The pre-drywall inspection is the single highest-leverage moment in a construction project for documentation. Once the drywall goes up, every wire, pipe, duct, and stud is hidden — sometimes for the life of the building. Skip the photos here, and any future repair, renovation, or warranty claim becomes guesswork.
This is a complete pre-drywall inspection checklist for contractors. It covers framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, and blocking, with photo-required documentation guidance at every item. The checklist is designed to be used in a digital field documentation app, but you can also print it or use it as a structure for whatever inspection workflow you already run.
Why pre-drywall inspections matter
Once drywall covers the rough-in work, three things become impossible without destructive investigation:
- Verifying the wire path from a panel to a specific outlet
- Locating a leak in a pipe behind a finished wall
- Confirming whether blocking exists for a future wall-mounted item
A photo-documented pre-drywall inspection produces a permanent visual record that solves these problems before they happen. It also serves as third-party verification that the rough-in work was done to spec — which protects the contractor in disputes about responsibility for a future failure.
Pre-Drywall Inspection Checklist (Copy & Use)
Walk every room and floor. Photo every item. Tag every photo to its location.
Framing
- All studs plumb and on layout — photo of typical wall
- Header sizes correct at openings — photo of each header
- King studs and trimmers in place — photo
- Top and bottom plates fastened to spec — photo
- Sheathing nailing pattern visible at exterior walls — photo
- Beam and post connections per plan — photo of each
- Stair stringers cut and attached correctly — photo
- No notching or boring exceeding code limits — photo of any cut studs
- Engineered framing members oriented correctly — photo of stamps
Blocking
Blocking is what gets forgotten and is most expensive to add later. Photograph all of it.
- Blocking installed for grab bars at all bath locations — photo
- Blocking for towel bars, robe hooks, toilet paper holders — photo
- Blocking for wall-mounted TVs (note size and weight rating) — photo
- Blocking for upper kitchen cabinets — photo
- Blocking for handrails on stair walls — photo
- Blocking for window treatments and curtain rods — photo
- Backing for any future wall-mounted equipment per drawings — photo
Electrical rough-in
- All boxes installed at correct height — photo of each room
- Wire homeruns to panel correctly identified — photo
- Switch leg circuits correct (3-way, 4-way) — photo
- Smoke and CO detector locations boxed — photo of each
- Bath fan vent path complete to exterior — photo
- Cable type correct for application (NM, MC, conduit) — photo of typical run
- Penetrations through fire-rated assemblies properly sealed — photo of each
- Low-voltage rough complete (data, AV, security) — photo
- Panel directory roughed in with circuit numbers — photo of panel
- Service entrance work complete — photo
Plumbing rough-in
- All supply lines pressure-tested — photo of test gauge
- All DWV (drain, waste, vent) lines pressure-tested — photo of test
- Cleanouts accessible at all required locations — photo of each
- Pipe support and hangers installed per code — photo
- Vent terminations correct height above roof — photo
- Shut-off valves at every fixture rough-in — photo
- Tub and shower waterproofing membrane installed and inspected — photo
- Tub valve heights and rough-in dimensions correct — photo
- Penetrations through fire-rated assemblies sealed — photo
HVAC rough-in
- All ductwork sealed at connections — photo of typical seal
- Duct runs sized per design — photo with measuring reference
- Ducts insulated in unconditioned spaces — photo
- Hangers and supports per spec — photo
- Refrigerant line sets installed and protected — photo
- Condensate drain lines installed — photo
- Combustion air provisions in place — photo
- Thermostat wire pulled to correct locations — photo
- Penetrations through fire-rated assemblies sealed — photo
Insulation
- Wall insulation installed without gaps or compression — photo of typical bay
- Ceiling insulation depth correct (note R-value) — photo with depth gauge
- Vapor barrier installed correctly — photo
- Air sealing complete at top plates, rim joists, and penetrations — photo
- Sound insulation installed where specified (party walls, bath walls) — photo
- Spray foam thickness verified per spec — photo with gauge
Fire and life safety
- Fireblocking installed at all required locations — photo of each
- Draftstopping installed in horizontal planes — photo
- All fire-rated assembly penetrations properly fire-stopped — photo of each
- Smoke detector boxes located per code — photo
Documentation
- Inspector approval signature obtained for each rough trade — photo of signed card
- All measurements taken and recorded for as-built records
- Pre-drywall photo set exported as PDF and filed
- Owner provided with copy of pre-drywall photo record
Photo-required pre-drywall inspections
The difference between a printed checklist and a photo-required digital inspection is enforceability. A paper checklist relies on the inspector remembering to actually photograph each item. A photo-required app locks each item closed until a photo is attached — turning the checklist into a documented record automatically.
Manifold's photo-required digital inspection checklists work this way. Every item has a photo requirement. Items can't be marked complete without a photo. The completed inspection exports as a single PDF with every photo, every timestamp, and every GPS tag. This becomes the legally defensible pre-drywall record.
How to use this checklist on a real project
- Walk the building twice. First with the checklist alone to identify what's there. Second with the camera to document.
- Photograph from consistent positions. Same corner of each room, same height. This makes the photo set comparable across the project.
- Include reference items in photos. A tape measure, a piece of paper with the date, or a wall plate — anything that confirms the photo wasn't taken on a different day.
- Photograph the bad with the good. If something isn't to spec, photograph it with a note rather than ignoring it. The contractor who documents problems honestly is the contractor who wins disputes.
- Export and archive. The pre-drywall photo set should be archived with the project files for the life of the building.
Pricing
Photo plan — $16/user/month: GPS photo timelines, photo-required punch lists and inspection checklists, PDF reports, client sharing. No seat minimums.
Photo+Scan plan — $24/user/month: Everything in Photo plus Orbit Measure 3D scanning and Floor Plan Scan.
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