21 Interior & Exterior Repair Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. A row of drywall nails on a bedroom wall has popped, cracking the paint over each head. What is the correct repair?

   • A.Pull the nail and fill the hole with spackle, adding no new fastener at all
   • B.Drive a longer nail into the same hole and sink its head below the paper
   • C.Set new screws into the framing on both sides of the pop, then pull the nail✓ Answer
   • D.Hammer the popped nail back down and skim joint compound over the raised head

   A nail pops because the fastener has worked loose from the framing, so re-driving it only sets up the same failure again. New screws driven into the stud on each side of the pop pull the board tight; the loose nail is then removed and the spot is dimpled, filled, sanded, primed and painted.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, fixing a popped nail or screw in drywallReport a problem with this question

2. 2. The metal corner bead on an outside wall corner has been crushed by a moving cart. What is the correct repair?

   • A.Cut out the crushed length, fasten in new bead, then coat and feather it✓ Answer
   • B.Cover the damaged bead with mesh tape and build the corner up in spackle
   • C.Hammer the crushed bead back to shape and skim one heavy coat over it
   • D.Fill the crushed area with compound and sand it back to a sharp corner

   Corner bead works because it is a straight, rigid metal edge; once it is deformed it can no longer give a true line, and compound built over a bent edge simply cracks and stays wavy. Cutting the damaged section out and fastening in a matching length restores the edge before the corner is coated and feathered.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair curriculum, ceilings and walls repairReport a problem with this question

3. 3. A small hole has been covered with a self-adhesive drywall patch. How should the joint compound over it be applied?

   • A.In a single coat left proud of the wall and sanded back to bare paper
   • B.In one heavy coat troweled to the exact outline of the patch, then sanded
   • C.In successive thin coats, each feathered out past the edge of the last✓ Answer
   • D.In two coats kept on the patch so no compound reaches the painted wall

   The patch sits above the plane of the wall, so the compound has to ramp that thickness out gradually until the transition disappears. Thin coats each spread wider than the one before dry evenly and shrink very little, while a single thick coat shrinks, cracks and leaves a bump that side light will reveal.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, repairing a hole in drywallReport a problem with this question

4. 4. Damage too large for an adhesive patch has been cut back to a clean rectangular opening. What must be done before the new piece of wallboard is fitted?

   • A.The patch is screwed into the paper facing of the surrounding wallboard
   • B.Fiberglass mesh tape is stretched across the opening to carry the patch
   • C.Wood backing is fastened behind the opening for the patch to screw into✓ Answer
   • D.The opening is packed with compound until it is flush with the wall face

   A patch this size has no framing behind it, so wood backing is screwed to the sound board first and the patch is then fastened to that backing. Compound and tape have no structural strength across an open span, and screws driven into paper facing tear out as soon as the wall is bumped.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, repairing a large hole in drywallReport a problem with this question

5. 5. How do wallboard joint compound and spackling compound differ when a technician has to choose between them?

   • A.Joint compound spreads and sands easily but shrinks and dries slowly✓ Answer
   • B.Spackling compound shrinks the most and always needs several coats
   • C.Spackling compound spreads the farthest and suits the largest patches
   • D.Joint compound sets in minutes and is used only for small nail holes

   Joint compound has a long working time and sands to a feather edge, which is what a broad repair needs, but it shrinks and has to dry between coats. Spackle is the opposite trade: it dries quickly with little shrinkage yet is dense and hard to sand, so it belongs on small holes rather than large patches.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, patching materials for ceilings and wallsReport a problem with this question

6. 6. Why must a fresh compound patch be primed before the finish coat is applied?

   • A.Primer keeps the patch from shrinking any further as the topcoat cures
   • B.Primer gives the compound the hardness it needs to resist later cracking
   • C.The bare patch soaks up the topcoat, so it dries duller and off in color✓ Answer
   • D.The topcoat cannot bond to the painted wall that surrounds the new patch

   Bare compound is far more porous than the painted wall around it, so it pulls binder out of the topcoat and the spot flashes as a duller, slightly different shade. Sealing the patch with primer evens the porosity, and rolling the primer with a medium nap also matches the rolled texture that a brush would not.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, prime and paint step of drywall repairReport a problem with this question

7. 7. The roof leak has been repaired, but a brown water stain still bleeds through two coats of flat ceiling paint. What should be applied?

   • A.A third and heavier coat of the same flat ceiling paint over the stain
   • B.A general-purpose latex primer, followed by the same finish coat
   • C.A stain-blocking sealer over the stain, followed by the finish coat✓ Answer
   • D.A gloss finish coat, which blocks bleeding better than a flat one

   The residues left by a water stain are water soluble, so they redissolve in any water-based coating and wick straight back to the surface; more latex paint or an ordinary latex primer will keep bleeding no matter how many coats go on. A stain-blocking sealer forms a barrier the stain cannot migrate through.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, painting services and surface preparationReport a problem with this question

8. 8. An interior door coated in old semi-gloss enamel is going to be repainted. Which preparation most determines whether the new paint holds?

   • A.Adding a flow additive so the paint levels out over the glossy film
   • B.Cleaning off the soil and dulling the gloss so the new coat can grip✓ Answer
   • C.Applying a heavier first coat so it bonds through the existing gloss
   • D.Wiping with water only, since sanding marks telegraph through paint

   Adhesion depends on the new film being able to key into the old one, and a hard glossy surface offers nothing to key into while grease, soap film or dust acts as a bond breaker. Washing and then sanding or chemically dulling the sheen is what keeps the new coat from peeling in sheets later.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, painting services surface preparationReport a problem with this question

9. 9. A kitchen wall in a turned apartment will be washed often. Which sheen is the appropriate choice?

   • A.Whichever sheen is on hand, since washability depends on the color
   • B.A semi-gloss or gloss, whose harder film takes repeated cleaning✓ Answer
   • C.A flat ceiling paint, which is formulated for high-moisture rooms
   • D.A flat, whose soft film hides the flaws that repeated washing reveals

   Sheen is a function of how much binder sits at the surface relative to pigment: the higher the gloss, the tighter and harder the film, so soil releases instead of soaking in and scrubbing does not wear it. Flat films are porous and burnish to a shiny spot wherever they are rubbed.

   Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, paint types and sheen levelsReport a problem with this question

10. 10. A patched area on an orange-peel textured wall has to be retextured. What should be done before any texture goes on the wall?

    • A.Sand the surrounding texture flat so the new work blends at its edge
    • B.Prime the whole wall first so the texture lands on a uniform base
    • C.Finish the drywall repair, then test the texture on scrap to match it✓ Answer
    • D.Apply the texture over the damp patch so both dry as a single layer

    Texture is a finish laid over a completed repair, not a substitute for one, and the pattern depends on how thin the material is mixed and how it is delivered. Dialing that in on scrap first is the only way to match the existing pattern, because texture applied wrong has to be scraped back off before a second try.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, repairing orange peel textureReport a problem with this question

11. 11. Which sealant belongs at the joint between a bathtub and its tile surround?

    • A.Silicone, which stays watertight and resists mildew but will not take paint✓ Answer
    • B.Acrylic latex, which is paintable and cleans up with water when applied
    • C.Painter's putty, which stays soft enough to follow the joint's movement
    • D.Butyl rubber, which is meant for gutter seams and storm window frames

    A tub joint is wetted constantly and moves as the tub is filled and emptied, so it needs a sealant with outstanding adhesion, long life and mildew resistance. Silicone is that choice; the tradeoffs are that it normally cannot be painted and is cleaned up with rubbing alcohol rather than water.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, choosing the right caulkReport a problem with this question

12. 12. A wide exterior joint between two building materials opens and closes with the seasons. How should it be sealed?

    • A.Leave the joint open so that any water that gets in can drain out
    • B.Pack the joint solid with rigid mortar so that it can no longer move
    • C.Fill the full depth of the joint with an interior-grade acrylic latex
    • D.Fit a backer rod, then a flexible sealant rated for exterior joints✓ Answer

    A backer rod controls how deep the sealant sits and keeps it from sticking to the back of the joint, so the bead is bonded on two faces only and can stretch and compress as the gap moves. A rigid fill, or a sealant with no movement capability, tears loose on the first seasonal cycle and admits water.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, caulking and backer rod useReport a problem with this question

13. 13. An entry door rubs the frame at the upper corner of the latch side. What is the most likely cause?

    • A.The bottom hinge pin is worn and has dropped the latch edge down
    • B.The top hinge screws have loosened, letting the door sag toward the latch✓ Answer
    • C.The strike plate has shifted upward and is catching the latch bolt
    • D.The threshold has swelled and is pushing the door out of square

    The top hinge carries most of a door's weight, so when its screws lose their grip in the jamb the door pivots downward and the top of the latch stile swings into the frame. The fix is to re-secure that hinge with fasteners long enough to reach the framing behind the jamb, not to plane the door.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, door and door frame repairReport a problem with this question

14. 14. A door closes but the latch will not catch, and the bolt is marking the strike plate just below its opening. What is the correct fix?

    • A.Move the strike plate so its opening lines up with the bolt✓ Answer
    • B.Install a lockset with a longer bolt that spans the misalignment
    • C.Shim behind the top hinge until the latch edge of the door rises
    • D.Plane the latch edge of the door until the bolt reaches the opening

    The strike is the adjustable member of the assembly, so repositioning it, or filing its opening, restores engagement without altering the door or the lock. Planing the door leaves a permanent gap, and a longer bolt still misses an opening that is in the wrong place.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, lock installation and door frame repairReport a problem with this question

15. 15. A double-hung window will not open after the apartment was repainted. What should the technician do first?

    • A.Pry the sash upward with a flat bar until the paint bond breaks
    • B.Cut the paint bond between the sash and the stops before forcing it✓ Answer
    • C.Replace the sash balances, which the paint has stiffened in the jamb
    • D.Remove the stops, take the sash out, and plane its edges narrower

    Fresh paint that bridges the sash and the stops glues the two together, and the window is otherwise undamaged. Slicing that film along the joint releases the sash without cracking glass, splitting the sash rails or damaging hardware that was working before the painters arrived.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, window and interior repair servicesReport a problem with this question

16. 16. Resilient flooring in a bathroom feels soft and springy near the tub. What has to happen before new flooring is laid?

    • A.The new flooring is bonded more heavily where the floor feels springy
    • B.A leveling compound is poured over the soft area to firm the floor up
    • C.The water source is stopped and the damaged subfloor is cut out and replaced✓ Answer
    • D.A second layer of underlayment is laid over the existing floor covering

    A spongy floor means the substrate itself has lost strength to moisture, and any covering laid over it will fail again while hiding a leak that may still be running. The sequence is to stop the water, remove and replace the deteriorated decking, then install the new floor on a sound base.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, flooring and construction servicesReport a problem with this question

17. 17. During an exterior walk-through, a technician finds a sidewalk slab heaved into a raised lip. What is the correct response?

    • A.Wait until a resident reports catching a foot on that stretch of walk
    • B.Fill the height difference with sealant so the lip is less visible
    • C.Record it for the next annual inspection, since walks always settle
    • D.Mark or barricade the lip, report it, and get the repair scheduled✓ Answer

    A raised lip in a walking surface is an immediate trip hazard, so the first duty is to make it visible or keep people off it, then document it so the repair is tracked to completion. Deferring it to a later inspection, disguising it, or waiting for an injury all leave the hazard in service.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, curb appeal checklist for sidewalks and walkwaysReport a problem with this question

18. 18. A cabinet door hangs crooked and rubs the face frame at one corner. What is the appropriate first step?

    • A.Turn the adjustment screws in the hinges to square the door up✓ Answer
    • B.Replace the door, because a crooked door means the box has racked
    • C.Sand the rubbing corner of the door down until all the gaps look even
    • D.Redrill the hinge higher on the door so that the corner clears

    Cabinet hinges are built to be adjusted in more than one direction, so the geometry that causes the rub can normally be corrected in minutes with a screwdriver and nothing is removed from the door. Sanding the corner or moving the hinge alters the door permanently and often reappears as an uneven gap.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT content outline, cabinet and interior repair servicesReport a problem with this question

19. 19. A brown stain appears on a top-floor ceiling near an exterior wall. Where should the technician look for the source?

    • A.Uphill of the stain, since water enters high and travels along framing✓ Answer
    • B.At the nearest ceiling fixture, the usual entry point on a top floor
    • C.In the wall below the stain, where moisture wicks up from the slab
    • D.Directly above the stain, because water always falls straight down

    Water that gets past the envelope runs along sheathing, rafters and top plates until something stops it, so the visible stain is the low point of that path rather than the point of entry. Repainting the stain without tracing the leak back uphill to the actual penetration means it returns with the next storm.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, building exterior inspection checklistReport a problem with this question

20. 20. Water stands against a foundation wall after every storm. What is the correct corrective action?

    • A.Seal the base of the wall so that water can no longer pass through it
    • B.Fit larger gutters and leave the grade at the wall exactly as it is
    • C.Extend the downspouts and regrade the soil to fall away from the wall✓ Answer
    • D.Place gravel along the wall so that the standing water soaks in faster

    Roof water has to be carried clear of the building and the ground has to fall away from it, so the water is never delivered to the foundation in the first place. Sealing the wall face or bedding gravel against it only manages water that is still arriving, and gravel actually speeds infiltration right where it hurts.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair participant guide, building exterior checklist for land grading and guttersReport a problem with this question

21. 21. Working from an extension ladder, a technician finds the last fastener is just out of reach to one side. What should be done?

    • A.Climb down and move the ladder rather than leaning out past the rails✓ Answer
    • B.Have a coworker foot the ladder while the technician leans to the side
    • C.Step up onto the top cap for the extra reach needed to finish the job
    • D.Hold a rail with one hand and stretch out with the other to finish

    Overreaching moves the worker's center of gravity outside the side rails, which is what tips a ladder sideways; a second person holding the base cannot stop that, and the top cap is not designed as a standing step. Climbing down and repositioning costs seconds and keeps the body between the rails.

    Source: NAAEI CAMT curriculum, appropriate use of tools and equipment and ladder safetyReport a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the published NAAEI CAMT domains — Essential Trade Skills, Compliance, Facilities Operations, and Professional Development & Collaboration — and on standard trade practice. CAMT and NAAEI are marks of the National Apartment Association; this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by NAA or NAAEI. Code requirements, licensing boundaries and permit rules vary by jurisdiction and revise on a cycle, so none is tested here as a recalled figure — always verify the code having jurisdiction and use a licensed contractor where the work requires one. Confirm current program requirements with NAAEI before testing. About the CAMT credential →