The Pre-Drywall Inspection

9th in 2014 New Vienna House Series

Building a new house gives you a chance to do some pretty unique things to really make it a custom home.

If the roof is on and windows are in, then the electrician has probably started the process of getting the electrical plan set up per the drawings. There are building codes that require GFCI outlets and the maximum distance between outlets.

They also set up telephone and TV jacks in rooms per the plan.

Before that meeting takes place, I always recommend to my clients that they start planning where they are going to place furniture. Especially in big, open family rooms it is going to be important to have an outlet in the floor so you can plug in lamps. I know, I just gave you a homework assignment but at the end of your project you aren’t going to want extension cords running on the floor.

Most builders are going to charge you for extra outlets (budget $150 per outlet) but adding a floor outlet or extras in the mud room for your little digital natives may be worth the expense.

The other task you will have is placing your AV or TV jacks. If you want them over the fireplace then get that marked off, or in a certain corner of your bedroom or master bath.

It is funny how TV’s just a few years ago required huge mounts, and today’s flexible or adjustable mounts do everything much more streamlined. The big thing to tell your builder is that you plan to mount a TV there so he can add some backing or extra wood for strength and rigidity. Oh, and you will need an electrical outlet and an AV jack, jack!

You also may want to make sure recessed lights are as you like, under cabinet lights are on a switch, or that there are a few outlets for your Christmas lights.

This is time well spent with your electrician marking up posts for extra outlets to ensure that your custom build home meets your custom specs.

Believe it or not, there was a separate consultation with the AV tech who set up the home theater…

Click to see the Vienna House Construction photos