The 3 Critical New Construction Inspections in Texas
City municipal code inspectors verify minimum baseline code compliance—they do not verify workmanship, thermal performance, or cosmetic precision. Hiring an independent, TREC-licensed inspector across these key construction milestones protects your investment before issues get sealed behind concrete and sheetrock.
Foundation & Ground Rough-In
Conducted 24–48 hours before concrete delivery. Once poured, underslab plumbing defects and structural cable errors are permanent and costly to remedy.
What the Inspector Checks:
- Post-Tension Cables: Proper chair spacing, depth profile, and zero cable resting directly on bare soil.
- Rebar Matrix: Sizing, tie intervals, and elevation off trench bottoms.
- Vapor Barrier Integrity: Clean poly-sheeting with zero unsealed punctures or tears.
- Rough-In Plumbing: Sewer line pitch, drain alignments, and protective sleeves where pipes penetrate grade beams.
Framing, MEP & Envelope
Performed after rough electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and roof decking pass inspection, but before insulation and sheetrock enclose wall cavities.
What the Inspector Checks:
- Structural Framing: Load transfer paths, double top-plate cuts, truss bracing, hurricane ties, and missing joist hangers.
- Trade Collisions: Plumbers or electricians improperly boring through load-bearing studs or engineered trusses.
- HVAC & Ductwork: Duct sizing, uncrushed flex duct runs, mastic air-sealing, and primary/secondary condensate lines.
- Window Flashing: Sill pan tape, weather-resistant barrier overlaps, and nail-fin integration to stop future rot.
Mechanical Delivery & Cosmetic Punch
Scheduled 5 to 7 days prior to closing, once electric, gas, and water utilities are fully energized and operational.
What the Inspector Checks:
- HVAC Performance: Delta-T temperature differentials across return and supply registers.
- Roof & Attic: Flashing collars, ridge ventilation, insulation depth levels, and proper bath vent exhausts.
- Electrical & Breakers: Arc-fault (AFCI) and GFCI trip functionality, reverse polarity, and panel labeling.
- Exterior Grading: Minimum 4- to 6-inch positive fall away from the foundation perimeter.
The 11-Month Warranty Walk: Your Last Day 365 Defense
Most Texas builders utilize an industry-standard 1-2-10 Year Warranty Structure backed by third-party risk programs (such as 2-10 HBW or StrucSure). The comprehensive bumper-to-bumper cosmetic, thermal, and settling coverage ends abruptly at midnight on Day 365.
| Warranty Tier | Coverage Scope | What Happens After Day 365? |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1: Workmanship & Materials | Drywall cracks, nail pops, cabinet alignment, caulking, trim, interior/exterior paint, roof shingles, and site drainage. | Coverage Completely Expires Builders legally reject all cosmetic and settling claims on Day 366. |
| Year 2: Mechanical Delivery | In-wall plumbing supply and drain lines, electrical wiring runs/panels, and HVAC ductwork and equipment. | Coverage continues for hidden mechanical failures only, then terminates at Month 24. |
| Years 3–10: Major Structural | Load-bearing foundation footings, grade beams, structural columns, and engineered roof trusses. | Only covers catastrophic structural failure that renders the home unsafe or unlivable. |
Why 11 Months in Denton County?
Denton County rests largely on expansive black gumbo and clay soil. After enduring four full seasons—from heavy spring rain swells to 100°+ summer droughts—the foundation has settled into its footprint. This 11-month window is when micro-stresses, door frame misalignments, and HVAC duct shifts fully show themselves.
The Portal Submission Protocol
Never hand your inspection punch list casually to an on-site superintendent. You must upload the official TREC inspection report directly into the builder's corporate warranty portal around Day 330–340. A portal upload time-stamps your claim legally before the 365-day deadline, ensuring repairs stay covered even if trades schedule past Month 12.