Free checklist
Exterior deckingExterior decking rough-in inspection checklist
Exterior decking 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 applicable building code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 6
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The deck framing crew, or the GC's superintendent walking the structure before the deck boards hide the framing.
When in the schedule
After posts, beams, joists and the ledger are set and before decking is laid, while every connection is still open to view.
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.
Ledger and flashing
- 2 photos
Ledger flashed and through-bolted to structure
Ledger fastened with bolts or structural screws on the specified pattern into solid framing, flashing lapped over the ledger to shed water behind the deck.
Framing and connectors
- 2 photos
Joists, beams and hangers sized and fully fastened
Members sized and spaced per the drawings, hangers and connectors filled with the specified structural fasteners, no empty holes or wrong nails.
Posts and footings
- 2 photos
Posts anchored to footings and tied to beams
Posts set on footings with proper standoff and anchors, post-to-beam connectors installed, no post in direct ground or standing water contact.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- The ledger nailed instead of bolted, or bolted with no flashing behind it, so it works loose and rots the band it hangs on.
- Joist hangers installed with roofing nails or half the holes empty, so the hanger never reaches the capacity it is rated for.
- Post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections left toe-nailed with no metal connector, so the frame racks under lateral load.
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 6 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 rough-in checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering ledger and flashing, framing and connectors, posts and footings. 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 framing crew, or the GC's superintendent walking the structure before the deck boards hide the framing.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After posts, beams, joists and the ledger are set and before decking is laid, while every connection is still open to view.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 6 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 rough-in inspection?
- The ledger nailed instead of bolted, or bolted with no flashing behind it, so it works loose and rots the band it hangs on. Joist hangers installed with roofing nails or half the holes empty, so the hanger never reaches the capacity it is rated for. Post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections left toe-nailed with no metal connector, so the frame racks under lateral load.
- 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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