I do a lot of pre-drywall inspections. During new construction I only recommend two inspections - the pre-drywall and the final just before the walk through with the builder. It is interesting the things I find on both inspections.
The pre-drywall is particularly important because it is the only time to see the house while skeletal. I am particularly interested in transference of loads, making sure that things are evenly distributed and that load-bearing structures rest on a proper platform or the steel beam intended. Of course, there is a lot more to look at than that. And I do!
This was a problem of a different kind.
It is the dining room box window.
The roof over that box had not been finished. This is not unusual.
Sometimes the box or bay roofs get a different roofing material, like metal, that is not installed at the same time as the shingles.
What was unusual is that it was raining during this inspection, and that rain produced 5" in 36 hours!
Not surprisingly, this small roof leaked.
It leaked, dripped and splattered!
The builder is ready in the next little while to install the drywall.
We have siding underlayment, wood structure and insulation materials all wet.
If that moisture gets sealed in by drywall it becomes a conducive location for the development of mold or fungi.
What needs to happen?
Well, the roof needs to be finished!
The insulation should be removed, everything dried out and new insulation be re-installed.
Will the builder stall the schedule long enough to do that?
Hmmm..... my client hopes so! A Golden Rule builder would.
My recommendation: I often see moldy areas during a pre-drywall inspection. I certainly see areas that are wet and could become moldy areas! All those problems should be mitigated prior to the installation of the drywall. Any good builder would do that. A builder wouldn't leave such problems should they build a home for themselves.
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