NC General Contractor flashcards
NC General Contractor · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- General contractor license threshold
- In North Carolina, a general contractor license is required for projects costing $30,000 or more, measured by the total cost of labor, materials, and subcontracts for the undertaking.
- License classifications
- NC general contractor licenses are issued as Limited (up to $750,000), Intermediate (up to $1,500,000), or Unlimited, and in categories such as building, highway, public utilities, or specialty residential.
- Qualifier requirement
- A licensed entity must designate a qualifier who exercises direct supervision over construction work; the license belongs to the business entity, not to the individual qualifier personally.
- Minimum net worth
- Applicants must demonstrate net worth of $17,000 for Limited, $75,000 for Intermediate, and $150,000 for Unlimited classification to qualify for a general contractor license.
- Unlicensed contracting consequences
- Contracting above the $30,000 threshold without a license is a misdemeanor, and the unlicensed contractor generally cannot enforce the contract in court.
- Continuing education requirement
- Licensed general contractors must complete 8 hours of continuing education annually, including 2 hours covering North Carolina licensing laws and rules, before license renewal.
- License renewal deadline
- North Carolina general contractor licenses expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed with proof of continuing education to remain active.
- Bidding without a license
- Offering to contract or submitting a bid for work above the $30,000 threshold without a license is a violation of NC licensing law even if no contract results.
- Retainage on public projects
- North Carolina public construction contracts generally limit retainage to 5% of each progress payment, with withheld amounts released after final acceptance and resolution of claims.
- Critical path method
- CPM identifies the longest-duration sequence of dependent activities through a project network; delay on that path delays project completion unless float is available.
- Total float formula
- Total float equals late start minus early start, or equivalently late finish minus early finish, for an activity in a project schedule network.
- Change order valuation
- A change order price equals added direct cost plus allowable overhead and profit plus any time extension; subcontractor markup limits are governed by the prime contract terms.
- Lien filing deadline
- In North Carolina, a claim of lien generally must be filed within 120 days after the claimant last furnished labor, materials, or services on the project.
- Notice to Lien Agent
- A subcontractor must give written Notice to the Lien Agent within 15 days after first furnishing labor, materials, or services on a project with a registered lien agent.
- Earned value formulas
- Cost variance equals EV minus AC; schedule variance equals EV minus PV; cost performance index equals EV divided by AC; schedule performance index equals EV divided by PV.
- Competent person
- Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926, a competent person is capable of identifying hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action, required for excavations, scaffolding, and fall protection.
- Footing depth requirement
- Footings must extend below the frost line, and their minimum width and thickness are determined by code tables based on soil bearing capacity and wall load.
- Joist notching limits
- Wood floor joists may not be notched in the middle third of the span, and end notches are limited to one-quarter of the joist depth.
- Egress window dimensions
- Sleeping room egress windows require at least 5.7 square feet net clear opening, minimum 20 inches width, 24 inches height, and sill no more than 44 inches above floor.
- Stairway dimensions
- Stairways require a minimum 36-inch width, maximum 7-3/4 inch riser, minimum 10-inch tread, and a maximum vertical rise of 12 feet 3 inches between landings.
- Guardrail requirements
- Guardrails are required at open sides of walking surfaces more than 30 inches above grade, must be at least 36 inches high, and balusters must reject a 4-inch sphere.
- Concrete foundation strength
- Foundation concrete typically requires a minimum compressive strength of 2,500 psi, with reinforcement and vapor retarder specified by code and project design.
- NC State Building Code
- North Carolina adopts the International Code family with state amendments; local governments may adopt only limited amendments authorized by statute.
- Wind-borne debris region
- Coastal North Carolina wind-borne debris regions impose enhanced wind uplift resistance and impact protection requirements on roofing and glazing under the state building code.
- Written contract requirement
- Residential construction contracts over $30,000 must be in writing, include the contractor's license number, and disclose the homeowner's three-day cancellation right.
- Three-day cancellation right
- A homeowner may cancel a residential construction contract within three days when signed at a location other than the contractor's place of business, if properly disclosed.
- Homeowner Recovery Fund
- North Carolina's Homeowner Recovery Fund may compensate homeowners for certain losses caused by licensed general contractors, subject to statutory caps and claim procedures.
- Conditional lien waiver
- A conditional lien waiver becomes effective only upon actual receipt of the stated payment; it does not release rights if payment is not received.
- Unconditional lien waiver
- An unconditional lien waiver is effective upon signing regardless of whether payment has been received, so it should be signed only after payment clears.
- Substantial completion warranty
- Substantial completion starts warranty periods; workmanship is typically warranted for one year, with longer periods for structural or latent defects by contract or statute.
- Progress payment support
- A progress payment application should include a schedule of values, lien waivers, and certification that completed work and stored materials match the amount requested.
- Unfair trade practices
- North Carolina G.S. Chapter 75 prohibits unfair or deceptive trade practices by contractors and can support treble damages for affected consumers.