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 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
  • exterior wall covering
  • roof covering; and
  • the interior.
  • 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.