All phases
5
Rough Inspections & Envelope
The pre-drywall gate. Nothing gets covered until every trade signs off.
Typical duration: 1–2 weeks
2 steps
0/11 complete
12–4 days
Pre-Drywall Multi-Trade Walk & Framing Inspection
Coordinated sign-off from framing, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and the building official.
Builder / Super
Inspections
Framing
Prerequisites & handoff
- All rough-ins complete and tested
- Fire blocking and draft stopping installed
Critical measurements & tolerances
- Fire blocking at all concealed vertical/horizontal intersections and max 10' in stud cavities
- Draft stopping in floor / attic assemblies over 1,000 sq ft where required
- Penetrations through top and bottom plates sealed
- Notch / bore repairs plated and verified
Permits & inspection milestones
- Framing inspection
- Combined rough or 4-way inspection where offered
- Engineer letter for any field-modified structure
Field tips & tricks
- Do your own punch walk with a flashlight the day before the inspector. You will find 20 items; they only need one to fail you.
- Photograph every wall bay before insulation. The best as-built documentation you will ever have costs 30 minutes.
- Invite the homeowner to a pre-drywall walk — it is the last easy chance for changes and it builds enormous trust.
Reference documents
View in library →- International Residential Code (IRC) — free read · Code reference
- Framing / Shear Wall Inspection Form· Inspection form
- MEP Rough-in Pre-Drywall Inspection Form· Inspection form
Field checklist
0 / 5 complete- Fire blocking / draft stopping complete
- All trade rough inspections passed
- Framing inspection passed
- Wall bays photographed
- Homeowner pre-drywall walk done
23–6 days
Air Sealing, Insulation & Blower-Door Prep
Seal the envelope, then insulate to the energy code and verify by test.
Insulation
Prerequisites & handoff
- All rough inspections passed
- Windows and doors installed
Critical measurements & tolerances
- Typical code targets: R-13 to R-21 walls, R-38 to R-60 ceilings, per climate zone
- Blower-door target commonly ≤ 3.0 ACH50 (climate zones 3–8) or ≤ 5.0 ACH50 (zones 1–2)
- Insulation installed to Grade I: full contact, split around wiring, no compression or voids
- Baffles maintain min 1" clear vent space at eaves; attic vent net free area 1:150 (or 1:300 with balanced vents)
- Fire caulk rated penetrations; foam-seal all top plate, rim joist, and can-light penetrations
Permits & inspection milestones
- Insulation inspection before drywall
- Blower-door test and energy compliance report
Field tips & tricks
- Air seal before insulation, not after. Insulation without air sealing is a filter, not a barrier.
- Split batts around wiring and plumbing instead of squashing them — compression is the most common Grade I failure.
- Run a pre-test blower door before drywall so leaks are still reachable. Fixing 5 ACH after paint is misery.
Reference documents
View in library →- International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) · Code reference
- Insulation & Air-Sealing Inspection Form· Inspection form
- RESNET HERS & Blower-Door Testing Standards · Industry standard
- Owens Corning Insulation Installation Guides · Install guide
Field checklist
0 / 6 complete- Top plates and rim joists sealed
- Penetrations fire-caulked
- Baffles installed
- Insulation to spec, Grade I
- Pre-drywall blower door run
- Insulation inspection passed