Free checklist
Asphalt pavingAsphalt paving rough-in inspection checklist
Asphalt paving rough-in is the last time the work is fully visible. Once the cover inspection passes and the walls, ceilings and slabs close, every defect left behind becomes a demolition bill. This checklist walks the rough-in in the order the work goes in, with the photo each item needs before it gets buried. Work is commonly verified against the project geotechnical report and specifications. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 4
- Photos required
- 7
- Built for
- General contractors
Who runs it
The GC's superintendent with the paving contractor and, where required, the testing agency, walking the prepared subgrade and base before the paver arrives.
When in the schedule
After the base is placed and graded, before any asphalt goes down — once the mat is on, a soft spot or a flat area in the base can only be fixed by tearing it back out.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Base condition
- 2 photos
Aggregate base compaction observed and documented
Compaction results reviewed against the specified density across the area, including edges and tight corners, not just open runs.
- 2 photos
Proof-roll run and soft spots corrected
Loaded truck or roller run over the base, deflecting or pumping areas marked, undercut and replaced rather than paved over.
Grade and slope
- 2 photos
Grade and cross-slope checked against the plan
Finished base grade shot against the drainage plan, cross-slope confirmed to fall toward the inlets and away from buildings, no flat or reverse-pitch stretches.
Drainage structures
- 1 photo
Inlets and edges set to receive the mat
Inlet and structure rims at the planned finished elevation relative to the base, base tight to curbs and structures so the mat can be laid without a low collar.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Base graded to line but never proof-rolled, so a soft area under the surface pumps and the mat cracks over it within a year.
- Cross-slope set to the plan on paper but built flat in a stretch, leaving water to sheet the wrong way once the surface is smooth.
- Compaction taken at the easy centerline and never at the edges and confined corners where the roller couldn't reach.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 7 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Common questions
- What does this asphalt paving rough-in checklist cover?
- 4 items across 3 sections, covering base condition, grade and slope, drainage structures. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The GC's superintendent with the paving contractor and, where required, the testing agency, walking the prepared subgrade and base before the paver arrives.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the base is placed and graded, before any asphalt goes down — once the mat is on, a soft spot or a flat area in the base can only be fixed by tearing it back out.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 7 of the 4 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a asphalt paving rough-in inspection?
- Base graded to line but never proof-rolled, so a soft area under the surface pumps and the mat cracks over it within a year. Cross-slope set to the plan on paper but built flat in a stretch, leaving water to sheet the wrong way once the surface is smooth. Compaction taken at the easy centerline and never at the edges and confined corners where the roller couldn't reach.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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