The pre-close inspection is your last opportunity to photograph everything behind the wall before it disappears for the lifetime of the building. Plumbing locations, electrical rough-in, insulation, blocking, HVAC ductwork — once drywall goes up, all of that is invisible. And the next time anyone needs to know where it is, they're either working from memory, old drawings, or cutting holes in finished walls.
A documented pre-close inspection creates a permanent record of what's behind the wall, at what location, in what condition. Here's exactly what to check and how to document it.
The complete pre-close checklist
Electrical
- All rough-in wiring is complete per drawings
- Outlet, switch, and fixture box locations are correct and at correct heights
- Panel rough-in is complete, breakers are labeled
- All circuits are tested and confirmed operational
- Electrical inspection has been passed and signed off
- Wiring is not in contact with plumbing or HVAC without proper protection
Plumbing
- Supply and drain rough-in is complete per drawings
- Pressure test has been completed and passed
- All stub-outs are at correct locations and heights
- Water hammer arrestors are installed where required
- Plumbing inspection has been passed and signed off
- Pipe penetrations through framing are properly protected with nail plates
HVAC
- Ductwork is complete, connected, and sealed at joints
- Diffuser and return air locations are correct
- Equipment connections are complete and tested
- HVAC inspection has been passed where required
- Flex duct lengths are acceptable — not kinked or excessively long
Insulation
- Insulation type and R-value matches spec
- Insulation is installed without gaps, compression, or voids
- Vapour barrier is installed correctly (where applicable)
- Rim joist and band joist areas are insulated
Framing and blocking
- All structural modifications have been inspected and approved
- Blocking is installed for future fixtures: TVs, grab bars, towel bars, cabinets
- Header sizes are correct over all openings
- Fire blocking is installed at required locations
General
- All required municipal inspections are complete and signed off
- Any open items from previous inspections are resolved
- Work area is clean and ready for boarding
Why pre-close photos are the most valuable photos you'll take
Every other photo on a job shows finished work. Pre-close photos show what's behind the finish — and that's exactly what matters when a leak happens three years later, when an owner wants to add an outlet, or when a dispute arises about what was or wasn't done.
The best pre-close documentation approach: take overlapping photos of each wall section before boarding, clearly showing pipe, conduit, and duct locations relative to stud bays and dimensions. GPS-tagged and timestamped, these photos are permanently associated with the address and the project.
Manifold for pre-close inspections
Manifold's photo-linked checklists let you build a pre-close template once and reuse it on every job. Mark critical items as requiring a photo before they can be checked off. Export the completed inspection as a PDF with every item, photo, GPS location, and timestamp.
Works fully offline. Available on all plans from $16/user/month.
See how Manifold checklists work →
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