Free checklist
Framing inspection checklist
Framing is the last honest look at the structure. Once rock goes on, every connector, every notch and every missing block becomes an argument instead of a photograph. This walk is organised so the concealed conditions are captured before close-in.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo evidence it needs
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.
Layout and structure
Walls plumb, straight and on layout
Check with a level and a string line; note any bow that will telegraph through finish.
Bearing points stacked and supported to foundation
Point loads carried down continuously; no bearing landing on unsupported floor sheathing.
Headers, beams and posts sized and installed as drawn
Member size and ply count match the plan; full bearing at each end.
Engineered members installed per the manufacturer's detail
Web stiffeners, hangers and hole locations follow the printed detail, not field judgment.
Connections and fastening
Every connector fully nailed with the specified fastener
All holes filled, correct nail type and length, no roofing nails substituted.
Hold-downs and anchor bolts installed and tightened
Correct spacing and embedment, washers present, nuts snug.
Sheathing nailing pattern correct at edges and field
Edge spacing on shear walls, no overdriven nails breaking the face of the panel.
Penetrations and modifications
Notching and boring within allowable limits
Walk the runs the plumber and electrician cut; anything oversized gets repaired and re-photographed.
Nail plates installed where lines are close to the face
Protection at every bored stud within striking distance of a screw.
Fire blocking and draft stopping in place
Concealed vertical and horizontal spaces blocked at the required intervals, including soffits and chases.
Blocking for what comes later
Backing installed for cabinets, counters and casework
Continuous blocking at the correct height for every upper run and support bracket.
Backing for grab bars, handrails and wall-hung fixtures
Every accessible location and every wall-hung item, including ones not yet in the field.
Backing for mounted equipment and displays
Confirm the location against the furniture or equipment plan before the wall closes.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Studs notched or bored by a trade after framing signed off, with no re-walk.
- Missing blocking for grab bars, cabinets and TV mounts, discovered after paint.
- Connectors installed with the wrong or missing fasteners, and a photograph would have caught it.
Common questions
6 answers
- What does this framing checklist cover?
- 13 items across 4 sections, covering layout and structure, connections and fastening, penetrations and modifications, blocking for what comes later. 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?
- Framing foreman, then the GC superintendent before the pre-drywall inspection is requested.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After MEP rough-in and before insulation and drywall, so notching and drilling done by other trades is visible in the same walk.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- All 13 items call for photo evidence, 27 photos in all. 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 inspection?
- Studs notched or bored by a trade after framing signed off, with no re-walk. Missing blocking for grab bars, cabinets and TV mounts, discovered after paint. Connectors installed with the wrong or missing fasteners, and a photograph would have caught it.
- 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.
Related checklists
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 27 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.
See all 508 checklists · 6741 items and 5984 photo requirements in total.