CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions
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How many cubic yards of soil are needed to cover a 30 ft by 18 ft bed 6 inches deep?
- a.About 5 cubic yards
- b.About 10 cubic yards✓
- c.About 20 cubic yards
- d.About 2 cubic yards
Volume in cubic yards equals length times width times depth in feet divided by 27. Here 30 x 18 x 0.5 equals 270 cubic feet, divided by 27 equals 10 cubic yards. Six inches must be converted to 0.5 feet before calculating.
The formula for calculating cubic yards of bulk material for a rectangular area is which of the following?
- a.Length x Width x Depth (all in feet) divided by 27✓
- b.Length x Width x Depth divided by 12
- c.Length plus Width plus Depth
- d.Length x Width divided by 27
Because a cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet (3 x 3 x 3), you compute the volume in cubic feet and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. All three dimensions must be in feet, so inches of depth are converted first. This formula applies to soil, mulch, gravel, and concrete.
A mulch supplier sells by the cubic yard. To mulch 900 square feet at 3 inches deep, how many cubic yards are required?
- a.About 2.8 cubic yards
- b.About 5 cubic yards
- c.About 8.3 cubic yards✓
- d.About 27 cubic yards
Convert 3 inches to 0.25 feet, then 900 x 0.25 equals 225 cubic feet, divided by 27 equals about 8.3 cubic yards. Always convert the depth to feet before dividing by 27. Ordering the right amount avoids extra delivery trips.
To find the area of a circular planting bed with a 20-foot diameter, which calculation is correct?
- a.20 x 20
- b.3.14 x 20
- c.2 x 3.14 x 10
- d.3.14 x 10 x 10 (about 314 square feet)✓
Circle area equals pi times the radius squared, and the radius is half the diameter, so 10 feet. Thus 3.14 x 10 x 10 equals about 314 square feet. Using diameter instead of radius is a common estimating error.
A landscape plan uses a scale of 1 inch = 10 feet. A bed measures 4 inches long on the plan. What is its actual length?
- a.4 feet
- b.40 feet✓
- c.14 feet
- d.400 feet
At a scale of 1 inch equals 10 feet, you multiply the drawing measurement by 10 to get the real dimension. So 4 inches times 10 feet equals 40 feet. Reading scale correctly is essential for accurate takeoffs from plans.
A patio is 12 ft by 15 ft and will be poured 4 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are needed (before waste)?
- a.About 2.2 cubic yards✓
- b.About 6.7 cubic yards
- c.About 0.7 cubic yards
- d.About 15 cubic yards
Convert 4 inches to 0.333 feet, then 12 x 15 x 0.333 equals about 60 cubic feet, divided by 27 equals about 2.2 cubic yards. Contractors often add roughly 5 to 10 percent for waste and spillage. Ordering slightly extra avoids a short pour.
When estimating a job, which cost category covers wages, taxes, and workers' compensation for crew hours?
- a.Material cost
- b.Equipment rental
- c.Labor cost✓
- d.Permit fees
Labor cost includes crew wages plus payroll burdens such as payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance. Estimators calculate labor from the hours a task takes multiplied by a fully burdened labor rate. Underestimating labor is a common cause of unprofitable jobs.
How many square feet are in a rectangular lawn that is 45 feet by 60 feet?
- a.105 square feet
- b.1,050 square feet
- c.270 square feet
- d.2,700 square feet✓
Area of a rectangle is length times width, so 45 times 60 equals 2,700 square feet. This area figure is then used to calculate seed, sod, fertilizer, or irrigation coverage. Getting the area right is the foundation of most landscape takeoffs.
A fertilizer is applied at 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet. How much is needed for 5,000 square feet?
- a.4 pounds
- b.20 pounds✓
- c.40 pounds
- d.2 pounds
Divide the total area by 1,000 to get 5 units, then multiply by the 4-pound rate to get 20 pounds. Application rates per 1,000 square feet are standard in turf care. Measuring area accurately prevents over-application and fertilizer burn.
Before starting many hardscape or grading projects, a contractor typically must obtain what from the local jurisdiction?
- a.The required building or grading permit✓
- b.A fertilizer license only
- c.A seed certificate
- d.A paint color approval
Grading, retaining walls over a set height, and other hardscape work usually require a permit and inspections from the local building or public works department. Permit review checks drainage, setbacks, and structural safety. Skipping required permits can lead to fines and forced removal.
A sod order covers 2,700 square feet. Sod is sold in pieces covering 10 square feet each. Roughly how many pieces are needed, ignoring waste?
- a.27 pieces
- b.135 pieces
- c.270 pieces✓
- d.2,700 pieces
Divide the total area by the coverage per piece: 2,700 divided by 10 equals 270 pieces. Installers usually add about 5 percent extra for cuts and irregular edges. Ordering by coverage prevents running short mid-installation.
On a landscape plan, a legend or symbol schedule is used to do what?
- a.Show the property tax value
- b.List the owner's phone number
- c.Provide the soil test results
- d.Identify what each symbol, plant, and abbreviation represents✓
The legend, sometimes called a plant schedule or symbol key, explains what each graphic symbol and abbreviation on the plan means, including plant species, quantities, and sizes. Reading it correctly is essential to an accurate takeoff and installation. It ties the drawing to real materials.
A contractor marks up material and labor to cover office costs, insurance, and profit. This markup is commonly called what?
- a.Sales tax
- b.Overhead and profit✓
- c.A permit fee
- d.A material discount
Overhead and profit is the markup added on top of direct job costs to cover indirect business expenses like office, insurance, and vehicles, plus the profit the company earns. Without adequate overhead and profit, a business cannot sustain itself. It is a standard part of professional estimating.