Free checklist
Segmental pavers and hardscapeSegmental pavers and hardscape rough-in inspection checklist
Segmental pavers and hardscape 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 ICPI guidance, the project specifications. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 10
- Built for
- General contractors
Who runs it
The GC's superintendent walking the base with the hardscape foreman before setting begins.
When in the schedule
After the base is compacted and screeded and before pavers cover it, because base thickness, compaction and slope cannot be checked once the surface is laid.
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.
Subgrade and base
- 2 photos
Subgrade compacted and to grade
Subgrade proof-rolled or tested, no soft or pumping spots, cut to a grade that leaves room for base and pavers at final elevation.
- 2 photos
Aggregate base thickness and compaction
Base placed and compacted in lifts to the specified thickness, checked with a probe or measurement, firm underfoot with no movement.
Edge restraint and drainage
- 2 photos
Edge restraint installed and secured
Restraint set against the compacted base before paving, spiked or anchored per the detail, continuous around the field.
- 1 photo
Slope to drain established across the base
Base surface pitched to the drainage points shown, no flat or reverse-fall areas that will pond once paved.
Bedding layer
- 2 photos
Bedding sand screeded to a uniform depth
Bedding course screeded to a consistent thickness, not thickened to make up for base irregularities.
- 1 photo
Geotextile placed where specified
Separation or stabilization fabric present and lapped per the detail where the specification calls for it under the base or bedding.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Aggregate base placed in one thick lift and compacted from the top, leaving the bottom loose so the surface settles later.
- Edge restraint set after paving instead of before, so the field has already crept and the perimeter courses won't line up.
- Bedding sand screeded thick to bury a low spot in the base, which then consolidates and dishes the finished surface.
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 segmental pavers and hardscape rough-in checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering subgrade and base, edge restraint and drainage, bedding layer. 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 GC's superintendent walking the base with the hardscape foreman before setting begins.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the base is compacted and screeded and before pavers cover it, because base thickness, compaction and slope cannot be checked once the surface is laid.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 10 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 segmental pavers and hardscape rough-in inspection?
- Aggregate base placed in one thick lift and compacted from the top, leaving the bottom loose so the surface settles later. Edge restraint set after paving instead of before, so the field has already crept and the perimeter courses won't line up. Bedding sand screeded thick to bury a low spot in the base, which then consolidates and dishes the finished surface.
- 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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