Free checklist
Flooring rough-in inspection checklist
Flooring 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 manufacturer's published instructions — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The flooring foreman testing and prepping each area, or the GC's superintendent releasing slab or sheathing to the flooring crew.
When in the schedule
Before material is staged on an area — moisture testing early enough that a failed slab can still be remediated without moving the finish date.
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.
Moisture and condition
- 3 photos
Moisture tests performed at the required density
Test locations spread across the slab per the testing method, each result recorded and photographed with its location.
- 2 photos
Substrate sound, clean and free of contaminants
No curing compound, oil, dust or old adhesive where the system requires bare substrate; cracks documented.
Flatness and prep
- 2 photos
Flatness checked with a straightedge across traffic paths
Highs and lows marked and corrected to the tolerance the finish material requires, not a generic assumption.
- 2 photos
Underlayment or leveling work cured and sound
Patch and self-leveler edges feathered, no debonding sound on a chain drag, cure time documented.
Layout
- 1 photo
Starting layout snapped and approved
Control lines photographed showing the pattern is centered and square to the main sightlines of the space.
- 1 photo
Material acclimated per the manufacturer's requirement
Acclimation start logged with space temperature and humidity, material on site long enough before install.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Moisture tests run in one corner of a big slab and extrapolated to the whole pour.
- Flatness checked by eye instead of with a straightedge, and the telegraphing starts after the finish is down.
- Adhesive or underlayment installed over a substrate that was never cleaned to the manufacturer's requirement.
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 11 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 flooring rough-in checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections — moisture and condition, flatness and prep, layout. 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 flooring foreman testing and prepping each area, or the GC's superintendent releasing slab or sheathing to the flooring crew.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Before material is staged on an area — moisture testing early enough that a failed slab can still be remediated without moving the finish date.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 11 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 flooring rough-in inspection?
- Moisture tests run in one corner of a big slab and extrapolated to the whole pour. Flatness checked by eye instead of with a straightedge, and the telegraphing starts after the finish is down. Adhesive or underlayment installed over a substrate that was never cleaned to the manufacturer's requirement.
- 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.