13. Cover Inspection

Once we have all of your mechanicals installed, and the framer has come back and completed his punch list from the construction manager you are ready for your "Cover Inspections". You will get your plumbing, electrical, and HVAC inspected for proper installations. Plumbing will be checked for leaks and to make sure drains works. You should have your water line installed to home and your sewer line should be in and inspected. Your hose bibs are on and working. Your plumbing system is functional at this time. Your electrical gets checked for size of wiring, and the location of panels. The inspector will also look for distances of boxes from water sources, and locations of smoke detectors and alarms. Your HVAC inspections will make sure that your equipment matches up, the sizing of your duct work and return airs will be checked to ensure they match your manual 'J'. Location of duct work and return airs will also be looked at. Your framing will get most of the attention. Some places have a separate inspector for each item. Your building inspector will make sure that your framing is structurally sound. He will be looking for bracing, purlins, rat runs, joist sizing, rafter bracing, load transference, anchor bolts, tie downs, and all of the 3,000 things you need to check on. On all inspections reports you will find a disclaimer which states in so many words that items noted are the items that were visually seen by the inspector, and its report does not in any way mean that there are no other violations. In other words he could miss something. The inspector is not going to catch it all. No one is. That is why the more eyes the better. Once every ones punch list (inspection list) has been completed the home will be called for re inspection. The inspector can not add items at this stage unless the item will effect the health and/or welfare of the home buyer. Generally they come back and review only the items on their report. They sign off on the corrections and the home is ready for insulation. You are also ready for the installation to commence on any exterior masonry work.