Construction Phase Inspection
Pre-Drywall · Phase 2 · Rough-In Inspection
The most critical inspection your new home will ever receive. Performed at the only moment when hidden systems are still visible and correctable.
- After Framing & Rough-In
- Before Drywall Goes Up
- Fast Report Delivery
- Certified Inspector
- St. Charles County & Beyond
Don't miss the window. The opportunity for a pre-drywall inspection is open for just a few days, sometimes less. Once drywall is installed, structural, electrical, and plumbing defects are hidden permanently. Stay in close contact with your builder and book us the moment rough-in is complete.
What It Is
Turn the Inspection Report Into Your Negotiation Toolkit
A construction phase inspection — also called a pre-drywall inspection, rough-in inspection, or Phase 2 inspection – is a thorough evaluation of your new home performed at the single most critical window in construction: after the framing, electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems have been roughed in, but before drywall covers everything.
This inspection gives you – and your builder – the last clear look at the structure, wiring, pipes, and mechanical systems while they are still exposed and accessible. Issues that would require demolition to fix after drywall can often be corrected for free while the walls are open.
In our opinion, this is the most valuable inspection a house can receive. Your local municipality may have already issued a code inspection – but passing minimum code is not the same as building your home right.
Your Construction Timeline
When Does This Inspection Happen?
Complete
Foundation & Framing
Concrete foundation poured, framing erected, roof structure in place.
Complete
Mechanical Rough-In
Electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, and HVAC ducts installed — all still exposed.
➤ Now: Schedule Your Inspection
Pre-Drywall Inspection
Tech Inspect performs a full system-by-system evaluation. This window is short — often only a few days.
After Inspection
Drywall Installation
Once drywall goes up, everything behind it is permanently hidden. Issues cost exponentially more to fix.
Final
Move-In & Closing
Consider a complete home inspection before closing to catch any remaining finish-work issues.
What We Look For
Common Defects Found in Pre-Drywall Inspections
Builders are excellent at construction – but no crew is perfect. These are the types of issues we regularly find and document before drywall hides them forever.
Missing Nail Strike Plates
Strike plates protect electrical wiring and plumbing pipes from drywall screws. A missing plate means a screw could easily nick a live wire or puncture a pipe - leading to fire or water damage behind your walls.
Missing Window Flashing
Window flashing creates a waterproof seal around frames. Without it, moisture intrudes and accumulates behind siding - causing rot, mold, and costly structural repairs down the line.
Improperly Notched or Bored Beams
Structural beams that have been cut or drilled beyond allowable limits are weakened. This can compromise the load-bearing capacity of your floor and wall systems.
Missing or Loose Joist Hangers
Click individual checkboxes to select specific defects, or click "Select Visible Defects to include all visible items. When a report has multiple sections, you will be prompted to choose which section to build from.
Damaged Subflooring
Subfloor damage from rain exposure or construction activity can compromise the foundation of every floor surface in your home — and is invisible once flooring is installed.
Electrical Rough-In Issues
Improperly secured wiring, missing boxes, incorrect circuit routing, and other rough-in deficiencies that pass a quick code check but fall short of quality standards.
HVAC Duct & Vent Problems
Disconnected, kinked, or improperly supported ductwork reduces system efficiency and indoor air quality — and can be expensive to access and repair after drywall.
Insulation & Air Sealing Gaps
Gaps in insulation or missing blocking reduce energy efficiency. Correcting these before drywall is quick and free - after drywall, it may require full wall removal.
Anchor Bolt Issues
Missing, misaligned, or insufficiently embedded anchor bolts compromise how your home's framing connects to the foundation - a critical structural connection.
Our Approach
How Tech Inspect Conducts a Pre-Drywall Inspection
We use a methodical, system-by-system approach — treating every new home as if it were our own. Here’s how the process works.
1
Schedule at the Right Time
Coordinate with your builder. Book us the day rough-in is done and before drywall begins. Use our online scheduler — it takes 60 seconds.
2
System-by-System Evaluation
We inspect every exposed system independently: roof structure, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, anchor bolts, insulation, and more.
3
Comprehensive Documentation
Every defect is photographed, measured, and documented with context so your builder knows exactly what to fix — and where.
4
Fast Report Delivery
90% of reports are delivered at the end of the inspection. The remaining 10% requiring research are delivered within 24 hours.
5
Share With Your Builder
The report is designed to be shared directly with your builder or general contractor for correction before drywall installation resumes.
6
Issues Corrected, Then Drywall
Builder corrects deficiencies. Drywall installs. You move into a home where the hidden systems were built right — and documented.
Roof Structure
Framing
Plumbing
Electrical
HVAC
Anchor Bolts
Joist Hangers
Window Flashing
Insulation
Why It Matters
Why This Inspection Is Worth Every Dollar
A pre-drywall inspection is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your new home. Here’s why.
Dramatically Lower Repair Costs
Fixing a structural, electrical, or plumbing issue before drywall is quick and inexpensive. The same fix after drywall can cost thousands in demolition, repair, and reinstallation.
Beyond Code Compliance
Your home may have already passed a municipal code inspection. Code sets a minimum bar — not a quality bar. A Tech Inspect inspection goes much further, looking for defects that are legal but problematic.
Long-Term Energy Efficiency
Catching gaps in insulation and air sealing before drywall improves your home's thermal envelope, leading to measurably lower heating and cooling costs for decades.
Fast Report, Builder-Ready Format
90% of inspection reports are delivered at the end of the inspection. The report is structured to be shared directly with your builder — no translation required.
Methodical, System-by-System Process
We don't walk through once and take notes. We inspect every system independently to maximize defect detection during this short window of access.
Your Advocate, Not Your Builder's
We work for you — not your builder, agent, or lender. Our goal is to make sure your new home is built the way it was supposed to be.
Know the Difference
Construction Phase vs. Complete Home Inspection
These are two distinct services at different points in construction. Many new home buyers need both — here’s how they compare.
Feature
.-
Timing
-
Primary Purpose
-
Scope
-
Covers Interior Finishes?
-
Report Shared With
-
Client Protection Programs
-
Cost to Fix Defects Found
Construction Phase Inspection
Pre-Drywall / Phase 2-
After rough-in, before drywall
-
Catch hidden defects while they're still correctable
-
Exposed framing, wiring, plumbing, HVAC, structural
-
✗ Not yet installed
-
Builder / General Contractor
-
Not included
-
Very low — walls are still open
Complete Home Inspection
InterNACHI SOP-
At or before closing
-
Full evaluation for buyers, sellers, or owners
-
All systems and components per InterNACHI SOP
-
✓ Yes — kitchens, baths, bedrooms
-
Homeowner for decision-making
-
✓ Buy-Back Guarantee & Warranty included
-
Higher — finished surfaces must be addressed
Frequently Asked Questions
Construction Phase Inspection FAQ
Clear answers to the questions we hear most from new home buyers in Wentzville, O’Fallon, St. Charles County, and surrounding Missouri communities.
A construction phase inspection — also called a pre-drywall or Phase 2 inspection — occurs after framing, wiring, plumbing, and HVAC rough-in are complete but before drywall is installed. This is the last opportunity to identify and correct hidden defects before they are permanently concealed behind walls and ceilings. It is widely considered the most critical inspection a new home can receive.
Schedule your pre-drywall inspection as soon as your builder notifies you that framing and mechanical rough-in are complete and before drywall installation begins. The window is very short — often only days. Stay in close contact with your builder’s representative throughout the construction process so you’re ready to book immediately. Use our online scheduler to get us locked in quickly.
Code inspections verify that construction meets minimum legal standards — they are not comprehensive quality evaluations. A code inspector may spend less than 30 minutes on a home, checking specific code requirements but not performing a detailed system-by-system analysis. Tech Inspect’s construction phase inspection goes significantly further, looking for defects that are legal but still represent quality problems, installation errors, or issues that will create expensive headaches down the road.
We look for missing nail/strike plates protecting wiring and pipes, missing window flashing, improperly notched or bored support beams, missing or loose joist hangers, damaged subflooring, electrical rough-in issues, improper anchor bolt installation, gaps in insulation, HVAC duct problems, and many more defects that are easy to correct before drywall but extremely costly after.
A construction phase inspection typically takes 2–3 hours depending on the home’s size and complexity. We use a methodical, system-by-system approach rather than a single walkthrough — so every accessible system gets dedicated attention during this limited window.
90% of Tech Inspect reports are delivered at the end of the inspection — before you leave the home. The remaining 10% that require additional research are delivered within 24 hours. Speed matters in pre-drywall situations, and we take that seriously.
Yes — the report is specifically designed to be shared with your builder or general contractor for correction of issues that fall outside accepted tolerances. The report clearly documents what needs to be addressed and where, giving your builder the information needed to make corrections before drywall installation proceeds.
Tech Inspect Home Services LLC offers transparent, flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees added at checkout. Use our instant online quote tool to see your exact price in seconds without a phone call. Given that a single pre-drywall correction can save thousands in post-drywall repair costs, this inspection consistently delivers exceptional value.
Many new home buyers benefit from both. The construction phase inspection evaluates exposed systems before drywall, while a complete home inspection at or before closing evaluates all finished systems, appliances, and components per InterNACHI Standards of Practice. The two inspections cover different phases and serve different purposes — and together provide comprehensive protection throughout the building process.
Service Area
Proudly Serving East-Central Missouri
Tech Inspect Home Services LLC provides construction phase and pre-drywall inspections throughout St. Charles, Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln counties — and surrounding communities.
Warren County
Lincoln County
Time-Sensitive
Don't Let the Window Close
There are only a few days — sometimes less — between rough-in completion and drywall installation. Once that window closes, it’s gone. Schedule now so we’re ready the moment your builder gives the green light.
Questions? Call us at 636-201-6366 or email sean@techinspecthome.com