No Regrets: Pre-Drywall Inspection

Catch any issues prior to enclosing walls

To ensure that all the switches, outlets, lights, fans, and telephone connections are correctly located, Levco Builders, in Boise, Idaho, walks clients through the project after the framing and wiring are done but before the insulation and drywall are installed. “You can see the skeleton of the project,” says president Joe Levitch.

The walk-through helps the company avoid messy, time-consuming drywall removal to fix mistakes. After the walk-through, the client is asked to sign this form acknowledging the inspection.

Levitch points out that the inspection and accompanying form also allow him to check in with the client at the mid-point of the project. “It’s a key piece of our success,” he says.

After reading a recent REMODELING article by Shawn McCadden about managing the inevitable remodeling fatigue that clients feel during a project, Levitch plans to create a document that he can give clients during this mid-point meeting with tips that will “set expectations for the second part of the project — to make sure everyone is onboard and moving in the right direction, and to help them stay enthusiastic for the next phase.”

A. Inspections
Before the on-site meeting, the team confirms that required inspections are complete and that they have permission to cover the walls. Company president Joe Levitch says this assures clients that all the necessary third parties have approved the company’s work.

B. Rough-Ins
If an inspector passes the project provided that, for example, the plumber fix one item, the company can mark on the form “the rough-ins are not complete,” so the team doesn’t “miss out on something on final inspection because we technically passed but neglected to do the thing the inspector called out,” Levitch says.

C. Acceptance/Signature
When clients sign the form, not only do they signal their approval, they acknowledge that further alterations will require a change order. This inspection falls at about the mid-point of the project and also marks a milestone payment. The form becomes part of the project documentation.

D. Action Items
The project manager can add items to this list that are not related to the inspection but that have been requested by the client, such as adding blocking for a towel bar or moving the electrical box to the other side of the stud.

Levitch also asks his electrician to label the wires in each box before the inspection so the team can confirm wiring for all devices is correct. Click here to see a photo.

—Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.