Free checklist
Masonry final inspection checklist
Masonry 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 TMS standards — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 8
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The mason foreman at completion, then the GC or owner's representative at final walk.
When in the schedule
After the wall is complete, cleaned and cured, before scaffolding comes down and the area is turned over.
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.
Surface and finish
- 2 photos
Wall face free of efflorescence and staining
No white salt deposits or streaking at the surface; mortar and unit color consistent across the wall.
- 2 photos
Mortar joint color and tooling consistent across the wall
No visible cold joints or patch repairs with a different mortar batch or tool profile.
- 1 photo
Units undamaged and properly cleaned
No mortar smears, tool marks or chipped edges left on the finished face.
Movement joints and details
- 2 photos
Control and expansion joints present at the planned locations
Joints open through the full wall thickness, backer rod and sealant installed, not filled with mortar.
- 1 photo
Flashing and weeps visible and functioning at the base
Weep holes clear at grade and above openings, no landscaping or grading blocking drainage.
- 1 photo
Copings, sills and caps sloped and sealed
Positive slope away from the wall face, sealant continuous at joints between units.
Site condition and closeout
- 1 photo
Scaffolding, bracing and debris removed
No tie-backs, braces or leftover mortar bags left against the finished wall.
- 1 photo
Adjacent surfaces protected from mortar and cleaning residue
Sidewalks, glazing and finished surfaces near the wall free of mortar splatter or acid burn.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Efflorescence appearing after turnover with no baseline photos to show it wasn't present at completion.
- Movement joints omitted or filled solid with mortar, showing up as cracking later.
- Acid or aggressive cleaning damaging mortar joints or unit faces, discovered after scaffolding is gone.
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.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this masonry final checklist cover?
- 8 items across 3 sections — surface and finish, movement joints and details, site condition and closeout. 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 mason foreman at completion, then the GC or owner's representative at final walk.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the wall is complete, cleaned and cured, before scaffolding comes down and the area is turned over.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 11 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 masonry final inspection?
- Efflorescence appearing after turnover with no baseline photos to show it wasn't present at completion. Movement joints omitted or filled solid with mortar, showing up as cracking later. Acid or aggressive cleaning damaging mortar joints or unit faces, discovered after scaffolding is gone.
- 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
See all 101 checklists — 775 items and 1296 photo requirements in total.