most architectural coatings are applied?

• ATo allow the masonry color to fade for better color match
• BBecause residual alkalinity and moisture can cause saponification, blistering, and adhesi…
• CSo dust can settle into the pores of the surface
• DBecause coatings only adhere when the substrate is still wet

White, powdery deposits on exterior masonry that can push through or spoil paint films are commonly called:

• AChalking from UV degradation only
• BEfflorescence
• COrange peel
• DAlligatoring

How should resinous knots in new softwood trim be treated before priming for paint?

• ACoat them with linseed oil only
• BSeal them with shellac-based knotting or a stain-blocking sealer
• CSand with 40-grit only and leave unsealed
• DCover them with silicone caulk

Before painting new galvanized metal, which preparation approach best promotes coating adhesion?

• AApply oil enamel directly to the shiny zinc surface
• BDegrease, lightly abrade or etch as specified, and use a galvanized/etch primer
• CHeat the metal with a torch until the zinc melts
• DCoat only with clear lacquer

Mildew (mold) on exterior siding should be treated before repainting primarily by:

• APainting over it immediately so the spores are sealed in
• BCleaning with a mildewcide or bleach solution per label, rinsing, and drying
• CSanding dry mildew into the air without cleaning
• DApplying only a high-gloss enamel without cleaning

Glossy existing enamel that will receive a new coat is commonly dulled by:

• AFlooding the surface with water only
• BSanding or using a liquid deglosser to create tooth for adhesion
• CApplying extra thinner to the old film
• DHeating the wall with space heaters

What is the recommended fill material for small nail holes and hairline cracks in interior drywall before painting?

• AUnpaintable silicone bathroom sealant
• BLightweight or all-purpose interior spackle/joint compound
• CHot-melt roofing asphalt
• DExterior polyurethane expanding foam only

A Level 5 drywall finish (GA-214) is typically specified when:

• AThe wall will remain unfinished behind cabinets only
• BCritical lighting or high-gloss/dark paints make joint telegraphing unacceptable
• CThe surface will receive only a flat paint in a closet
• DThe contractor wants the minimum legal joint treatment

Chalking exterior paint should be prepared for recoating mainly by:

• AApplying oil enamel without cleaning
• BWashing or power-washing to remove chalk dust, then priming if residual chalk remains
• CSealing chalk in place with clear lacquer only
• DIgnoring chalk because new paint bonds to powder

When sanding bare wood trim for paint, which grit progression is most appropriate?

• AStart at 40 grit and finish at 60 grit only
• BStart around 80 grit and finish around 120–180 grit
• CUse only 400 grit for all sanding
• DStart at 220 grit and finish at 40 grit

Peeling paint that fails down to the substrate in large areas indicates which corrective approach is needed?

• AOne thin topcoat without removing loose film
• BRemove all loose and failing paint to a firm edge, feather sand, prime bare areas, then r…
• CApply wallpaper adhesive over the peeling paint
• DWet the surface and roll a second color coat

Water stains on ceiling drywall should be sealed before finish painting primarily with:

• AClear water only
• BA stain-blocking primer (shellac-based or other stain sealer) after the leak is fixed and…
• CExtra coats of flat latex alone with no sealer
• DExterior driveway sealer

Saponification of an oil-based coating on masonry is best described as:

• AUV chalking of acrylic films on wood
• BAlkali from cement attacking the oil binder and forming a soapy, soft film that loses adh…
• CMechanical abrasion from wind-blown sand
• DFreezing of waterborne paint in the can

Before painting ferrous steel that shows rust, the minimum sound practice is to:

• APaint latex directly over heavy scale rust
• BRemove loose rust and scale, clean, and apply a rust-inhibitive primer suited to the resi…
• CWash only with soap and ignore rust
• DCover rust with wallpaper

Caulking gaps at trim, windows, and joints before final paint should use a sealant that is:

• AAlways pure silicone regardless of paintability
• BCompatible with the coating system and labeled as paintable when finish coats will cover…
• CAsphalt roof cement only
• DHot glue sticks only

New interior drywall (paper-faced gypsum) is typically sealed before finish paint with:

• AA high-gloss floor enamel as the only coat
• BA drywall primer-sealer or PVA primer to equalize porosity
• CClear polyurethane alone
• DNo primer if two flat topcoats are used

Tannin bleed from cedar or redwood through latex paint is best prevented by:

• AApplying only water with no primer
• BUsing a stain-blocking primer formulated for tannin-rich woods before topcoats
• CSanding with 40 grit only
• DMixing bleach into every finish coat

Feathering edges of scraped paint means:

• ALeaving a sharp step between bare substrate and remaining film
• BSanding the broken edge of remaining paint so the transition is gradual and will not show…
• CCutting the paint film with a utility knife in a grid pattern only
• DApplying feathers under the paint for texture

Which sheen is generally most washable and most likely to highlight surface imperfections on interior walls?

• AFlat/matte
• BEggshell
• CSemi-gloss or gloss
• DDead-flat ceiling paint

Maintaining a wet edge when rolling large walls means:

• AAllowing each section to fully dry before overlapping
• BWorking into previously painted wet areas so lap marks do not form
• CRolling only vertical stripes that never meet
• DSpraying water on the wall continuously

Back-rolling after spray application is done primarily to:

• ARemove all paint from the surface
• BWork coating into the substrate, even out film, and improve adhesion/appearance
• CIncrease VOC content of the film
• DCool the surface with the roller

A holiday in a paint film is:

• AA scheduled crew day off
• BA missed or thin uncoated spot in the applied film
• CA type of solvent used in alkyds
• DA premium sheen level

When cutting in with a brush before rolling a wall, the preferred sequence is generally to:

• ARoll the field first, then cut in after the field has dried overnight
• BCut in edges and corners, then roll the field while cut-in areas are still wet enough to…
• CSpray clear water before any paint
• DApply finish coat only at the floor and never at the ceiling line

Nap length on a paint roller cover should be selected mainly based on:

• AThe brand of ladder being used
• BSurface texture—longer nap for rough/textured surfaces, shorter for smooth
• CThe color name on the can only
• DWhether the job is interior or exterior, with no regard to texture

Brush selection for alkyd/oil-based paints traditionally favors which bristle type?

• ANatural bristle (china bristle)
• BFoam only with no brush
• CWire brush designed for rust removal
• DPlastic scrapers only

Flash rust on bare steel after water cleaning or rain exposure should be addressed before coating by:

• APainting over the rust with clear water
• BRemoving or treating flash rust per product instructions, then priming promptly
• CWaiting months without protection so rust thickens
• DCovering with plastic only and never priming

Picture framing on a painted wall typically appears as:

• AA darker or glossier band along cut-in edges versus the rolled field
• BRandom pinholes only in the center of the wall
• CComplete absence of paint at outlets
• DWallpaper seams showing through

Recoat time on a paint label is best understood as:

• AThe maximum years the building can stand before any paint is needed
• BThe earliest time another coat of that product may be applied under stated conditions wit…
• CThe time required to clean brushes only
• DThe shelf life of unopened cans

Applying exterior paint in direct hot sun on a warm surface most commonly risks:

• AImproved leveling and longer open time
• BFlash drying, poor leveling, lap marks, and blistering
• CFreezing of the film
• DAutomatic conversion to a low-VOC formula

When spraying architectural coatings indoors, overspray control primarily requires:

• ARemoving all drop cloths so paint can land freely
• BMasking/protection of adjacent surfaces, proper tip size/pressure, and containment
• COpening cans only outdoors and spraying without masks
• DUsing the highest pressure available regardless of tip

Blocking (paint sticking when two painted surfaces touch) is most often associated with:

• AFully cured high-quality systems opened after months
• BSoft, incompletely cured films—especially some latexes on doors/windows closed too soon
• CUsing only metal primers on steel
• DApplying wallcovering paste

Orange peel texture in a sprayed film usually results from:

• APerfect atomization and ideal leveling
• BImproper viscosity, tip size, pressure, distance, or product that does not level before s…
• CUsing only a brush on trim
• DApplying stain-blocking primer on drywall

When switching from a dark wall color to a light color, professional practice usually requires:

• AOne thin coat of light paint with no primer
• BA primer or high-hide base coat system and enough finish coats to achieve uniform opacity
• COnly sanding without any new paint
• DWallpapering without surface prep

Wicking or telegraphing of joint compound under paint on new drywall is reduced by:

• ASkipping primer and using only gloss enamel
• BProper joint finishing, sanding, and sealing with an appropriate drywall primer before fi…
• CApplying oil-based enamel at 40°F below label limits
• DMixing joint compound into the finish paint

Airless spray tip size is selected primarily according to:

• AThe color code of the drop cloth
• BCoating viscosity/type and desired fan pattern for the surface
• COnly the height of the ladder
• DWhether the painter is right- or left-handed

Runs and sags in a vertical film are most often caused by:

• AApplying too little material in too many thin passes
• BApplying too much material, spraying too close, or poor viscosity control so gravity pull…
• CUsing only flat paint on ceilings
• DPriming bare wood correctly

Cross-rolling or laying off a rolled wall coat is done to:

• ARemove all texture so drywall paper shows through
• BDistribute paint evenly and align the nap pattern for a uniform appearance
• CCure the paint faster with heat
• DMix two incompatible products on the wall

Which statement about alkyd versus latex interior wall paints is most accurate for typical architectural use?

• ALatex is always oil-based and cleans with mineral spirits only
• BWaterborne latex generally cleans with water, has lower odor, and is widely used for wall…
• CAlkyds never require ventilation
• DLatex cannot be used on drywall

Dry film thickness (DFT) differs from wet film thickness (WFT) because:

• AThey are always identical numbers on every product
• BSolvents/water evaporate, so DFT is less than WFT by the product's volume solids relation…
• CDFT is measured only in gallons
• DWFT only applies to powder coatings

Before hanging wallcovering, wall surfaces should generally be:

• ADirty, glossy, and damp
• BClean, dry, sound, and sized or primed as required for the product and substrate
• CLeft with loose paint and grease for grip
• DCoated only with exterior deck stain

Booking wallpaper after pasting means:

• AFolding the pasted sheet adhesive-to-adhesive to allow paste to soak in and activate with…
• BPlacing the wallpaper in a library book overnight
• CHanging the sheet immediately without paste
• DRolling the dry sheet into a tube only

A drop match pattern in wallcovering requires that consecutive strips:

• ABe hung without any regard to pattern alignment
• BBe offset vertically so the pattern repeats in a staggered alignment, often using half-dr…
• CAlways reverse hang regardless of manufacturer instructions
• DBe installed only on ceilings

A random match (free match) wallcovering is characterized by:

• ARequiring exact vertical alignment of a large motif every strip
• BHaving little or no pattern that must align, so strips can be hung with minimal matching…
• COnly being available as glass textile
• DNeeding three installers per strip by code