Free checklist
Roofing final inspection checklist
Roofing 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 NRCA guidance, manufacturer installation requirements — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 5
- Photos required
- 10
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The roofing foreman at completion, then the GC or owner's representative at final acceptance.
When in the schedule
After the finish material and all flashing and edge metal are installed, before turnover and warranty issuance.
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.
Field and edges
- 3 photos
Field material laid straight with consistent exposure
Courses or panels aligned, exposure consistent across the roof, no lifted or cracked pieces.
- 2 photos
Edge metal, drip edge and coping seated and fastened
Seams lapped in the direction of water flow, fasteners at the spacing called for, no oil-canning at coping caps.
Penetrations and flashing
- 2 photos
Pipe boots, curbs and stacks sealed and counterflashed
No visible gaps at the collar, sealant tooled and continuous, counterflashing covering the base flashing.
Drainage
- 2 photos
Drains, scuppers and gutters clear and flow-tested
Water introduced at the high point drains fully with no ponding at low spots after a set time.
- 1 photo
Roof surface free of debris and fastener scraps
No loose fasteners, cut-offs or packaging left on the roof or caught in gutters.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Edge metal seams left unsealed or fasteners exposed where the spec calls for concealed fastening.
- Debris and fastener scraps left on the roof and in gutters, found by the owner instead of the closeout walk.
- Drains not flood-tested, so a clogged strainer or low spot isn't found until the first storm.
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 10 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 roofing final checklist cover?
- 5 items across 3 sections — field and edges, penetrations and flashing, drainage. 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 roofing foreman at completion, then the GC or owner's representative at final acceptance.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the finish material and all flashing and edge metal are installed, before turnover and warranty issuance.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 5 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 roofing final inspection?
- Edge metal seams left unsealed or fasteners exposed where the spec calls for concealed fastening. Debris and fastener scraps left on the roof and in gutters, found by the owner instead of the closeout walk. Drains not flood-tested, so a clogged strainer or low spot isn't found until the first storm.
- 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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