(September 25, 2025 @ 6pm ET) 40 Minutes of Competence CE Study Session: Problem Solving - An Expert’s Process for Answering ARE Questions

Join us for our interactive quiz-style 40 Minutes of Competence, where you'll compete against one of our team members to see who can answer the most ARE questions correctly. You may come away with helpful insights about these exams whether your answers are right or wrong.

Relevant Exam Division: Construction & Evaluation (CE)

These study sessions are free and open to all, not just Amber Book subscribers, so join us this Thursday at 6pm ET: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83922907346

You’ll take the first five minutes of class to answer this week's question alone, but if you would like to get a head-start on that, here is the assignment:

A contractor prepares a concrete materials submittal that includes cementitious materials and aggregates, curing materials, floor and slab treatments, reinforcement accessories, an air-entraining admixture, and a floor sealer that is a substitution for the specified sealer. The architect approves the submittal without exception.

During installation of the tile flooring, it is discovered that the specified floor tile adhesive is incompatible with the substituted floor sealer. A compatible adhesive is ordered, which requires extra time to deliver, and the general contractor submits a claim for a time extension and the extra costs.

How should this claim be resolved?

A. The architect should accept the claim because the submittal was approved.

B. The general contractor is responsible for extra costs and time delays.

C. The tile subcontractor must supply a compatible adhesive at their own cost.