Are you buying a new construction home from the builder, but the home is not built or finished yet? Then you have an incredible opportunity to have a significant positive impact on the quality of the construction by scheduling a pre-drywall inspection with an independent home inspector.
What is a pre-drywall inspection?
A pre-drywall inspection means that you hire a specially trained home inspector to inspect the partially completed home before the drywall is installed. At this stage, the framing is complete and most of the main components are installed. I.e. HVAC system and ducts, electrical cabling, plumbing pipes, windows and doors, etc. Since the drywall is not yet installed, it means everything is visible and allows the inspector to check many, many things before they are hidden forever. For example:
- Foundation and slab
- Framing (studs and trusses)
- Connectors and fasteners (proper use of hangers and nails)
- Fireblocking of concealed spaces
- Roof system
- HVAC system and ducts
ASHI Pre-Drywall Inspector - Plumbing water, drain, and gas lines, their connections and supports
- Electrical cabling
- Window and door flashing/water-proofing
Why get a pre-drywall inspection?
Because this is your only chance for an independent third-party to come in and look at the quality of the underlying construction so far. After they install the drywall, you can no longer see many important components of the home. If there are defects but you only discover an issue with a component after you move in, it is a much bigger hassle and mess to fix. It means contractors might come into your home that you’re living in to rip open the walls and repair things.
In addition, think about the possible consequences:
- Poor framing with bowed or rotated or misaligned studs. The result? Your walls look crooked.
- Poor framing with improper connections. The result? Your ceilings cracking.
- Electrical cabling or plumbing lines not properly protected. The result? You putting a nail into it when hanging a picture.
- Improper flashing around a window. The result? Rain getting into your home and causing damage and mold.
- HVAC ducts installed incorrectly reduce air flow. The result? A room in your house is warmer/colder than the rest.
A good inspector can catch these things during a pre-drywall inspection.
Can any home inspector do a pre-drywall inspection?
No! A pre-drywall inspection is very different from a regular home inspection. It requires a lot of additional and advanced knowledge that is not part of a normal home inspector training or experience. A home inspector must have in-depth training specifically for new construction homes. Not every home inspector is actually qualified to perform pre-drywall inspections (even though they might tell you so).
Won’t the city/county building inspector do this inspection as part of the permit process?
While a jurisdictional building inspector will conduct a rough-in or framing inspection at some point, their inspection is very different from our pre-drywall inspection in two important ways:
- Their inspection will take a lot less time than ours. They might spend 15 minutes walking through the home. We, on the other hand, will spend around 3 hours.
- Their inspection focuses mainly on code compliance. However, code is the bare minimum lowest acceptable standard. Even if something is code compliant, it doesn’t mean it’s actually great or optimal. Our pre-drywall inspection focuses on construction quality, workmanship standards, and best industry practices. It helps ensure a higher quality construction.
Contact Desert Diamond Home Inspections today to schedule yours!
