Free checklist
Rainscreen claddingRainscreen cladding pre-cover inspection checklist
A rainscreen cladding pre-cover inspection is the hold point before concealed work disappears behind the next layer. This checklist is built for that walk: verify, photograph, then release the cover, not the other way around. Work is commonly verified against the applicable building/energy code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 5
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The cladding foreman with the GC's superintendent, at the hold point right before the panels close the cavity.
When in the schedule
After sub-framing and flashings are complete and before panel install starts — the last moment the cavity and barrier are visible.
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.
Drainage cavity
- 2 photos
Cavity open, vented and clear behind the sub-framing
Continuous air gap behind the panel line, cavity free of sealant, insulation and debris, path for water to drain and air to move confirmed.
Flashings and terminations
- 2 photos
Head, sill and base flashings lapped to drain outward
Flashings integrated with the WRB, lapped so water sheds to the exterior, end dams where required, no reverse laps at openings or transitions.
Weeps and venting
- 1 photo
Weep and vent openings clear at base and heads
Base track weeps and vent openings open and unobstructed so the cavity drains and breathes once the panels are on.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- The drainage cavity blocked by insulation, sealant or debris so water can not drain or the wall can not vent behind the panels.
- Head, sill and base flashings lapped backward or left short, so the flashing sheds water into the cavity instead of out of it.
- Weep and vent openings at the base and heads left blocked, trapping water and moisture behind the panel skin.
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 5 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 rainscreen cladding pre-cover checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering drainage cavity, flashings and terminations, weeps and venting. 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 cladding foreman with the GC's superintendent, at the hold point right before the panels close the cavity.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After sub-framing and flashings are complete and before panel install starts — the last moment the cavity and barrier are visible.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 5 of the 3 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 rainscreen cladding pre-cover inspection?
- The drainage cavity blocked by insulation, sealant or debris so water can not drain or the wall can not vent behind the panels. Head, sill and base flashings lapped backward or left short, so the flashing sheds water into the cavity instead of out of it. Weep and vent openings at the base and heads left blocked, trapping water and moisture behind the panel skin.
- 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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