New Construction Checklist

How to Use This Checklist

This checklist is organized by construction phase. Each phase must be verified before the next phase buries it. The most critical inspection points are those that will be permanently concealed: foundation waterproofing, drainage, framing moisture content, sheathing/WRB continuity, flashing details, and insulation installation quality. Once drywall goes up, these elements cannot be inspected without demolition.

Items marked with a build option tag — [Wood], [AAC], [CMU], [Steel] — apply only to that option. Unmarked items apply to all build options.

Phase 1: Site & Foundation

• ☐ Site grading slopes away from foundation. Minimum 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet from the foundation wall. Water must move away from the building, not toward it.
• ☐ Foundation drainage system installed. Perimeter drain tile at footing level, connected to daylight outlet or sump. Gravel bed below and around drain tile. Filter fabric to prevent soil migration into drain.
• ☐ Foundation waterproofing applied (below grade). Spray-applied or sheet membrane on exterior of foundation wall from footing to grade. Not damp-proofing (asphalt coating) — full waterproofing membrane. Photo-document before backfill.
• ☐ Capillary break at footing-to-wall transition. Prevents moisture wicking from footing into wall system above. Required for all wall types.
• ☐ Sub-slab vapor barrier. Minimum 10-mil polyethylene under slab, lapped and sealed at joints, sealed to foundation wall. Protects against soil moisture migration through slab. Required for all slab-on-grade construction.
• ☐ Sub-slab gravel bed. Minimum 4 inches of clean, free-draining gravel below vapor barrier. Breaks capillary rise and provides radon mitigation pathway if passive radon system is installed.
• ☐ Radon mitigation rough-in (climate-dependent). Passive radon vent pipe from sub-slab gravel through roof. Inexpensive during construction ($200–$500); expensive to retrofit ($800–$2,500). Install in all EPA Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas regardless of pre-construction testing.

Phase 2: Framing & Structure

• ☐ [Wood] Framing lumber moisture content ≤19%. Test with pin-type moisture meter at multiple locations. Lumber delivered wet from the yard is common — do not enclose wet framing. If above 19%, allow to dry before proceeding.
• ☐ [Wood] No OSB in the assembly. Verify sheathing is the specified material (MgO board, exterior gypsum, or plywood per spec). OSB is mold food when wet and is the default material — it will be installed if not specified otherwise.
• ☐ [Wood] No interior polyethylene vapor barrier. Forgiving Wood Assembly relies on drying to both sides. Interior poly traps moisture. Verify the spec calls for vapor-permeable interior finishes.
• ☐ [AAC] Block courses level and plumb. AAC is laid with thin-set mortar, not conventional mortar. Verify thin-set adhesive specified (not portland cement mortar, which creates thermal bridges).
• ☐ [CMU] Block fully grouted per structural engineer specification. Bond beams, vertical reinforcement per plan. Mortar joints tooled and sealed.
• ☐ [Steel] Steel frame connections per structural drawings. Verify thermal break details at foundation-to-wall and wall-to-roof transitions. Steel conducts heat — thermal bridging must be addressed in every detail.
• ☐ [Steel] Continuous exterior insulation specified. Steel frame requires unbroken exterior mineral wool to prevent condensation on cold steel members. Verify insulation is outboard of the steel frame, not between studs only. Product-line guidance: Mineral Wool vs Sheep Wool.
• ☐ Window and door rough openings properly sized. Adequate shimming space for flashing integration. Rough openings too tight compromise flashing details.
• ☐ Photo-document all framing before sheathing. Framing quality, blocking, header sizes, bearing points. This is the last time the structural skeleton is visible.

Phase 3: Weather Barrier & Flashing

• ☐ Water-resistive barrier (WRB) installed shingle-lapped. Upper courses overlap lower courses. No reverse laps. Fastener penetrations sealed. This is the primary defense against bulk water.
• ☐ Window and door flashing integrated with WRB. Sill pan flashing drains outward. Jamb flashing integrates with WRB. Head flashing directs water over the window, not behind it. Photo-document every window flashing sequence before exterior cladding.
• ☐ Penetration flashing. Every pipe, duct, electrical, and mechanical penetration through the WRB is sealed and flashed. This includes dryer vents, exhaust fans, hose bibs, and electrical conduit.
• ☐ [Wood] Rainscreen gap (≥¼ inch minimum). Ventilated cavity between WRB and cladding allows drainage and drying. Rainscreen strips, furring, or manufactured drainage mat. This is a core requirement of the Forgiving Wood Assembly — verify it is present.
• ☐ Roof underlayment installed before roofing. Synthetic underlayment on roof deck. Ice and water shield at eaves, valleys, and penetrations per climate requirements.
• ☐ Roof-to-wall flashing at all intersections. Step flashing at sidewalls. Kickout flashing at roof-to-wall transitions. These details are the most common source of concealed water entry in residential construction.

Phase 4: Insulation

• ☐ Insulation type matches specification. Verify the installed product is what was specified. Mineral wool is the primary recommendation across all build options. If a different insulation appears on site, stop and verify.
• ☐ No spray foam installed (unless spec explicitly allows). The Good Air Standard does not recommend spray foam for sensitive-occupant homes. Spray foam is the default choice for many insulation contractors — it will be installed if not explicitly excluded in the specification.
• ☐ Mineral wool batts: full contact with substrate, no compression, no gaps. Batts should fill the cavity without being compressed (compression reduces R-value) and without gaps (gaps create convective loops). Cut to fit around wiring and plumbing — do not compress around obstacles.
• ☐ [Steel] Continuous exterior mineral wool boards installed without gaps. Joints staggered. No thermal bridges through fasteners to steel frame. Verify fastener schedule per manufacturer and structural requirements.
• ☐ Attic insulation depth and coverage. Full specified depth, no thin spots at eaves, no compression from storage, blown insulation baffles at eave vents to maintain soffit ventilation.
• ☐ Photo-document insulation before drywall. Every wall cavity, ceiling, and any concealed location. This is the last inspection opportunity.

Phase 5: Mechanical Systems

• ☐ HVAC duct material verified. Rigid metal ductwork preferred. If flex duct is used, verify it is the specified product. Avoid ductboard (fiberglass-lined) in conditioned space — fiber shedding and mold risk.
• ☐ ERV or HRV installed per HVAC & Filtration Protocol. Balanced ventilation with heat/energy recovery. Verify ducted to bedrooms and main living areas, not just one central location.
• ☐ MERV-13 filter housing installed. Standard 1-inch filter slots do not accommodate MERV-13. Verify 4-inch or 5-inch filter housing is installed at the air handler. Confirm filter size is a standard, readily available size.
• ☐ Bath exhaust fans ducted to exterior. Not into attic, soffit, or wall cavity. Verify duct connection at roof or wall cap is sealed and has a backdraft damper.
• ☐ Kitchen range hood ducted to exterior. Not recirculating. Minimum 200 CFM for standard cooking. Makeup air provision if range hood exceeds 400 CFM (code requirement in many jurisdictions).
• ☐ Plumbing pressure test completed. All supply lines pressure tested before walls close. Document test pressure and duration. Identify and repair leaks before concealment.
• ☐ Electrical rough-in inspected. [Optional: MC cable verified in bedroom circuits per Electrical & EMF Protocol.] Panel location away from bedrooms if specified.

Phase 6: Air Sealing & Pre-Drywall Verification

• ☐ Air sealing completed at all penetrations. Sealant at top plates, bottom plates, electrical boxes, plumbing penetrations, window/door frames. Specify low-VOC sealant per the material specification.
• ☐ Blower door test (pre-drywall recommended). Pre-drywall blower door identifies air leakage paths while they can still be fixed. Target: ≤3 ACH50 (or tighter per design). Post-drywall test verifies final performance.
• ☐ Pre-drywall inspection with builder. Walk every room. Verify framing, insulation, air sealing, mechanical rough-ins, flashing (from interior side where visible). This is the most important single inspection in the entire project.
• ☐ Photo-document everything before drywall. Every wall, ceiling, mechanical chase, and closet. Date-stamped photos. This record is permanent insurance.

Phase 7: Interior Finishes

• ☐ Drywall type verified. Fiberglass-faced gypsum board specified? Verify before hanging — once it is up and mudded, the face material cannot be confirmed. Paper-faced drywall is mold food when wet.
• ☐ HVAC registers sealed before finishing phase. All supply and return registers covered with plastic and taped. System off or isolated. This prevents paint fumes, dust, and adhesive off-gassing from contaminating ductwork. See Clean Air Construction Protocol.
• ☐ Paint/primer system matches specification. Verify product cans on-site. Check that tinted paint was tinted with low-VOC colorant system. See Paint & Finishes Protocol.
• ☐ Cabinet substrate verified. Open a cabinet. Inspect the interior surfaces. Is it the specified substrate? See Cabinets & Millwork Protocol.
• ☐ Flooring installation per Flooring Protocol. Subfloor moisture verified before installation. Adhesive type confirmed (if adhesive used). Directed exhaust during cure phase.
• ☐ Cure periods tracked. Record start date for each coating phase (primer, paint, floor finish, cabinet finish, sealants). Calculate expected cure completion. Do not unseal HVAC registers or permit occupancy until all cure periods are complete.

Phase 8: Pre-Occupancy Verification

• ☐ All cure periods confirmed complete. Verify against tracked dates, not by smell.
• ☐ HVAC registers unsealed. Remove all register covers and sealing. Inspect for debris in ducts.
• ☐ Replace construction-phase HVAC filters. Install fresh MERV-13 filters. Construction-phase filters captured significant debris and should not remain in service.
• ☐ Run ventilation system continuously for 48–72 hours. Full air exchange before occupancy. Windows open if weather permits to supplement mechanical ventilation.
• ☐ Post-construction deep clean. HEPA vacuum all surfaces. Damp wipe hard surfaces. Clean cabinet interiors. See Cleaning & Maintenance Protocol.
• ☐ Air quality verification (recommended for sensitive occupants). TVOC reading. Professional air quality testing if warranted. Compare to expected levels based on materials used and cure timelines.
• ☐ Final blower door test. Verify airtightness meets design target. Compare to pre-drywall test if one was performed.
• ☐ Collect all documentation. Material log, product receipts, photo documentation, test results, warranty information, equipment manuals. Store permanently.