Specialty inspection
Pre-Drywall Inspection for Phoenix-Area New Construction
A pre-drywall inspection is an independent walk of your new home after framing and the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins are in, but before insulation and drywall seal them inside the walls for good. It is the one point in the build where the structure and every rough-in are still visible, so a loose connector, a missing protection plate, or an over-notched joist can be documented and corrected while the fix is cheap and easy instead of buried behind a finished wall. Our team gives you an objective, documented read on how the home was actually built, at the only moment it can still be seen.
Why it matters
The stakes for the buyer
Everything behind a finished wall is invisible until it fails, and by then the repair means cutting open drywall, paint, and trim you already paid for. A crossed water line, an unsupported drain, a joist over-notched for a pipe, or window flashing lapped the wrong way can sit hidden for years, then surface as a leak, a sag, or monsoon water tracking into a room. The city or county framing and rough-in inspections confirm the permitted work meets code minimums on the permit's schedule; they are not a room-by-room look performed on your behalf. Catching an issue now, while it is still a scrap of wire and a few screws, is the difference between a same-day correction and a demolition invoice after you have moved in.
What the inspection covers
What our team looks at
Structural framing and connectors
Your inspector checks studs, headers, beams, joists, and trusses for plumb, level, and square framing, along with the hangers, straps, hold-downs, and fire blocking that only stay visible until drywall covers them.
Electrical rough-in
We look at wire runs secured to the framing, outlet, switch, and fixture box placement, the protection plates that shield wiring where it passes near a stud edge, and the panel and grounding, all before insulation goes in.
Plumbing rough-in
We review supply and drain-waste-vent piping, drain slope, pipe support and connections, and the wall and floor penetrations, noting what is pressure-holding or testable on the day of the visit.
HVAC and mechanical rough-in
We check duct runs, register and return locations, duct support and sealing, refrigerant line routing, and the venting paths for combustion appliances while they are still open to view.
Weather barrier and flashing
We inspect the building paper or house wrap laps, window and door flashing, and roof and wall penetrations before stucco or siding covers them, the last line of defense against monsoon-season water intrusion in Arizona.
Slab, anchorage, and penetrations
We document anchor bolts, hold-downs, and the plumbing and electrical penetrations coming through the slab, without cutting or probing a post-tension foundation, which is standard on Phoenix new construction and must never be disturbed.
Wall penetrations and fire blocking
We check where pipes, wires, and ducts pass through top plates and framed assemblies, confirming the openings are firestopped and the surrounding framing was not over-notched or over-bored.
How it works
On the day
A pre-drywall inspection is timed to the narrow window after framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough-ins are complete but before insulation and drywall go up. Because the home is still the builder's active jobsite until you close, the visit is coordinated with the builder or superintendent, who controls site access and the drywall schedule. Your inspector walks the structure and each rough-in system, evaluating what is installed and testable that day, and delivers a written report of the findings you can raise with your builder. Systems that are roughed-in but not yet energized or connected are noted rather than passed, and anything not ready that day may warrant a return look.
Bob was very friendly and thorough. He was responsive to all communications and since I am from out of state he kept me abreast of the situation every step of the way. He even called me during the inspection while he was on my roof in Arizona. I appreciate his counsel and insight into this project. I would highly recommend him. Thanks Bob
Straight about scope
What this covers, and what it does not
- This is not the city or county building inspection. Municipal framing and rough-in inspections are pass or fail checks against code minimums for the permit and the certificate of occupancy, run on the jurisdiction's schedule, not a private evaluation of workmanship performed for you.
- This is not a guarantee the builder will fix anything. Whether findings are corrected is governed by your purchase contract and builder warranty, not by the inspection; the report gives you documented items to raise, and resolution is between you and the builder.
- This is not a look at finished or energized systems. It reports only what is installed and testable on the day, so systems not yet powered, fixtures not connected, and exterior or grading work not yet done cannot be evaluated as finished work.
- This is not the same as AZHI's new-construction final walkthrough or 11-month warranty inspection. This is the standalone pre-drywall phase, a look at the structure and rough-ins before they are covered, not a walkthrough of a completed home.
- This is not a promise to find every defect or predict how the home will perform later. It is a point-in-time, visual assessment of the conditions that are accessible on the day of the visit.
Questions
Common questions
When in the build should a pre-drywall inspection be scheduled?
Schedule it after framing and the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins are complete but before insulation and drywall are installed, which is a short and firm window on most Phoenix-area builds. Once the drywall crew is booked, that window closes and the structure and rough-ins are covered for good, so coordinate the date with your builder or superintendent as soon as the rough-ins near completion. Confirm the exact timing and any scheduling notice with our team when you book.
Can you inspect the foundation slab and its penetrations at this stage?
Your inspector reviews the visible slab surface, anchor bolts and hold-downs, and the plumbing and electrical penetrations that come up through it, but a post-tension slab, which is standard on Phoenix-area new construction, is never cut or probed because the tensioned steel cables inside it must not be disturbed. The visit documents conditions that are visible and testable without altering the structure. How much of the slab can be confirmed depends on how much is already covered by framing and subfloor work on the day.
How is a pre-drywall inspection different from a final new-construction walkthrough?
A pre-drywall inspection looks at the bones of the home, the framing and the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins, while they are still exposed; a final walkthrough looks at a finished home just before closing. They see two different houses, and neither replaces the other, because once drywall is up the rough-ins are gone from view, and once you close the punch-list stage is what remains. If you want eyes on the structure and rough-ins themselves, the pre-drywall phase is the only visit that can provide it.
Add Pre-Drywall to your inspection
Tell us about the property and what prompted the concern, and you get a quote back. Residential inspections start at $285.