Phase 2 Pre-Drywall Inspection
All the mechanical elements are roughed in and the framing is complete. This phase ensures the pieces that make the home functional are properly and safely completed.
Framing Inspection
The next phase of the inspection process is typically called the framing inspection, or pre-drywall inspection. Once your home’s roofing material, exterior cladding, and windows have been installed, your home will be ready for the interior sheetrock and insulation to begin.
Because the sheetrock and insulation cover some of the critical materials, like window flashing, electrical wiring, and your home’s framing components, having your third-party inspector evaluate and report on the quality of work is paramount. Once the sheetrock goes up it is too late. Many defects can lay dormant until well after the home warranty has expired, leaving the home owner responsible for any needed repairs.
When to Schedule the Framing Inspection
The best time to schedule the framing inspection will typically coincide with your builder’s framing walk-through. This is the portion of the building cycle where builders try and ensure that each of the agreed upon design criteria has been properly built into the home, and that your questions and concerns have been met.
This also happens to be in-line with the building officials required inspection, and when your builder, if applicable, will have their own inspector review the home.
Once the builder’s inspector has finished their inspection, and the defects that were identified have been corrected, the best window of opportunity for the framing inspection presents itself. When we are the last to inspect the property it ensures that all of the typical defects have been previously identified and corrected. This makes it much easier for you to perform your re-inspection, as there will be, in theory, fewer items to keep track of. It also allows the inspection of the recently repaired defects.
3 Common Framing Installation Problems

Improper Notching/Boring of Studs
The most common issue found during the framing inspection by every builder is improper notching and boring of the interior load bearing stud walls. After the framers have completed their installation, the electrical and plumbing is installed through the home’s interior walls. During this process, over-zealous cutting of load bearing studs is conducted in order to make way for the utilities. There are requirements that must be met in order to maintain the integrity of load-bearing walls after they have been damaged. This goes unseen very often.

Exterior Wall Penetration Flashing(s)
Another common problem is with the installation and flashing of the home’s windows and exterior penetrations. Poor flashing installation will in most cases lead to water damage to the home. Unfortunately, this can take quite some time to finally manifest itself within the home once it has been covered in the building process. This is one of the primary reasons for an inspection at this stage.

Water-Resistive Barrier Installation
Installation defects in regards to the home’s water-resistive barrier and air barrier is also quite common. The water-resistive barrier and air barrier are installed in order to prevent the infiltration of water and moisture laden air into the home. When not installed properly, which is often the case, an unnecessary amount of unconditioned air can enter the home’s thermal envelope.
Phase 1 - Pre-Pour Foundation
Most new homes are being built on slabs in our area. Whether it is a slab or crawlspace, the first inspection is for the foundation upon which your home is built.
Phase 3 - Final Inspection
You are ready to close and this inspection checks that all the systems operate properly and combine with one another to create the perfect home for you and your family.