New Construction Series, Episode 4: Mechanicals Go In

• Water supply lines to every sink, shower, tub, toilet, and appliance.  Most new homes around here use flexible PEX tubing, usually red for hot and blue for cold. 
• Drain and vent pipes, the larger white PVC lines that carry wastewter out and let the system breathe through vents in the roof. 
• Tubs and shower valves, which often get set now because they're too big to bring in later.  
• Gas lines, if your home has a gas range, furnace, water heater, fireplace, or outdoor kitchen. 

Central Texas tip: Our water is hard.  Ask your builder whether a water softener loop is included.  It's a cheap add during rough-in and a real headache to retrofit later. 

HVAC: Keeping you cool in a Texas summer

In Central Texas, your air conditioner is the hardest working system in the house.  During rough-in, the HVAC crew installs: 

• Ductwork running through the attic, with supply vents cut into each room. 
• Return air vents that pull air back to the system. 
• The air handler or furnace, usually set in the attic or a utility closet. 
• Refrigerant line set and condensate drain, connecting the indoor unit to the outdoor condenser. 
• Bath and kitchen exhaust fans vented to the outside. 

Worth asking: How many returns does the home have? Are there separate zones for upstairs and downstairs in a two-story? A well-planned layout means fewer hot rooms in August. 

Electrical and low-voltage: power, light, and connectivity

The electrician mounts boxes for every outlet, switch, and light fixture, then pulls wire from each one back to the main panel.  Low-voltage wiring usually goes in at the same time: 

• Ethernet and cable/coax for TVs and home offices
• Pre-wiring for security systems, cameras, and video doorbells
• Speaker wire for surround sound or outdoor audio
• Smart home hubs, thermostats, and Wi-Fi access points

This is the moment to think about how you'll actually live in the home.  Where will the TV go? Do you need an outlet in the pantry for small appliances? A 240-volt outlet in the garage for an electric vehicle? Ceiling fan wiring in every bedroom? Each of these is simple now and expensive once the walls are closed.  

Inspections: two sets of eyes are better than one

Before insulation and drywall can go up, the city or county inspector checks the rough-in work for code compliance.  That's an important step, but it's a minimum standard, and inspectors are often covering many homes in a day.  

That's why we always recommend a pre-drywall inspection by your own licensed home inspector. They look at framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and more, then give you a written report.  Your builder fixes items while the walls are still open, which is far easier than tearing out drywall later.  Many builders allow it; just schedule it early so it lands before insulation. 

Sherri's checklist before the walls close:

• Do a walkthrough with your agent and builder rep while everything is visible
• Take photos and video of every wall.  Someday you'll want to hang a heavy mirror or mount a TV, and you'll know exactly where the pipes and wire are. 
• Confirm outlet and switch locaitons match your plans, especially in the kitchen, island, and bedrooms. 
• Ask about blocking (extra wood inside the wall) behind wall-mounted TVs, floating shelves, and future grab bars. 
• Check low-voltage spots for your office, TVs, cameras, and Wi-Fi.
• Ask about cutoff dates.  Many builders lock in changes well before this stage, and late changes can come with extra fees. 
• Book you third-party pre-drywall inspection

This is exactly where having your own agent on a new build pays off.  We know what to ask, when to ask it, and how to keep things moving with the builder. 

Thinking about building a new home in Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, Hutto, or anywhere in the Austin metro? Texas Oak Realty Group would love to help you through every stage, from picking the lot to getting the keys.  Reach out today and let's talk about your build. 

Catch up on the series: New Construction Series: Episode 1 , New Construction Series: Episode 2 , New Construction Series: Episode 3