missing ductwork for the range hood exhaust

During a recent pre-drywall home inspection in Las Vegas, I came across a common but often overlooked issue: missing draft stopping. While it might sound like a minor problem, draft stopping plays a critical role in fire safety and energy efficiency. Unfortunately, it’s an issue that is often missed when new homes go up quickly. This is one of the many reasons why having a professional pre-drywall inspection is so important during new construction.

Just inspected a new construction home in Las Vegas and found large areas of missing attic insulation—an issue that can lead to high energy bills and uneven indoor temperatures. Even brand-new homes can have hidden problems. As a licensed home inspector specializing in new construction, I help Las Vegas buyers catch issues like this before closing. Schedule your inspection today to ensure your new home is energy-efficient and move-in ready.

While inspecting a new construction home in Las Vegas, I found restricted ductwork in the attic—something many homeowners never see but that can seriously impact airflow and energy efficiency. In this short video, I explain how duct restrictions affect HVAC performance and why issues like this can lead to higher utility bills. Proper airflow is essential for both comfort and cost savings.

A garage floor should be designed with a continuous slope that directs water toward the street or an appropriate drainage system. This ensures that any water entering the garage, whether from rain, vehicle runoff, or cleaning, does not collect near the home’s foundation.

In new construction homes in Las Vegas, properly placing a stub out in a valve box is crucial for long-term plumbing and irrigation system maintenance.

Having a home inspection on your new construction home in Las Vegas can help identify defects such as poorly sealed windows.

During a pre-drywall inspection, one of the most common but often overlooked issues is missing nail guards in key areas of a home’s framing. Nail guards, also known as protective plates, may seem like a small detail, but they serve a crucial purpose in protecting plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines from accidental punctures. If you're building a home in Las Vegas, ensuring that nail guards are properly installed is an important step in preventing future damage and costly repairs.

During a pre-drywall inspection, one of the common issues I come across is underdriven nails in framing and sheathing. While it may not seem like a major concern, improperly driven nails can affect the strength, stability, and long-term durability of a home. If you're building a new home in Las Vegas, a pre-drywall inspection is the best opportunity to catch these issues before they are covered up.

H-clips are small metal spacers placed between roof or wall sheathing panels (like OSB or plywood). Their main functions are:

• Providing Structural Support: H-clips help distribute the load and reduce sagging between roof trusses.

• Allowing for Natural Expansion: Wood expands and contracts with temperature changes. H-clips help maintain proper spacing to prevent buckling.

Building a new home is exciting, but before the drywall goes up, it’s important to have a professional inspection. A pre-drywall inspection gives homebuyers a chance to ensure their home is being built correctly before critical components are covered up. If you're buying a new construction home in Las Vegas, this inspection is one of the best steps you can take to protect your investment.

Negative grading

A helpful guide to the average lifespan of home appliances

No end piece on dryer vent

Damaged irrigation shut off

minor cracks in the screen walls of a side yard

Missing bubble cover

Warped roofing

Water damage inside a cabinet