Free checklist
Vegetated (green) roofVegetated (green) roof rough-in inspection checklist
Vegetated (green) roof 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, the applicable building code. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 12
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The green-roof installer's foreman with the roofing contractor, and the GC's superintendent witnessing the flood test.
When in the schedule
After the roof membrane is complete and its flood test passes, and before growing media is spread — once overburden is on, none of these layers can be seen again without tearing the roof apart.
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.
Membrane and flood test
- 3 photos
Membrane flood test witnessed and passed before overburden
Roof flooded to the specified depth and held for the required duration, no drop and no leaks reported below, held before any green-roof layers go on.
- 1 photo
Membrane surface accepted clean and undamaged
Membrane free of punctures, debris and standing sharp material, roofing contractor's sign-off in hand before covering.
Barrier and drainage layers
- 2 photos
Root barrier continuous with sealed laps and upturns
Barrier laps to the specified width, upturned and terminated at walls, curbs and penetrations, no gaps at corners.
- 2 photos
Protection and drainage layer and board placed
Protection layer over the barrier, drainage board or mat oriented the correct way up and lapped, continuous to the drains.
Drains and edges
- 2 photos
Drain access and inspection ports set and reachable
Inspection chambers over each drain, ports positioned so a drain can be reached after planting, not to be buried by media.
- 2 photos
Edging and borders installed at perimeters and penetrations
Vegetation-free edging or gravel borders set at parapets, curbs, drains and penetrations per the layout, before media is spread against them.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Media loaded before the membrane flood test is witnessed, so a leak can't be found until it shows up in the rooms below.
- Root barrier laps and upturns at penetrations skimped, letting roots find the membrane at exactly the spots that leak.
- Drain inspection ports covered over by the drainage board and media, leaving no way to reach a drain that later clogs.
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 12 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 vegetated (green) roof rough-in checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering membrane and flood test, barrier and drainage layers, drains and edges. 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 green-roof installer's foreman with the roofing contractor, and the GC's superintendent witnessing the flood test.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the roof membrane is complete and its flood test passes, and before growing media is spread — once overburden is on, none of these layers can be seen again without tearing the roof apart.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 12 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 vegetated (green) roof rough-in inspection?
- Media loaded before the membrane flood test is witnessed, so a leak can't be found until it shows up in the rooms below. Root barrier laps and upturns at penetrations skimped, letting roots find the membrane at exactly the spots that leak. Drain inspection ports covered over by the drainage board and media, leaving no way to reach a drain that later clogs.
- 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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