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CSLB C-39 Roofing (Trade Exam) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable CSLB C-39 Roofing (Trade Exam) exam cheat sheet: the 31 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 5 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- 31 of the 31 points carry a citation to the rule they come from.
- The real CSLB C-39 Roofing (Trade Exam) exam: 210 minutes.
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- 100 free CSLB C-39 Roofing (Trade Exam) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: September 2026.
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Practice stays free. The full CSLB C-39 Roofing study guide is the material itself, taught start to finish — a downloadable PDF + EPUB you keep.
Planning and Estimating
22% of the exam- Membrane roofs
- Built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply, spray foam and liquid-applied roofs need at least 1/4:12 for drainage; coal-tar built-up may be 1/8:12.· 2025 CRC R905.9–R905.14
- Shingles and tile
- Asphalt shingles need 2:12 and clay or concrete tile 2-1/2:12, each with double underlayment up to 4:12.· 2025 CRC R905.2.2, R905.3.2
- Slate and wood
- Slate needs 4:12; wood shingles, wood shakes and metal roof shingles need 3:12.· 2025 CRC R905.4.2, R905.6.2, R905.7.2, R905.8.2
- Class C reroof trigger
- More than 50 percent of the roof replaced within one year: the entire covering must be at least Class C.· 2025 CRC R902.1.2
- Fire zones
- Roofs in Fire Hazard Severity Zones or the WUI need a Class A assembly.· 2025 CWUIC 504.2
- Nonresidential energy trigger
- Alterations of more than 50 percent of the roof or 2,000 sq ft, whichever is less.· 2025 Energy Code 141.0(b)2B
- Slope factor
- Square root of (144 + rise squared), divided by 12; 6:12 is about 1.118.· Roofing math
- Drip edge laps
- Adjacent pieces overlap at least 2 inches.· 2025 CRC R905.2.8.5
- Attic ventilation
- Net free area of 1/150 of the vented space, or 1/300 when the code's conditions are met.· 2025 CRC R806.2
Job Site Preparation
13% of the exam- Walkways
- Pedestrian walkways at least 4 feet wide; construction railings at least 42 inches high.· 2025 CBC 3306.2, 3306.4
- Kettle location
- At least 20 feet from combustibles and building openings; never inside or on the roof.· 2025 CFC 303.2
- Overhead lines
- Treat every overhead conductor as energized until the owner verifies and visibly grounds it.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2946(d)
- Two-layer limit
- No recover where the roof already has two or more applications of any covering.· 2025 CRC R908.4
- Reuse
- Undamaged slate or tile may be reinstalled; aggregate surfacing may not.· 2025 CRC R908.5
- Asbestos roofing
- Remove intact where feasible, use wet methods, never drop or throw, and lower by the end of the shift.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1529
Low-Slope Roof Projects
17% of the exam- Overflows
- Overflow drains match the primary size with the inlet 2 inches above the low point; overflow scuppers are three times the drain size and at least 4 inches high.· 2025 CRC R903.4.1
- Edge metal
- Metal edge systems on built-up, modified bitumen and single-ply roofs are tested to ANSI/SPRI ES-1.· 2025 CBC 1504.6
- Spray foam coating
- Applied not less than 2 hours nor more than 72 hours after the foam.· 2025 CRC R905.13.3
- Recoating
- A protective coating may go over an existing single-ply, built-up, modified bitumen, metal or spray foam roof without tear-off.· 2025 CRC R908.4
Steep-Slope Roof Projects
26% of the exam- Single layer
- At 4:12 and steeper, one layer applied shingle fashion and lapped 2 inches; end laps 4 inches offset 6 feet.· 2025 CRC Table R905.1.1(2)
- Sidewall flashing
- At least 4 inches high and 4 inches wide, vertical leg under the siding.· 2025 CRC R905.2.8.3
- Kickout
- Divert water where the eave of a sloped roof meets a vertical sidewall.· 2025 CRC R903.2.1
- Shingle nails
- 12-gage shank, 3/8-inch head, 3/4 inch into the sheathing or through it.· 2025 CRC R905.2.5
- Tile nails
- 11-gage, 5/16-inch head.· 2025 CRC R905.3.7
- Slate
- Two fasteners per slate; headlap 4, 3 or 2 inches depending on slope.· 2025 CRC R905.6.6
Safety
22% of the exam- Tailgate meetings
- At least every 10 working days.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1509(e)
- Heat
- Shade present above 80°F; high-heat procedures at 95°F.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §3395
- Hot buckets
- Never carried on ladders; carrying buckets no larger than 6 gallons.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §§1725, 1729
- Residential roofing
- Slopes through 7:12: protection at a fall distance of 6 feet or more; steeper than 7:12: regardless of height.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1731(c)
- Other roofing
- Roofs more than 20 feet high; warning lines 34 to 45 inches high, at least 5 feet from the edge.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1730(b)
- Fall arrest
- Free fall no more than 6 feet; maximum arresting force 1,800 pounds with a harness.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1670(b)(11)
Now prove you know them
Reading an outline is not the same as recalling it under exam pressure. Drill the free CSLB C-39 Roofing (Trade Exam) questions to find the areas you keep missing, then sit a full timed mock.
Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with CSLB — C-39 study guide (13E-39).