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Free checklist

Framing final inspection checklist

Framing 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 — with the photos that close the item instead of reopening it. Work is commonly verified against the applicable building code, engineered drawings — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Items
6
Photos required
9

Who runs it

The GC's superintendent walking framing-related punch items alongside the finish trades' first pass.

When in the schedule

After drywall substrate is up but before cabinets, fixtures and trim are installed, catching framing issues that would otherwise show up as finish defects.

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.

01

Substrate flatness

  • Wall and ceiling framing free of crowns or bows that telegraph through drywall

    Straightedge held across studs and joists, any crown beyond the allowable tolerance planed or replaced.

    2 photos
  • Corners and intersections square and consistent

    Square checked at inside and outside corners, no visible twist where walls meet.

    1 photo
02

Backing for fixtures and cabinets

  • Backing present at every marked cabinet and fixture location

    Blocking located where the cabinet, TV mount or grab bar layout calls for it, marked so the installer can find it.

    2 photos
  • Backing height and width match the fixture being hung

    Blocking width and vertical placement checked against the actual fixture's mounting pattern, not a generic assumption.

    1 photo
03

Openings and trim readiness

  • Door and window rough openings square and sized correctly

    Diagonal measurements equal, opening width and height match the unit's rough opening requirement.

    2 photos
  • No remaining framing punch items before trim starts

    Prior punch list items re-checked and closed, with a photo of each corrected condition.

    1 photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

  • Wavy or crowned studs discovered only after drywall is hung, showing as a bowed wall in the finished room.
  • Backing for cabinets or grab bars missing entirely, found only when the installer can't find a stud.
  • Door and window rough openings out of square, forcing shims and gaps at the finish trim.

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 9 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.

Submission state

Mandatory items answered6 of 6
Photos attached6 of 9
Submit locked — 3 photos missing

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 framing final checklist cover?
6 items across 3 sections — substrate flatness, backing for fixtures and cabinets, openings and trim readiness. 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 walking framing-related punch items alongside the finish trades' first pass.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?
After drywall substrate is up but before cabinets, fixtures and trim are installed, catching framing issues that would otherwise show up as finish defects.
Why does every item ask for a photo?
9 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 framing final inspection?
Wavy or crowned studs discovered only after drywall is hung, showing as a bowed wall in the finished room. Backing for cabinets or grab bars missing entirely, found only when the installer can't find a stud. Door and window rough openings out of square, forcing shims and gaps at the finish trim.
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.