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Pre-Drywall Inspection in Jacksonville, FL

Serving St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & all of Northeast Florida

What Is a Pre-Drywall Inspection?

A pre-drywall inspection is an independent check of your new home before the walls close. We inspect the framing, wiring, plumbing, HVAC, windows, and roof before insulation and drywall hide them for good. We serve Greater Jacksonville and the St. Augustine area. Our team is led by, BJ Johnson, certified Master Inspector who spent more than 20 years as a custom home builder. You get a clear report the same day. Hand it to your builder while fixes are still quick and cheap.

What’s Included in a Pre-Drywall Inspection?

  • Framing: studs, headers, beams, trusses, and fire blocking

  • Wind resistance: hurricane straps and truss tie-downs

  • Electrical rough-in: wire runs, boxes, and nail plates

  • Plumbing rough-in: supply lines, drains, and vents

When Should You Schedule a Pre-Drywall Inspection?

Book this inspection after the rough-in work is done and before insulation goes in. By then, the frame, roof, windows, and doors are in. The wiring, pipes, and ducts are roughed in, too. Ask your builder for the date insulation is scheduled, then book us for the days just before it. Builders here often move fast. So, call us as soon as your home is framed.

Why a County Inspection Isn’t Enough

A county inspection checks that your home meets minimum code. Your builder schedules it, and the visit is often brief. In contrast, an independent inspector works for you, not the builder. We take the time to look closely at workmanship, not just minimum standards.

We follow the InterNACHI Pre-Drywall Inspection Standards of Practice. We are licensed by the State of Florida (Home Inspector License #HI8005). You can also review our own standards of practice and code of ethics before you book.

Common Problems We Find Before Drywall

Even well-run builds have mistakes. These are some of the issues we often flag at this stage:

  • Missing or loose hurricane straps and truss connectors
  • Cracked, twisted, or over-notched studs and joists
  • Missing nail plates where wires or pipes pass through framing
  • Loose or crushed duct runs and poorly sealed duct connections
  • Gaps in window and door flashing that could let water in
  • Wet framing or sheathing left exposed to Florida rain

Each one is simple to fix now. After drywall, the same repair can mean cutting open finished walls.

Before You Book

Planning Your Pre-Drywall Inspection

Homes We Inspect

We inspect new homes at the pre-drywall stage for:

  • Production-builder homes in master-planned communities
  • Custom homes and owner-builder projects
  • Townhomes and attached homes
  • Additions and major renovations with new framing

Pre-Drywall Inspection Cost

The cost of a pre-drywall inspection depends on your home’s square footage and number of stories. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote. Hero Discount available for active and retired military, law enforcement, first responders, and teachers.

Add-On Services

Many clients pair this visit with our other new construction inspections:

Why Choose Inside & Out Property Inspectors?

Our team includes a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector. We are also members of FABI and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. Together, we have completed over 40,000 inspections with more than 40 years of combined experience. We are rated 4.9 stars across more than 1,600 Google reviews, and every inspection is performed by our own staff.

A Builder Knows Where Builders Cut Corners

Owner BJ Johnson built custom homes across Northeast Florida for more than 20 years before he became an inspector. He has worked with the same local contractors, in the same climate, on the same kinds of homes. As a result, he knows exactly where to look before the walls close.

Same-Day Reports You Can Hand to Your Builder

You receive a detailed, interactive report the same day. Each issue has clear photos and a plain-language note. That way, your builder knows exactly what to fix. Once the repairs are made, we can return to confirm the work was done right. A reinspection is available for an added fee.

Pre-Drywall Inspections Across Greater Jacksonville and St. Augustine

We have offices in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. From there, we inspect new homes across Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau counties. This includes fast-growing areas such as Nocatee, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, and Yulee. See our full list of service areas to confirm we cover your neighborhood.

Pre-Drywall Inspection

FAQS

Yes. The county checks for minimum code, and the visit is often short. An independent inspector works only for you. We look closely at workmanship, not just the code minimum.

You are welcome to attend. In fact, walking the home with your inspector is a great way to see your home’s framing and systems before the walls close.

Most builders allow outside inspectors. However, some set rules about timing and site access. Check your purchase agreement, then let your builder know the date you have booked.

We list each issue in your report with photos and notes. You share the report with your builder, who makes the repairs. We can then return to verify the fixes for an added fee.

Usually, yes. Both terms mean an inspection after the rough-ins are done and before the walls close. Book it before insulation goes in, so nothing is hidden.

Client Testimonials

The entire process was wonderful. It is great you can schedule online and they follow up with a confirmation. They send clear instructions beforehand on what to expect. The inspectors were timely and fantastic. The report was received the same day of the inspection and it was extremely thorough. Thank you.

I used Inside & Out to inspect my new home. “New Construction”. They were punctual, professional, and really know their trade. They were very detailed on their inspection and identified things that I would have missed such as: brand new HVAC not working properly, loose shingles, grounding wires incorrectly attached behind the panels. They also put a camera through the sewage pipes to ensure there were no damages or obstructions as a result of the build. 10/10, Highly Recommended.
Very thorough and very prompt with the report. A must for new construction, they found things a homeowner would easily overlook or not know to inspect – just because it’s new, it’s not perfect. We were unable to perform our walk-through and these guys made the perfect proxy. Highly recommend!