Chapter 1 of 518% of exam

Planning and Estimating

CSLB's C-54 study guide gives Planning and Estimating about 18 percent of the exam: reviewing plans and specifications, selecting materials, and estimating quantities and costs. Expect arithmetic — CSLB provides a calculator. This page is a short survey; the PrepPass C-54 study guide teaches the section in two full chapters with worked drills.

Plans, specifications and submittals

Read drawings, the specification section and the manufacturers' written instructions together. The specification names the standards and editions that govern; submittals such as detail drawings, product data and samples are approved before work starts.

Manufacturer's instructions
Industry guidance treats the manufacturer's written directions as taking precedence over general guidelines.
CTEF, citing ANSI A108
Walls before floors
Federal tile specifications do not start floor tile in rooms needing wall tile until the wall tile is installed.
UFGS 09 30 10
Single source
Each tile type and color, and each mortar and grout, comes from one source.
UFGS 09 30 10

Selecting tile

Water absorption classifies tile: impervious (under 0.5%), vitreous, semi-vitreous and non-vitreous (7% or more). Floors add slip resistance, glaze abrasion class and breaking strength.

Wet DCOF 0.42
Minimum wet dynamic coefficient of friction for level interior floors walked on wet.
UFGS 09 30 10 (ANSI A137.1)
Large format
Tile with an edge 15 inches or longer triggers tighter flatness, joint and offset rules.
ANSI A108.02 via CTEF

Estimating

Convert to feet before multiplying, add the stated waste, round purchases up, and remember that attic stock is separate from waste.

Units
144 in² = 1 ft²; 9 ft² = 1 yd²; 27 ft³ = 1 yd³.
NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C
Shower slope
Rise = run in feet × 1/4 inch.
Plumbing code slope as described by CTEF

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