Free checklist
Rough carpentryRough carpentry rough-in inspection checklist
Rough carpentry 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 the applicable building code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 5
- Photos required
- 7
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The rough-carpentry foreman installing backing, or the GC's superintendent walking each wall before the finish trades close it.
When in the schedule
After the framing is up and while the walls are still open, before insulation, drywall and the finish trades cover the studs.
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.
Blocking and backing
- 2 photos
Backing set at the right height for every wall-mounted item
Solid blocking behind grab bars, cabinets, handrails, TVs, casework and accessories at the mounting heights on the drawings, fastened to studs before the wall closes.
- 1 photo
Fire and draft blocking in place at required locations
Blocking installed at floor and ceiling lines and at concealed vertical and horizontal runs so there are no open paths left for the drywall to cover.
Nailers and furring
- 1 photo
Nailers and wood furring fastened flat and on layout
Furring straight, shimmed to a true plane, spaced to the finish it carries, and nailers anchored to the substrate with the specified fastener, not tacked.
Sheathing and treated lumber
- 2 photos
Sheathing panels gapped and fastened to the nailing pattern
Panels spaced at the edges, fasteners on the specified schedule, seated flush without breaking the face, no missed studs at the panel edges.
- 1 photo
Treated lumber used where it contacts concrete, masonry or weather
Preservative-treated stock at sills, plates on slabs and any ground or moisture contact, with cut ends field-treated and correct fasteners for treated wood.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Backing for grab bars, cabinets, handrails and wall-hung fixtures set at the wrong height or skipped entirely, discovered when the finish trade hits hollow drywall with a lag.
- Sheathing fastened with the wrong nail or an overdriven pattern that breaks the paper face, so the panel no longer holds its rated shear value.
- Fire-treated or preservative-treated lumber cut and left where it should be, and untreated stock substituted for a nailer in a wet or ground-contact location.
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 7 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 rough carpentry rough-in checklist cover?
- 5 items across 3 sections, covering blocking and backing, nailers and furring, sheathing and treated lumber. 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 rough-carpentry foreman installing backing, or the GC's superintendent walking each wall before the finish trades close it.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the framing is up and while the walls are still open, before insulation, drywall and the finish trades cover the studs.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 7 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 rough carpentry rough-in inspection?
- Backing for grab bars, cabinets, handrails and wall-hung fixtures set at the wrong height or skipped entirely, discovered when the finish trade hits hollow drywall with a lag. Sheathing fastened with the wrong nail or an overdriven pattern that breaks the paper face, so the panel no longer holds its rated shear value. Fire-treated or preservative-treated lumber cut and left where it should be, and untreated stock substituted for a nailer in a wet or ground-contact location.
- 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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