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Pre-Drywall Inspection

Although a third-party pre-drywall inspection is not required, it is strongly recommended. Builders across all price points encounter items that require correction, and most homeowners are not trained to identify construction defects during a framed walk-through. A professional pre-drywall inspection helps protect your investment before problems are sealed behind the walls.

What Is Inspected During a Pre-Drywall Inspection

A pre-drywall inspection is a specialized home inspection performed during the construction of a new home, just before drywall or sheetrock is installed. At this stage, critical components such as framing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems are fully exposed, allowing potential issues to be identified while they are still visible and accessible. This allows defects to be corrected early, when repairs are typically faster and less costly.

Items We Check During an Inspection

Structural Components

- Foundation
- Floors, walls, columns, piers, and ceilings
- Roof framing

Exterior Components

- Wall claddings, trim, and rough-in components
- Visible flashings and house wrap installation
- Window flashing details
- Patios, decks, balconies, porches, stoops, and steps

Roofing

- Installed roof coverings or underlayment
- Visible roof flashings and penetrations

Plumbing

- Water supply and distribution rough-ins
- Drain, waste, and vent piping
- Fuel storage and distribution piping

Electrical

- Service equipment and distribution panels
- Branch wiring rough-ins

Heating & Cooling

- HVAC equipment rough-ins
- Chimneys, flues, and vents
- Ductwork and distribution systems

Interior

- Wall framing and stair structures
- Window condition, function, and flashing

Insulation & Ventilation

- Attic and foundation ventilation
- Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry vent rough-ins

The content above represents a general overview of what is included in a typical pre-drywall inspection. For a complete list of inspected items, exclusions, and limitations, please click here.

Common Issues Found During a Pre-Drywall Inspection

It is not uncommon for a pre-drywall inspection to uncover construction defects that could impact the safety, performance, or durability of the home. While mistakes happen on every job site, identifying them early helps prevent costly repairs later. Some common issues we find include:

Walls that are bowed or not plumb
Improper house wrap installation
Windows and doors not installed square or flashed correctly
Broken roof trusses or rafters
Damaged gussets or truss nailing plates
Cut or damaged engineered floor joists
Missing or incorrect joist hangers and fasteners
Missing or improperly spaced anchor bolts, nuts, or washers

All of these issues can compromise the structural integrity of the home. A professional pre-drywall inspection ensures these concerns are documented and addressed before drywall is installed.

Pre-Drywall Inspection Photo Gallery

Below are real examples of issues discovered during our pre-drywall inspections. These photos highlight why this phase of inspection is so critical—once drywall is installed, many of these defects would be hidden from view.

Why Timing Matters for Your Pre-Drywall Inspection

Scheduling a pre-drywall inspection at the right time allows issues to be identified while critical systems are still exposed and easy to correct. This proactive step helps ensure construction quality, long-term durability, and fewer surprises after drywall is installed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about the pre-drywall inspection process.

What is the purpose of a pre-drywall inspection?

A pre-drywall inspection identifies construction defects while systems are still exposed, allowing corrections before drywall is installed.

Will the builder fix issues found during the inspection?

In most cases, builders address documented concerns identified by a third-party inspector, though this varies by builder.

Is a pre-drywall inspection required?

No, but it is highly recommended to protect your investment and avoid hidden issues. It also allows builders to address problems now.

Is this a full inspection of the home?

The information above represents a partial list of inspected items. Additional components, exclusions, and limitations apply.

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Jayne Helms

Hunter Griggs is an excellent home inspector! His attention to detail when he inspected our new construction home was amazing. I highly recommend Hunter for anyone who needs a great home inspector!

Akilah Lunsford

Jessica was so patient and accommodating. Hunter was swift accurate and very Pleasant. 10 out of 10 experience and I would definitely recommend

David Smith

Hunter was very thorough and knowledgeable, listened to what we are looking for and provided a detailed inspection.

Rita

Throughout the entire process, AHI showed exceptional customer service and expertise. I would consider them the best inspection company for competitive pricing, service and knowledge. Prior to the inspection, I called in multiple times to ask questions regarding the inspection process, since my being a first time buyer. Jessica was extremly helpful and knowledgable. David, the owner was excellent in answering all my questions as well via email. Hunter did the inspection and did an amazing job. He found things that were necessary to be repaired. The report came back in a timely manner. Hunter was patient in answering my questions to ensure I understood everything on the report. I will for sure be using AHI again and would recommend them to any family or friend. Thank you so much AHI team!!

Tanja Anderson

Hunter's service was outstanding. He addressed all my questions thoroughly and provided clear explanations.

James Dulick

Hunter did an outstanding job. Uncovered a number of hidden issues. Fine young man I would recommend without hesitation.

Russ Stevens

Hunter did a very thorough job on the inspection and put it all together is a complete list for the contractor.

Helen Mason

I highly recommend David Johnson and AHI Inspections. He is very thorough and the reports are very detailed with pictures showing all details needed to understand any issues. David is very personable and freely shares his deep knowledge of structures and structural dynamics. He encourages questions and discussion on the issues he sees. When it comes to a home inspection, this is the kind of service you need!

Logan Schmidt

Can't say enough good things about Jessica and Hunter at AHI. Jessica handled the booking process and answered all my questions promptly and thoroughly. She was a fantastic first contact and remained incredibly helpful throughout the rest of the process.

Hunter was an outstanding inspector. He didn't balk at having me present during the inspection (in fact, he encouraged it), welcomed questions, gave explanations that were scaffolded to be both easy to understand and still detailed and comprehensive. He took his time on the property and explored every inch. I still don't know how he managed to fit into certain places in the attic and crawlspace, but he did, and thank goodness he did, because he saved us from a $500k mistake. He took lots of photos and notes and his report was easy to understand. Can't wait to use him again when we make another offer on a home. My realtor also mentioned that he's her new "go to" guy for when clients ask for recommendations.

Joseph Rusher

Hunter is extremely knowledgeable and AHI is the go-to for home inspections

Tami Radecke

During our due diligence period, we had a home inspection of the house. Hunter was terrific! He was very thorough and respectful of the seller’s home. He asked us if there were any specific concerns, which he addressed. The report was sent in a timely manner. We were very pleased!

m steinmetz

very courteous and knowledgeable did a great job inspecting writing the report and explaining everything, giving tons of time the the client! would definitely recommend and use again!

JACKIE SANTOS

Had a great experience with Hunter. So glad we hired them to do our inspection. Usually you would think new construction homes will not need one. But we are so glad we did. There was a long list of repairs items and we were able to go back to the builder and have them fix it. Communication and expertise was key and Hunter exuded that above and beyond. 1000% recommend them!! Thank you again Hunter and team.

R G

Hunter was on time, professional, very communicative and incredibly thorough. We are very pleased and HIGHLY recommend Hunter for your home inspection. He is very knowledgeable and has a quick turnaround. The report was very well written and detailed! THANK YOU Hunter!

Cozmin

I would recommend AHI to everyone. Hunter was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. He walked us through his findings like we were old friends and explained what everything meant, he didn’t hesitate to report anything he found and he was persistent that his findings would get addressed.

Monica Poole - Monica Poole Realty

Hunter was on time , professional and my clients felt there home inspection was very informative

ptzlnfw

Great experience. Showed up on time, engaging, professional in every aspect. Highly recommend.

Yalonda Hines

Hunter was very knowledgeable and thorough.

Pattie Benfield

Hunter is always very efficient and diligent in his work. He does a fantastic job inspecting and explaining things that he finds whether minor or major. This makes it easy with my clients and peace of mind that the inspection on their new place was done properly and with care.

Ashley Simmons

We had the pleasure of working with Hunter for both our pre-drywall and move-in inspections, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Hunter was professional, thorough, and extremely knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything in detail and made sure we felt confident and informed throughout the process. His eye for detail gave us peace of mind, knowing that nothing was overlooked. We truly appreciate his patience, clear communication, and dedication to doing a quality job. We would highly recommend Hunter to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy inspector!

Margaret Antosek

Hunter did a thorough inspection of our home and was patient and detailed in explaining the report to us. Highly recommended!

Katie Doig

Hunter and the team at AHI have been my go-to for many years. Not only are they incredibly detailed and efficient, but they do not hesitate to go over and above. I have had many clients reach out to ask more in-depth questions and they always assist. I have had other agents get MAD at just how detailed the reports are—that speaks volumes. I would recommend them to anyone that wants true value and care. They always give 110% to my clients and it does not go unnoticed.

Selling Florida

This is my third property inspection with AHI and Hunter Griggs and they are both excellent! AHI and Hunter Griggs were recommended to me by my Realtor and I have used AHI & Hunter ever since. I live out of State and it's reassuring to know that Hunter and AHI have my back. Thank you AHI and Hunter for your thorough inspections. You guys found issues that I would not have known about.

Albert Primavera

AHI did a fantastic job on our new home inspection. They were extremely honest, thorough in all aspects, and very quick turn around. You will be glad you used them!

Courtney Bullard

Great experience. Hunter was prompt and professional. He did a very thorough inspection and delivered the report timely! I’m very appreciative of his work.

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