Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and insulation: behind the walls
October 17, 2026
Once the roof and walls are on, the house is dried in and the crews who make it livable move through. Most of what they install will be covered by drywall, so this is the stage worth understanding before it disappears.
Rough-in comes first
Plumbing lines, electrical wiring and heating and ventilation ducts or lines are run through the open framing. It is called rough-in because none of the fixtures are on yet, only the paths they will use.
Why this stage is a walkthrough moment
With the walls still open, this is the easiest time to move an outlet, add a switch or change where a fixture goes. After the drywall, the same change is a repair. We encourage owners to walk the house with us here and look at every room.
- Outlet and switch locations
- Lighting and fan placement
- Anything you want to add behind a wall, like blocking for a heavy shelf or TV
Inspections
The work is inspected before it is covered. That is part of the permit process, and it protects you: the parts you will never see again have been checked.
Insulation
Insulation and air sealing go in once the systems are in. Which insulation is right varies per house: the design, the engineer and the budget all play a part. We work through the choice with each owner rather than using one answer for every home.
Why selections vary
Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and insulation depend on the plan, the site and the budget. We use trusted subs for much of this work and talk through the choices with you, and we list our partners and products on a page of their own.