Virginia Drywall Contracting Qualified Individual Examination

Under 18VAC50-22-30, Virginia Drywall Contracting (DRY) means the service that provides for which of the following?

• AInstallation, taping, and finishing of drywall, gypsum wallboard panels and assemblies, s…
• BInstallation of load-bearing wood studs, roof trusses, and structural headers, then hangi…
• CPainting, wallcovering, and application of exterior insulation finish systems over any su…
• DSetting ceramic tile, marble, and terrazzo as the primary contracted trade

A Virginia DRY contractor may install sheet-metal studs only for which application?

• ALoad-bearing exterior walls that support floor joists
• BStructural wood-framed bearing partitions
• CFraming of ceilings and nonstructural partitioning
• DRoof trusses and structural steel moment frames

Besides a DRY specialty license, which Virginia Board for Contractors classifications or specialties also provide the drywall function?

• AESC, FAS, and SPR only
• BCBC, RBC, HIC, and CIC
• CPTC and TCT only
• DH/H and EMC only

Is installation of cementitious board (cement board) within the Virginia DRY specialty?

• ANo. Cement board may be installed only by a tile, marble, ceramic, and terrazzo contractor
• BNo. Cement board is classified as masonry
• CYes, but only when the cement board is used as a structural floor diaphragm
• DYes. The DRY definition includes installation of cementitious board

A customer asks a DRY-only firm to frame a load-bearing wood partition that will support a second-floor joist bearing line, then hang and finish gypsum board. What is the correct scope decision?

• AThe firm may frame the wood bearing wall because gypsum will be applied to it
• BThe firm may install the gypsum board and finish, but the load-bearing wood framing is ou…
• CThe firm may do the entire job if the studs are 2x4s at 16 inches on center
• DThe firm may do the entire job if a licensed engineer stamps the wall

After a DRY crew finishes gypsum to a Level 4, the owner wants the same firm to prime, paint, and hang vinyl wallcovering. Under Virginia specialty definitions, that finish work is:

• AAutomatically included because taping and finishing means painting
• BIncluded if the paint is flat and the wallcovering is fabric
• COutside DRY; painting and wallcovering is a separate specialty
• DIncluded only on residential jobs under USD 10,000

Which metal-framing task is outside the Virginia DRY specialty?

• AInstalling 25-gauge 3-5/8 inch studs for an 8-foot office partition that carries no build…
• BInstalling sheet-metal ceiling framing to receive screw-attached gypsum board
• CInstalling structural (load-bearing) cold-formed steel studs that support floor or roof l…
• DInstalling nonstructural metal furring to receive interior gypsum panels

A DRY contract includes hanging gypsum, embedding tape, applying joint compound, installing corner bead, and sanding to the specified level of finish. Is that taping and finishing work inside the DRY specialty?

• AYes. Taping and finishing are named in the DRY definition
• BNo. Joint treatment may be done only by a painting contractor
• COnly the hanging is DRY; tape and mud require a separate finish license
• DOnly if the compound is setting-type

On a tenant-improvement job, the architect shows a full-height metal-stud wall that supports a mezzanine beam at midspan. The wall is sheathed with gypsum. How should a DRY Qualified Individual treat that wall?

• AAs a DRY wall, because it uses metal studs and gypsum
• BAs a DRY wall if 20-gauge studs are used
• CAs a structural (load-bearing) wall outside DRY metal-stud authority, even though gypsum…
• DAs a DRY wall if the beam reaction is less than 2,000 pounds

Which exterior-related task is inside DRY, and which is not?

• AInstalling gypsum sheathing is inside DRY; designing and installing a complete EIFS cladd…
• BInstalling gypsum sheathing and a complete EIFS system are both inside DRY
• CNeither gypsum sheathing nor cement board is inside DRY because they are exterior products
• DInstalling structural plywood shear panels is inside DRY if gypsum is applied over them

What is the most common gypsum panel thickness for standard interior walls that are not required to be fire-resistance rated?

• A1/4 inch
• B1/2 inch
• C1 inch
• D2 inches

Which gypsum panel is the standard face board in most one-hour interior fire-resistance-rated wall assemblies?

• A1/4-inch regular gypsum board
• B3/8-inch lightweight remodel board
• C5/8-inch Type X gypsum board
• DFoil-backed 1/2-inch regular board with no fire core

What makes Type X gypsum board different from regular gypsum board?

• AType X is waterproof and is the required shower-tile substrate
• BType X has special core additives, including glass fibers, that improve fire performance…
• CType X is always 1/4 inch thick
• DType X cannot be taped or finished

Water-resistant gypsum board, often called greenboard, is best described as:

• AA gypsum panel with a water-resistant core and facing for damp, non-immersed locations su…
• BA cement panel that replaces thinset under shower tile
• CA structural sheathing panel that may replace plywood on exterior walls
• DA waterproof membrane that needs no tile or coating in a shower

A standard 4-foot by 8-foot gypsum panel covers how many square feet?

• A16 square feet
• B24 square feet
• C32 square feet
• D48 square feet

How does Type C gypsum board relate to Type X?

• AType C is a thinner regular board with no fire additives
• BType C is a manufacturer-enhanced Type X product with extra fire-performance additives; i…
• CType C is cement board sold under a gypsum name
• DType C is only used as exterior roof cover board

A residential bath has a tub/shower surround that will receive ceramic tile. Which substrate is appropriate?

• ARegular 1/2-inch gypsum board with paper facing
• BWater-resistant greenboard as the sole wet-area tile backer
• CFoil-backed gypsum board applied over a polyethylene vapor retarder
• DCement board, fiber-cement backer, or another wet-area tile backer listed for showers

Why is 5/8-inch gypsum often specified for ceilings even when a fire rating is not required?

• AIt is lighter than 1/2-inch board, so hangers can span farther
• BIt is more sag-resistant than regular 1/2-inch board, especially with insulation or water…
• CIt cannot be taped, so ceilings stay cheaper
• DIt is required by Virginia DRY licensing regardless of the assembly

Which gypsum thickness is typically selected to bend around a tight interior radius wall?

• A1-inch shaftliner
• B5/8-inch Type X applied dry in one layer
• C1/4-inch gypsum board, often two layers, wetted if the manufacturer allows
• D2-inch plaster on metal lath only; gypsum cannot be curved

Foil-backed gypsum board is used primarily to:

• AAct as a Class I vapor retarder on the warm-in-winter side of a wall or ceiling when a va…
• BReplace cement board in a steam shower
• CIncrease the fire rating by one hour without a listed design
• DServe as exterior cladding exposed to weather

How should gypsum panels be stored on a drywall job?

• AOn edge, outdoors, uncovered, so air can dry both faces
• BFlat, on stickers or a dry platform, indoors or fully protected from moisture
• CLeaning against the structure at a steep angle to save floor space for weeks
• DIn a wet basement so the paper pre-expands before hanging

A listed one-hour partition calls for 5/8-inch Type X on each side of the studs. The supplier delivers 1/2-inch Type X and 5/8-inch regular board. What should the DRY contractor do?

• AUse 1/2-inch Type X because any Type X is interchangeable
• BUse 5/8-inch regular board because thickness matters more than core type
• CHold the installation and obtain the exact 5/8-inch Type X (or other product) named in th…
• DMix the two products, one on each side, to average the rating

A ceiling will support above-board insulation and will be finished with a water-based texture. Which gypsum choice matches GA-216 sag guidance?

• A3/8-inch regular board applied parallel to 24-inch framing
• BRegular 1/2-inch wallboard applied parallel to 24-inch framing
• C5/8-inch gypsum or 1/2-inch sag-resistant ceiling board, applied perpendicular to framing
• D1/4-inch board in a single layer on 24-inch framing

For 1/2-inch gypsum board on a ceiling, what is the usual maximum framing spacing?

• A16 inches on center when applied in either direction; 24 inches on center only when the b…
• B32 inches on center in either direction
• C48 inches on center if adhesive is used
• DAny spacing is acceptable if extra screws are added in the field

A one-hour corridor wall listing requires 5/8-inch Type X, specified screws, and taped joints. The superintendent says to skip tape in the plenum above the ceiling because no one will see it. What is the correct action?

• ASkip tape above the ceiling because appearance does not matter
• BTape only the room side; the plenum side of a rated wall never needs joint treatment
• CFollow the listed design. Most fire-rated gypsum walls require joints treated at least to…
• DReplace tape with spray adhesive, which provides an equivalent fire seal

Glass-mat gypsum panels (often purple or gold-faced) are selected instead of paper-faced board when the designer wants:

• AA paper face that accepts standard joint compound the same as greenboard in a shower
• BImproved mold and moisture resistance, and, in sheathing grades, an exterior substrate un…
• CA structural shear panel that replaces plywood or OSB
• DA board that cannot be finished on the interior

In steel-stud terminology, what happens as the gauge number increases?

• AThe steel gets thicker and stronger
• BThe steel gets thinner
• CThe stud flange automatically becomes 3 inches wide
• DThe stud changes from nonstructural to structural

What members receive the top and bottom of a nonstructural metal-stud partition?

• AWood plates only; metal studs cannot sit in track
• BFloor and ceiling runner tracks (U-shaped track)
• CStructural wide-flange beams at both ends of every stud
• DResilient channel laid flat on the slab

What are the two standard on-center spacings for nonstructural interior metal studs that receive gypsum board?

• A4 inches and 6 inches
• B16 inches and 24 inches
• C30 inches and 36 inches
• D48 inches and 60 inches

Which nonstructural stud depth is the everyday substitute for a wood 2x4 interior partition?

• A7/8-inch hat channel
• B1-5/8 inch stud
• C3-5/8 inch stud
• D14-inch structural joist

Which ASTM specification covers nonstructural steel studs and track used for interior gypsum partitions?

• AASTM C645
• BASTM C955
• CASTM C1396
• DASTM C1325

A conventional 25-gauge nonstructural drywall stud has a design thickness of about:

• A18 mils
• B33 mils
• C54 mils
• D97 mils

Why is a “20-gauge” drywall (interior) stud not the same product as a “20-gauge” structural stud?

• AThey are identical; the names are interchangeable
• BInterior 20-gauge drywall members are typically 30 mil; structural 20-gauge members are t…
• CDrywall 20-gauge is always aluminum
• DStructural 20-gauge is thinner than drywall 20-gauge

A deflection (slip) track is installed at the head of a nonstructural partition in order to:

• AMake the partition load-bearing so it can support the floor above
• BAllow the structure above to move without crushing or buckling the studs and gypsum
• CReplace the need for any floor track
• DIncrease the fire rating by one hour

A nonstructural partition must fit a 10-foot-0-inch floor-to-structure height. The specifier wants studs cut 1/2 inch short for track clearance and deflection. What stud length should be ordered or cut?

• A10 feet 6 inches
• B10 feet 0 inches
• C9 feet 11-1/2 inches
• D8 feet 0 inches

What is an EQ (equivalent) nonstructural steel stud?

• AA structural C955 stud painted to look like drywall framing
• BA thinner, higher-strength C645 member shown by tests to perform like a thicker conventio…
• CA wood stud with a metal cap
• DAny stud that is exactly 20 feet long

A restroom partition must conceal 3-inch drain piping in the cavity and remain nonstructural. Which stud depth is the usual DRY choice?

• A7/8-inch hat channel
• B1-5/8 inch studs
• C6-inch (or deeper) nonstructural studs, or a double-stud chase wall
• D2-inch shaftliner used as a stud

A 16-foot-high nonstructural corridor partition uses 3-5/8-inch 25-gauge studs at 24 inches on center. The manufacturer’s limiting-height table does not allow that combination. What is the correct fix?

• AIgnore the table because DRY partitions are never engineered
• BReduce spacing, increase stud depth or thickness, add bridging/bracing, or change to a st…
• CHang a third layer of 1/4-inch gypsum instead of changing the studs
• DSwitch to wood 2x4 bearing studs under the DRY license

At a door opening in a nonstructural metal-stud wall, the usual framing upgrade is to:

• AUse the same 25-gauge studs as the field and skip a header because doors never rack
• BInstall heavier-gauge jamb studs, a properly built header, and cripples as the opening de…
• CHang the door from gypsum board screws only
• DOmit track at the floor so the door can slide

A 32-foot-long nonstructural partition is framed at 16 inches on center, including a stud at each end. How many studs are required for that run, ignoring extra jamb or corner studs?

• A16
• B24
• C25
• D32

Which screw type is made to attach gypsum board to light-gauge steel studs?

• AType W coarse-thread wood screw
• BType S fine-thread screw (ASTM C1002) for steel
• CType G laminating screw used as the only attachment to steel studs
• DRoofing nail

In what order should gypsum board normally be hung in a room?

• AWalls first, then ceilings, so wall boards can be scribed to the floor
• BCeilings first, then walls, so the wall boards support the ceiling edges
• CFloors first with gypsum underlayment, then walls, then ceilings
• DOnly vertical wall boards; ceilings are never gypsum

A properly driven gypsum screw should:

• ASit proud of the paper so the head can be seen after paint
• BDimple the face paper slightly without tearing it, seating the head just below the surface
• CBe driven until the head disappears into the gypsum core
• DBe left 1/4 inch out so it can be tightened after finishing

End joints of adjacent gypsum panels should be:

• AStacked on the same stud in a continuous vertical line whenever possible
• BStaggered so butt joints do not align from row to row or from opposite faces
• CLeft with a 2-inch open gap for expansion
• DFastened only with adhesive and no screws

What is the minimum screw penetration into light-gauge steel framing when attaching gypsum board?

• A1/16 inch
• B3/8 inch
• C1-1/2 inches
• D3 inches

For single-layer gypsum attached with screws, what maximum fastener spacing is typically required?

• A24 inches on center on ceilings and 36 inches on walls
• B16 inches on center on walls when framing is 16 inches on center, and 12 inches on center…
• C48 inches on center anywhere adhesive is used
• D2 inches on center on all edges and in the field