Today we’re discussing why new construction homes still need inspections (Yes, Even Brand-New Ones).
Written By: Sean Struckmeyer, Professional Home Inspector | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC
As people, we tend to have a bias that anything brand new means it’s automatically perfect and without flaws, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Ever buy a new car and had issues and recalls with it? Homes are no different and in-fact, there so many more parts and components and different trades and timelines involved with a home’s construction that it’s even easier for issues to be present. Something as small as a drywall screw hitting a pipe can cause huge issues after you move in!!
Why Inspect New Construction? (Even WhenIt’sBrand-New)
I first want to be fair to the trades, they are human and can make mistakes like anyone else, they are usually rushed and working on a tight schedule, and sometimes have to work in adverse conditions, or weren’t provided with the proper materials, so having us come in and provide an inspection can help catch any mistakes and ensure they get corrected before it’s too late. Think of an inspection as a peer review, having your work double checked before you submit it for final approval.
There’s a myriad of reasons why these mistakes could have happened, from, misunderstandings of the plans and details, to rushed work, or being provided with improper materials. But none of that really matters if the mistakes aren’t found and corrected. The Inspector’s Job is to find the issues and document them so they can be resolved. Investing in a Pre-Drywall Inspection can save thousands of dollars in the future.
Hidden dangers: structural, plumbing, electrical issues aren’t always obvious.
- Inspecting early lets you catch these before they’re buried.
Phase Inspections: Your Secret to Catching Issues Early
- Each Phased Inspection offers opportunities to find and correct issues at different phases of the construction process. Keep in mind, that homes are built one part at a time and each component essentially stacks on top of itself. You can’t frame a house without a foundation, and you can put a roof on without framing. During a project like this, the more inspections you have, the more chances of catching issues so they can be properly addressed. A well built home, will stand the test of time if properly maintained. A poorly built home will not.
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- Foundation/Pour – Generally called a Phase 1 inspection, this confirms that the foundation is poured correctly and to plan.
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- Pre-Drywall/Framing – Known as a Phase 2 or Rough-in Inspection. This is completed right before the drywall goes up and is the best time to find any issues with the layout of the wiring, hvac, plumbing, framing, etc. This is when everything is installed but exposed and visible. Once the drywall goes up, you lose visibility to it.
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- Final Walkthrough – All the final installations are finished, now we need to check the final product and ensure, the outlets were wired correctly, the plumbing fixtures installed correctly (hot on the left, cold on the right).
Key Areas to Focus on During New Construction Inspections
- Foundation & Site Prep: drainage, grading, cracking, settling.
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- If the foundation is already settling and cracking during a phase inspection, that’s an indication there’s a problem. A problem that could be corrected early at the expense of the projects timeline, but it’s be cheaper and better to fix it early in the project than later.
- Roof & Attic: flashing, attic insulation, roofing fasteners, leaks.
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- We can see the whole underneath the roof. Missing H-Clips on the roof sheathing? We’ll spot it. Missing Flashing on roof penetration? We’ll find it, before it leaks and ruins the drywall!
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- Broken or Damaged Trusses? Easily spotted and documented during a pre-drywall inspection.
- Structural Elements: framing alignment, joists, subfloors
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- Subfloors damaged our out of level? This will impact the flooring installation, finding this early, allows it be fixed and prevent future problems with your flooring!
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- Are all the load bearing systems properly supported? Studs cut too short and not doing their job? We’ll find it!
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- Did they make a big hole in a floor joist where it shouldn’t be? We’ll find it, because that weakens the joist!
- Electrical Systems: panel grounding, wire protection
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- During a pre-drywall, we can check for the proper installation of strike plates. These are intended to protect the electrical wiring from drywall screws. But they don’t do any good if not properly installed, or worse yet, missing all together! We can also see, any siding nails that missed a stud and hit a wire. Better to find these issues before there’s an electrical short and possibly a fire.
- Plumbing: leaks, venting, fixture installation, concealed water damage.
- HVAC: duct installation, insulation.
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- Is the HVAC condensation line properly installed? Are the ducts damaged? Are they constricted? We’ll find these issues easily during a pre-drywall, so they can be corrected easily.
Final Walkthrough: Don’t Let Finesse Become Finish Fails
During the final walkthrough, your home is complete and ready to move-in. We will inspect it, to ensure the finished product is in fact finished. We’ll check the major systems for finish and function. We follow the same Standards of Practice on the final walkthrough as if we were inspecting a home you were buying, so it gets the same due – diligence.
- Electrical Systems: panel grounding, GFCIs, outlets
- Ensure the outlets are wired correctly and that the GFCI’s are working properly.
- Plumbing Systems: Water heater, fixtures, drains
- Was the water heater properly installed?
- Are the plumbing fixtures properly installed?
- Are there any leaks under the sinks? Find it now, before it causes an issue.
- Interior Finishes: caulking, grout, paint, trim alignment, appliances.
- Missing caulk around the tub? We’ll find it, before it see’s use and water gets in places it shouldn’t be.
- Exterior Features & Drainage: decks, porch, grading away from house.
- At this point, the site should be properly drained, ensuring water is properly managed from the beginning, will save you many problems in the future!
- Know what builder warranties cover, what’s transferable, and keep thorough documentation. The inspection report provides you with a thorough point in time documentation to support any warranty claims.
Conclusion & Action Items
Congratulations on your new Home!
If you are buying a new construction home or building a home, hiring an inspector early and often during the construction process will ensure that your home is in good condition and ready for move-in and enjoyment. A small investment in resources and time with a Tech Inspect Inspector, can save you huge headaches, money and time later by discovering, documenting and supporting your claims with the builder to ensure things are done properly.
Don’t forget, that most builders offer a 12 month warranty on homes for material and workmanship defects. We also provide an 11 month warranty, which is executed to our standards of practice. The 11-Month Warranty Inspection is performed just like if you were buying a used home. Having multiple documented inspections at various points in time early in a home’s life will create an audit trail to support any warranty claims to ensure that your home is properly maintained.
Schedule a Pre-Drywall Inspection