Conquer the General Building Contractor Exam in Under 90 Minutes: Study Guide for Planning and Estimating, Framing, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Roofing, Painting, Tile, Floor Coverings, and Safety

By: Philip Martin McCaulay

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Conquer the General Building Contractor Exam in Under 90 Minutes delivers a focused, practical overview of the core knowledge required to oversee residential and light commercial construction projects. This guide presents the essential concepts that govern how buildings are planned, structured, and assembled, emphasizing how individual systems work together as a complete whole. Each chapter is designed for clarity and efficient reading or listening, making it ideal for a fast, high-impact review.

The book begins with project planning fundamentals, including scope definition, site evaluation, estimating, scheduling, and coordination across trades. These chapters explain how early decisions influence constructability, sequencing, and overall project control. Clear explanations show how planning choices affect downstream structural work, system integration, and finish quality.

Structural and systems coverage forms the technical core of the guide. Framing, foundations, concrete, and structural connections are explained in plain language, followed by concise coverage of plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling systems. Exterior assemblies such as insulation, weatherproofing, roofing, and cladding are addressed alongside interior walls, ceilings, and finish installations, with attention to how assemblies interact rather than isolated trade details.

The guide concludes with essential safety practices and project closeout considerations, tying together how technical execution, hazard control, inspections, and final coordination determine overall project success. If you’ve already invested time and money into preparing, don’t leave success to chance. This quick, focused review is here to help you pass the first time.