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CSLB C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering (Trade Exam) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable CSLB C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering (Trade Exam) exam cheat sheet: the 26 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 8 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- The real CSLB C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering (Trade Exam) exam: 210 minutes.
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- 100 free CSLB C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering (Trade Exam) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: October 2026.
Planning and Estimating
21% of the exam- Room finish schedule
- The drawing sheet that lists the floor covering for each room.· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 11
- Fire rating
- Class I floor finish is 0.45 W/cm² or more; Class II is 0.22 W/cm² or more.· 2025 CBC §804.4
- Changes in level
- Up to 1/4 in. vertical; 1/4 to 1/2 in. beveled no steeper than 1:2; over 1/2 in. ramped.· 2010 ADA Standards §303; 2025 CBC Ch. 11B
- Units
- 9 ft² = 1 yd²; 144 in² = 1 ft².· NIST Handbook 44, App. C
- Sheet strips
- Add 3 in. to each strip for fitting; 1 lineal ft of 6-ft goods = 2/3 yd².· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 11
- Tile waste
- Armstrong's guide runs from 14% for rooms up to 50 ft² down to 3% for 1,000–5,000 ft².· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 11
- Resilient conditions
- 65–100°F for 48 h before, during and 48 h after (Armstrong).· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 2
- Radiant floors
- Surface no hotter than 85°F.· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 2
Subfloor Evaluation, Preparation, and Material Acclimation
20% of the exam- 100 square feet
- Asbestos-related work of 100 ft² or more needs a C-22 license or asbestos certification and a Cal/OSHA registration first.· B&P Code §7058.5; 8 CCR §341.6
- Lead
- Paid work disturbing paint in pre-1978 housing falls under EPA's RRP rule.· 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart E
- Lightweight concrete
- Armstrong says not to use the calcium chloride test on lightweight concrete or fills.· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 3
- Example limits
- Congoleum: 5 lb/1,000 ft²/24 h or 80% RH.· Congoleum installation guidelines
- Primers
- Primers are not designed to reduce moisture vapor emissions.· CRI 105 §8.8
Carpet Installation
12% of the exam- Gully
- Slightly less than the carpet thickness, never over 3/8 in.· CRI 105 §11.1
- Stretch
- At least 1% in length and width for tufted carpet with synthetic backing, absent manufacturer figures.· CRI 105 §11.5
- Hot melt
- Made over a seaming board, iron run with the pile, heat shield required.· CRI 105 §10.3.1
Resilient and Rubber Flooring Installation
12% of the exam- Order
- Install patterned pieces in the order cut, from the outside of the roll first.· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 7
- Tile borders
- Border tiles at opposite walls equal and at least half a tile.· Armstrong F-5061, Ch. 6
Laminate Flooring Installation
8% of the exam- Example gap
- 3/8 in. at the perimeter (one manufacturer).· Manufacturer laminate instructions
- Transitions
- Required by room size and at separate rooms; the limits differ by product.· Manufacturer laminate instructions
Wood Flooring Installation
10% of the exam- Recommended moisture content
- 8% average in most of the U.S., 6% in the dry southwest, 11% in damp coastal areas.· USDA Wood Handbook, Ch. 13
- Oily rags
- Store in a listed disposal container emptied daily.· 2025 CFC §304.3.1
Concrete Treatment and Synthetic Application
4% of the exam- Silica limits
- Action level 25 μg/m³; PEL 50 μg/m³ (8-h TWA).· 8 CCR §1532.3
Safety
13% of the exam- Tailgate meetings
- At least every 10 working days.· 8 CCR §1509
- GFCI
- Temporary 120-V, 15- and 20-A receptacles on construction sites.· 8 CCR §2405.4
- Knees
- NIOSH links carpet layers' knee disorders to kneeling on hard surfaces and knee-kicker stretching.· NIOSH Pub. 90-104
Now prove you know them
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