Free checklist
Framing rough-in inspection checklist
Framing 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, engineered drawings — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 8
- Photos required
- 13
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The framing foreman walking their own erection, or the GC's superintendent checking a wall or floor as it goes up.
When in the schedule
As each wall, floor or roof section is erected, before it's loaded with sheathing or the next level of framing.
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.
Layout and alignment
- 2 photos
Stud spacing and layout matches the plan
On-center spacing consistent along the wall, layout marks match the plan at door and window openings.
- 2 photos
Walls plumb and floors level within tolerance
Level and plumb checked at multiple points along the run, not just at one corner.
- 1 photo
Top and bottom plates continuous and properly lapped
Plate splices land over a stud, laps at corners and intersections tie the walls together.
Headers and openings
- 2 photos
Header size and species match the engineered drawing
Header stamp or grade mark visible and matches the spec for that opening's span.
- 1 photo
King and jack studs match the required count
Number of studs at each side of the opening matches the schedule for the header size and load.
Shear panels and connectors
- 2 photos
Shear panel nailing pattern matches the schedule
Nail spacing and edge distance consistent across the full panel, not just at the panel edges.
- 2 photos
Hold-downs and structural connectors installed per plan
Connector model matches the schedule, fasteners filling every specified hole, no substituted hardware.
- 1 photo
Hangers set at the correct height and fully nailed
Joist or beam seated fully in the hanger, every hanger hole filled with the specified fastener.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Wall plumb checked once at the corner and assumed good along the whole run.
- Header sizes swapped in the field to use available stock, never checked against the engineered drawing.
- Shear panel nailing pattern started correctly and drifted looser toward the end of the sheet.
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 13 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 framing rough-in checklist cover?
- 8 items across 3 sections — layout and alignment, headers and openings, shear panels and connectors. 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 framing foreman walking their own erection, or the GC's superintendent checking a wall or floor as it goes up.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- As each wall, floor or roof section is erected, before it's loaded with sheathing or the next level of framing.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 13 of the 8 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 rough-in inspection?
- Wall plumb checked once at the corner and assumed good along the whole run. Header sizes swapped in the field to use available stock, never checked against the engineered drawing. Shear panel nailing pattern started correctly and drifted looser toward the end of the sheet.
- 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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