Free checklist
Roofing rough-in inspection checklist
Roofing 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 NRCA guidance, manufacturer installation requirements — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The roofing foreman walking the deck with the crew, ahead of the GC's dry-in inspection.
When in the schedule
After the deck is installed and underlayment is run, before the field material, tile or panels are loaded onto the roof.
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.
Deck condition
- 2 photos
Sheathing sound, flat and properly fastened
No soft spots, delamination or sagging between rafters, fasteners set flush without overdriving.
- 1 photo
Deck gaps and damage addressed before covering
Gaps beyond the allowed spacing filled or sheathing replaced, no holes left unpatched under the underlayment.
Underlayment and fastening
- 2 photos
Underlayment lapped correctly with the slope
Upper courses overlapping lower courses shingle-fashion, laps at the required minimum width.
- 2 photos
Fastener type, pattern and spacing correct for the wind zone
Fastener spacing consistent across the field, tighter pattern visible at edges and corners where required.
- 2 photos
Underlayment continuous with no exposed deck
No gaps, tears or fishmouths left uncovered, especially around penetrations and at hips and valleys.
Drainage prep
- 2 photos
Drains, scuppers and crickets roughed in at the correct slope
Tapered insulation or framing directs water toward drains, no flat or backward-pitched areas visible.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Soft or delaminated deck sheathing covered by underlayment before it's flagged for replacement.
- Underlayment laps run against the slope instead of shingle-fashion, found only after the first rain.
- Fastener pattern thinned out near the ridge or eaves where the crew ran short.
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 roofing rough-in checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections — deck condition, underlayment and fastening, drainage prep. 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 walking the deck with the crew, ahead of the GC's dry-in inspection.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the deck is installed and underlayment is run, before the field material, tile or panels are loaded onto the roof.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 11 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 roofing rough-in inspection?
- Soft or delaminated deck sheathing covered by underlayment before it's flagged for replacement. Underlayment laps run against the slope instead of shingle-fashion, found only after the first rain. Fastener pattern thinned out near the ridge or eaves where the crew ran short.
- 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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