Best Practices for Wall Panel Installation and Site Prep

Wall panels arrive on-site already built, but getting them installed smoothly starts long before the truck shows up. From experience, the best installs are the ones where the plan was clear, the site was ready, and everyone knew what to expect. Here’s what to know before your wall panels get delivered.

It Starts with Accurate Plans

Wall panels are designed based on the plans we’re given. If those plans don’t align from sheet to sheet, we’re starting with confusion. Your foundation, framing, roof plan, and elevations should all match. Wall heights should be consistent from one elevation to the next. Ceiling profiles, whether they’re flat or vaulted, should be visible on the elevations, cuts, and overhead views. That way, we know exactly what the walls need to support.

Your window and door openings also matter. Different openings require different rough sizes. If you're using casement windows, that needs to be called out. The more information that’s clearly marked on the plans, the fewer surprises there’ll be. Same goes for hold-downs. Marking the centerlines allows us to either frame around them or make space where needed.

Review the Design Against Your Plans

Once your designer sends over the wall layout, take the time to compare it to your building plans. Dimensions, ceiling vaults, bump-outs—everything should match. If something changed after the original plans were sent, let your designer know. This makes sure what we build is what you need.

When the design is finalized, give the manufacturer a heads-up. More time is always better. We’ll need time to do the paperwork, build the panels, and slot your project into the delivery schedule. The more accurate you are with your timeline, the smoother the process will go.

Make Sure the Site is Ready

Before we ever get to delivery, we’ll need to make sure your job site has access for the boom truck. That means a solid, flat pad that’s about 24 feet by 24 feet. We also need to avoid overhead obstacles: branches, power lines, or anything that would block the boom from placing walls on your building.

On delivery day, clear the area. Don’t have lumber, cars, sheet goods, or dumpsters in the setup zone. This isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about safety. The clearer the site, the faster and safer we can unload.

Check your address, too. Include all directionals: Northwest, Southeast, etc. It’s easy to end up at the wrong location without that part.

Sign the Agreement and Handle Payment Early

Before we can start producing anything, we need a signed purchase agreement. That document confirms the wall profiles and price. It also shows us you’ve had your questions answered and you're ready to go. If you're a regular customer, you can set up credit. If you're ordering occasionally, you'll likely need to prepay. Whatever the case, handling payment upfront keeps everything moving forward.

Prep the Building for Walls

Before the walls are delivered, the floor system, whether wood or concrete, needs to be installed. The wall locations should be marked on the floor, and it’s best to use the layout we provide. That layout ties back to your plans and the design we sent you, so we’re all working off the same page.

What to Expect on Delivery Day

You’ll need at least two people on site to help the truck driver unload and position the walls. The boom will set exterior walls if we can reach them. These walls are heavier because they come with sheathing. Interior walls, which are lighter, will be dropped in bundles near where they go. They can usually be carried into place by hand.

Our walls are typically built a 1/16" short. That’s on purpose. Material tends to grow slightly. That small gap between walls lets everything fit properly once nailed together. Use a tape measure when placing walls so your final dimensions match the layout.

Once the exterior walls are set and braced, stand the interior walls and brace their top plates. After that, you’re ready to move forward. You can lay out for your floor trusses or roof trusses next, depending on the structure.

Wrapping It Up

Getting ready for a wall panel delivery means planning ahead and paying attention to detail. When the plans are clear, the site is ready, and expectations are aligned, the install process is quick, clean, and smooth. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your designer or salesperson. We’re here to help make the process hassle-free from start to finish.