What’s Happening in My House? The Rough Mechanical Stage

There are several different stages in the new home construction process. One of those stages is the “Rough Mechanicals.” This stage comes after the framing stage and before the insulation stage. Before a home can move into the rough mechanical stage it must be fully framed with the roof dried in. Once the builder inspects the home to be sure the chases (areas meant for piping and tubing) and walls are all properly installed, he walks it with the HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors.   During these walks the builder collaborates with each subcontractor to discuss custom options and location of: returns, air conditioning condensors, air handlers, toilets , hose bibs (the outside faucet that your hose connects to) and lighting and switches.

Once all the prelimanary work is done the builder can begin the rough mechanical stage of construction. One of the first things that happens during rough mechanicals is the home is sprayed with Bora-Care®. Bora-Care® is a product that is used to ward off termite infestation.  After that, the “hard to reach” places are insulated, such as: fireplace chase, behind where the tub(s) are installed, and all mechanical chases that are located on exterior walls. Air barriers in places that require insulation and fireplace boxes are also installed during this stage of construction. If one looks up during the rough mechanical stage they may see sun tubes being installed. A sun tube is an option a buyer can choose that will allow for natural sunlight in interior areas of their home.

For the most part, the items mentioned above happen during the initial part of the rough mechanical stage. The builder then moves on to the “rough in” part of the rough mechanical stage. If a buyer happens to tour their home during this stage, they may see wires, PVC piping and other tubes running through their walls. Once the plumbing and HVAC vent pipes are installed through the roof sheathing, the roofing material can be installed.

Upon completion of the rough mechanical stage, a county building inspector will walk through the home to be sure that all the above mentioned items are properly installed and that the house is ready to move on to the next stage of construction, insulation.

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