Free checklist
Below-grade waterproofingBelow-grade waterproofing final inspection checklist
Below-grade waterproofing final inspection is where the punch list is either short or expensive. This checklist walks the finished work the way an owner or AHJ will see it: devices on, systems running, everything labeled. Each item gets the photo that closes it instead of reopening it. Work is commonly verified against manufacturer's published instructions, the applicable building code. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 10
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The GC's superintendent with the waterproofing foreman, releasing the wall for backfill.
When in the schedule
After the membrane is complete and any adhesion or flood test is done, immediately before protection board and backfill go on.
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.
Membrane continuity
- 2 photos
Membrane continuous with correct laps and overlaps
Full coverage with no pinholes, fish-mouths or unbonded areas, laps shingled to shed water and rolled or sealed to the specified overlap.
- 2 photos
Fluid membrane at the specified thickness
Wet or dry film thickness checked across the wall on fluid systems, no thin or holidayed areas, cured before covering.
Terminations and flashings
- 2 photos
Top-of-wall termination sealed and secured
Termination bar, reglet or seal at the top edge fastened and sealed so water can't get behind the membrane from above.
- 1 photo
Flashings tied into the membrane
Flashings at grade, steps and transitions lapped and sealed into the field membrane, no open edges left exposed.
Protection before backfill
- 2 photos
Protection board or drainage mat installed
Protection board or drainage mat covering the membrane over its full height before any backfill, seams butted and secured so it stays put during backfill.
- 1 photo
No punctures or damage before covering
Wall walked for punctures, tears and pulled laps, any damage repaired and photographed before backfill goes against it.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Backfill dumped against the membrane before protection board is on, gouging the coating with rock and debris.
- Sheet laps run short or shingled the wrong way, so water tracks into the overlap instead of over it.
- Termination at the top of wall left unsealed or unbattened, so water gets behind the membrane from above.
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 10 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 below-grade waterproofing final checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering membrane continuity, terminations and flashings, protection before backfill. 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 waterproofing foreman, releasing the wall for backfill.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the membrane is complete and any adhesion or flood test is done, immediately before protection board and backfill go on.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 6 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 below-grade waterproofing final inspection?
- Backfill dumped against the membrane before protection board is on, gouging the coating with rock and debris. Sheet laps run short or shingled the wrong way, so water tracks into the overlap instead of over it. Termination at the top of wall left unsealed or unbattened, so water gets behind the membrane from above.
- 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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