Prepare for the Utah Contractor Exam with comprehensive quizzes and study resources. Gain confidence by accessing multiple-choice questions designed to enhance your knowledge and skills for the licensing exam.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What does retainage ensure during a construction project?

  1. Payment for materials used

  2. Completion of outstanding work

  3. Compliance with safety regulations

  4. Maintenance of project timeline

The correct answer is: Completion of outstanding work

Retainage is a common practice in construction contracts where a portion of the payment due to the contractor is withheld until the project is completed satisfactorily. This practice ensures that there are funds available to motivate the contractor to finish any outstanding work and address any issues that may arise before the project is officially completed. By holding back a percentage of the total contract amount, the project owner retains leverage to ensure all aspects of the construction meet the agreed standards and specifications. This is particularly important because it helps ensure that contractors remain committed to correcting deficiencies or completing unfinished tasks, as they will only receive the withheld payment after fulfilling their obligations. Retainage serves as a financial incentive to complete the job to the satisfaction of the project owner and can also offer some protection against defects in construction that may become apparent after the project’s completion.