Pre Drywall Inspections
One way to ensure that a house is built according to its specifications is by performing a pre drywall inspection. “Pre drywall” refers to a phase during the homebuilding process just after the installation of certain elements – such as the doors, windows, foundation, flooring, wall and roof components, plumbing and electrical rough-in – and right before the drywall is hung. This in-progress or construction-phase inspection is useful because drywall can obscure some aspects of the interior and make identifying or fixing any problems both difficult and expensive, once the new home is completely finished.
A pre drywall inspection can be performed after the insulation is installed, which is convenient because it allows the home inspector to determine whether it was done properly. However, the insulation may conceal some components in much of the same way that drywall does.
What is inspected during a pre drywall inspection?
During a pre drywall walk-through, the areas of the house that the inspector can check include:
- the foundation;
- floor system;
- roof system;
- wall system;
- plumbing system;
- electrical system;
- HVAC;
- exterior wall covering;
- roof covering; and
- the interior.
When performing a pre drywall walk-through, the home inspector may inspect:
- electrical wiring and junction box placement;
- framing;
- foundation slabs, walls and drains;
- footings;
- notching of floor joists;
- firestop material;
- pier pads;
- crawlspace;
- retaining walls;
- plumbing pipe placement;
- waterproofing;
- flashing for windows and doors;
- wall studs;
- any missing metal clips; and
- the placement of HVAC air ducts and registers.
There are many common concerns that a pre drywall inspection can address. These questions include:
- Is there an appropriate number of electrical outlets in every room?
- Is there a drain pan installed for the washing machine so that water is caught in the event of a leak?
- Are there wood blocks in places where extra support may be necessary?
