New Construction Inspection? It's new...

Why would you have a new home inspected in the first place? It’s a great question. After all, it’s new, and you’ve hired a reputable, competent builder. Right? Well, it’s complicated.

By complicated, I’m referring to the construction of a house. Building a home is a process that spans months and involves dozens of trades, and by the time your new home is finished, literally hundreds of individuals will have had a hand in its construction in one way or another. Mistakes, oversights, miscalculations…they’re just going to happen.

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For example, the framers finish the frame, and it’s perfect. Then a host of electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs descend and set about running their mechanicals. Braces can get knocked out of the way to make room for a piece of equipment, studs can get over-bored, and wires can be nicked. In my experience, this is the most common issue in the process. Different crews working after one another, all working on a deadline. To be clear, I’m not suggesting any wrongdoing on anyone’s part; it’s just a function of the complex nature of putting a house together. Well-intentioned though they may be, mistakes can happen.

The Inspector Works For You

If someone asks me what I do for a living, I prefer to say that I’m a “consumer advocate.” An inspector is there to be your advocate throughout the building process. Ultimately, your superintendent works for the builder, as do the trades. A home inspector works for you.

What Are Phase Inspections?

You may be wondering what the new construction inspection process even looks like. Well, I’m glad you asked! A home is built in phases, so we inspect in phases. The first two are especially critical since once the concrete is poured and the drywall is hung, everything underneath the slab and behind the walls is now out of sight, so it’s especially important to get a look while we can.

Phase One: Pre-Pour Inspection

There is one shot, and one shot only at getting a slab poured correctly. Once the concrete is in place, it’s there to stay. Foundation isn’t just a clever name; it is the very structure that the house is resting on. If the slab goes wonky, so goes the home. Your plumbing drains also run through and underneath the slab. Yes, they can repair leaks under the slab, but it's costly, destructive, and something you'd rather not do.

When we perform your pre-pour inspection, we’re looking for conditions that will adversely affect the integrity of your foundation. We’re checking the support of the post-tension cables and their placement so they don’t end up too close to a corner or plumbing pipe, which they could break when the cable is tensioned. We make sure the beams are clean and free of debris and that they haven’t collapsed. We’re examining the vapor barrier for punctures and tears. We even check the level of the form boards with an instrument called a zip-level. Believe it or not, some slabs are out of level because they were poured that way!

Phase Two: Pre-Drywall Inspection

My personal favorite is the pre-drywall inspection. With a frame, you’re essentially looking at the bones of the house, its structure, its systems. At this point, you can visually inspect all of the mechanical systems in a house with relative ease, but you have to know what you're looking for. During the pre-dry-wall inspection, the main focus is on the structure…is all of the weight of the house properly supported from the ridges to the bottom plate? Are there supports that are missing, inadequate, or broken? Is everything properly fastened?

Then it’s the mechanicals turn. We check the ducts, wiring, plumbing, and piping. Are all of the drains vented? Are the receptacles and switches where they should be? Is anything damaged? If so, it’s a lot easier to fix it now before the drywall is up.

At this point, the house is what is referred to as “dried in,” meaning the windows, roof, and wrap are in place. We’re checking all of those things too! We make sure that the house is sealed up before it’s covered up and that your windows are level and can be operated.

Phase Three: Final Inspection

I know what you're thinking, “Is the final necessary?” After all, we’ve inspected the first two phases of construction, and the final is just fixtures, finishes, and cosmetic issues, right? You’ll walk it with your builder and come up with a punch list. Why do more? I’ll tell you why. Your house is more than just paint and flooring, and when we perform our final inspection, we’re going to put the house through its paces and test all of the mechanicals, including plumbing, electrical, and air conditioning. We’re taking readings on the slab and the HVAC. We’re operating all of the appliances. We’re checking the roof and windows (again, because stuff happens during construction). One of the most important tests we do is scanning the house with a thermal camera, which can show us hot or cold spots behind the walls. You may be shocked to hear that we’ve found leaks behind the walls of new homes. In my opinion, if you’re going to find a leak, it’s best to locate it before you move in.

It's Worth It

In a word (or three) “Peace of mind.” That’s the benefit of phase inspections on your new home. Beasley Home Inspection Services takes home inspection seriously, and we’d love to partner with you as you embark on the adventure of building a new home. We even offer new-construction packages for your convenience. Call today for your peace of mind. “Make it easy, choose Beasley!”