Contractors: Construction Inspections
Pre-Drywall Inspections - For New Homes and Renovations
Many of the important construction details such as energy-efficient and
resource-efficient framing techniques and proper installation of wall cavity
insulation can best be confirmed during construction by a competent visual
inspection. Some of these can be measured witha diagnostic test such as infrared
thermography after construction, but then it is too late to correct problems easily. If
insulation is not properly installed, it can
cause comfort problems that are expensive to
figure out and correct later on.
Green Building Solutions can provide a visual inspection at certain times prior to drywall
installation in order to identify potential air sealing problems affecting the building envelope
tightness, insulation installation issues, durability concerns, potential indoor air quality isues,
duct installation quality, and other factors that might affect the performance of the building and
the level of comfort it delivers.
The two most useful times for a pre-drywall inspection are after HVAC rough-in but before insulation,
and after insulation installation,
although inspections at other times can also be useful. Green Building Solutions’ inspection report gives a list of any potential problems in the areas covered that your subcontractor can address before it's too late.
HERS Ratings and Verification
Green Building Solutions personnel are certified HERS raters, and can sign off on proper installation of HVAC equipment, insulation, and any other required HERS certifications (except solar). Even if your project is located in a climate zone where such verification is not REQUIRED, you might want to know that your HVAC installer has met the current industry standards of 6% duct leakage or less. Even if verification of insulation installation is not required, you may want to confirm that your insulation subcontractor has installed it properly.
Coming soon: HERS II, a system under which existing homes can be rated for overall energy efficiency. Both before and after renovations.
