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Carpentry & Masonry Trade Knowledge — Practice

Masonry: joints: practice questions

Our Carpentry & Masonry bank has 9 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1 · Masonry

What is the purpose of an expansion joint in brick veneer?

  1. To let the concrete block backup shrink as it dries out
  2. To let clay brick expand over time without cracking
  3. To drain water
  4. To let concrete block shrink
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B. To let clay brick expand over time without cracking — Clay brick expands; concrete block shrinks.

Question 2 · Masonry

What is the purpose of a control joint in concrete block walls?

  1. To vent the wall
  2. To allow clay brick veneer to grow over time
  3. To let brick expand
  4. To control cracking from shrinkage
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D. To control cracking from shrinkage — CMU shrinks as it dries.

Question 3 · Masonry

What is a head joint?

  1. The joint at the top of the wall
  2. The vertical mortar joint between the ends of units
  3. The horizontal mortar layer under each course of units
  4. The horizontal joint under a course
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B. The vertical mortar joint between the ends of units — Bed joints are horizontal.

Question 4 · Masonry

How deep should old mortar be removed before repointing?

  1. Just enough to clean the surface, about 1/4 inch at most
  2. To the back of the brick
  3. At least 2 to 2-1/2 times the joint width
  4. No removal is needed
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C. At least 2 to 2-1/2 times the joint width — NPS Preservation Brief 2.

Question 5 · Masonry

Why is repointing mortar applied in layers in deep joints?

  1. It speeds the job
  2. It makes the joint harder
  3. Layering reduces shrinkage
  4. Each layer must be a different mortar type for bonding
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C. Layering reduces shrinkage — Let each layer become thumbprint hard first.

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