Free checklist
Exterior deckingExterior decking final inspection checklist
Exterior decking 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 the applicable building code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 5
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The deck crew lead with the GC's superintendent, walking the finished deck before the owner's walk and daily use.
When in the schedule
After decking, railings and stairs are complete, before turnover and before the deck sees foot traffic.
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.
Decking surface
- 1 photo
Boards fastened flat with consistent gaps
Deck boards fastened per the product with even gaps for drainage and movement, no cupped, proud or loose boards, ends supported.
Guards and railings
- 2 photos
Guards and railings secure, to height, with correct spacing
Guard height and baluster spacing consistent to the requirement, posts anchored so the guard does not flex under a firm push, top rail continuous.
Stairs
- 2 photos
Stair rise, run and handrail consistent and secure
Even rise and run, stringers fastened, treads solid, handrail continuous and graspable at the required height, no wobble.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Guard and railing posts lag-screwed to the rim with no blocking or tension tie, so the guard flexes when someone leans on it.
- Baluster spacing run wide in a bay so a gap opens past the allowable spacing on a finished guard.
- Decking gaps run tight or inconsistent so composite boards buckle in heat and water sits instead of draining through.
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 5 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 exterior decking final checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering decking surface, guards and railings, stairs. 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 deck crew lead with the GC's superintendent, walking the finished deck before the owner's walk and daily use.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After decking, railings and stairs are complete, before turnover and before the deck sees foot traffic.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 5 of the 3 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 exterior decking final inspection?
- Guard and railing posts lag-screwed to the rim with no blocking or tension tie, so the guard flexes when someone leans on it. Baluster spacing run wide in a bay so a gap opens past the allowable spacing on a finished guard. Decking gaps run tight or inconsistent so composite boards buckle in heat and water sits instead of draining through.
- 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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