Who should run this inspection?

The sheet metal foreman with the GC's superintendent, walking completed runs before the work is turned over and before the roof sees a wet season.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

After copings, counterflashing, gutters and downspouts are set and sealed, before turnover and before the first real rain tests the drainage.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

7 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 9 photos in all. 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 sheet metal flashing and trim final inspection?

Counterflashing hemmed but never engaged over the base flashing, so it looks tight from the ground while water runs behind the base at the wall line. A gutter hung dead level or back-pitched to a low spot so it ponds and overflows at the fascia instead of running to the downspout. Expansion joints in long coping runs omitted or sealed hard, so the metal buckles and pops fasteners the first hot afternoon.

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.

Free checklist

Sheet metal flashing and trim

Sheet metal flashing and trim final inspection checklist

Sheet metal flashing and trim 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. Each item gets the photo that closes it instead of reopening it. Work is commonly verified against SMACNA architectural sheet metal, NRCA roofing guidance, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Copings and counterflashing

Coping seated, cleated and joints watertight
Cap seated on the nailer and hooked to the cleats with even overhang and drip both sides, joints covered or interlocked and sealed, expansion joints present in long runs.
Counterflashing engaged over base flashing
Counterflashing lapped over the base flashing with the hem engaged and the reglet or termination sealed, so water is shed clear of the wall junction.
Expansion joints in coping or roof-edge metal left free to move
At each expansion joint the gap stays open under its cover or standing joint, no fastener pins both pieces, and sealant sits only where the shop drawings put it.
Coping or roof-edge metal face-fastened only where detailed
No screws or rivets through coping, roof-edge metal or counterflashing faces beyond what the details allow; each permitted exposed fastener gasketed or sealed and set in line.
Coping or roof-edge metal sheds water after a wet-down
Water run on the coping or edge metal drains off toward the roof with nothing standing at laps, joint covers or low spots in the cap.

Gutters and downspouts

Gutter pitched and draining to downspouts
Gutter hung with positive pitch to the outlets, hangers spaced to hold line under load, outlets and downspouts connected and discharging clear of the wall.
No photo
Gutter end caps and joints hold water without drips
End caps riveted and sealed, joints lapped with the flow and sealed or soldered per the shop drawings, no drips at any joint while water runs.
No photo
Downspout straps and joints secured with upper sections inside
Straps at the spacing the details show and fastened to solid wall, each upper section and elbow inserted into the one below so water stays inside the pipe.
No photo
Scuppers and conductor heads draining without wall leaks
Where scuppers are installed, water through the box empties into its conductor head or discharges clear, with no seep at the flange or down the wall face below.
No photo

Edges, appearance and sealant

Edges true, sealant tooled and no oil-canning
Gravel stops and drip edges to line, faces flat without pronounced oil-canning, sealant joints tooled and adhered, wide shot placing the run on the parapet or fascia.
Prefinished color consistent from run to run
Coping, counterflashing and gutter finish read as one color and gloss against the approved sample, with no mismatched replacement pieces or unmatched touch-up.
Through-wall metal flashing drip leg exposed and hemmed
Where the sheet metal crew supplied through-wall flashing, its drip leg projects past the wall face with a hemmed edge, not trimmed flush or bent back into the joint.
No photo

Edge access and turnover records

Final walk at copings and gutters inside the fall protection plan
Anchorage, lift or warning line the plan names is set for each parapet and eave run before anyone leans over the edge to check laps, drips or gutter pitch.
No photo
Finish and installer warranties for the metal submitted
The finish coating warranty for the prefinished stock and the installer's workmanship warranty the spec requires are in the closeout set.
No photo
Coping wind data on file and field changes marked on the record set
Wind data the spec requires matches the installed coping, cleat and fastener spacing, and any profile or joint location changed from the shop drawings is marked on the record set.
No photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Counterflashing hemmed but never engaged over the base flashing, so it looks tight from the ground while water runs behind the base at the wall line.
A gutter hung dead level or back-pitched to a low spot so it ponds and overflows at the fascia instead of running to the downspout.
Expansion joints in long coping runs omitted or sealed hard, so the metal buckles and pops fasteners the first hot afternoon.

Common questions

6 answers

What does this sheet metal flashing and trim final checklist cover?: 15 items across 4 sections, covering copings and counterflashing, gutters and downspouts, edges, appearance and sealant, edge access and turnover records. 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 sheet metal foreman with the GC's superintendent, walking completed runs before the work is turned over and before the roof sees a wet season.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: After copings, counterflashing, gutters and downspouts are set and sealed, before turnover and before the first real rain tests the drainage.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 7 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 9 photos in all. 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 sheet metal flashing and trim final inspection?: Counterflashing hemmed but never engaged over the base flashing, so it looks tight from the ground while water runs behind the base at the wall line. A gutter hung dead level or back-pitched to a low spot so it ponds and overflows at the fascia instead of running to the downspout. Expansion joints in long coping runs omitted or sealed hard, so the metal buckles and pops fasteners the first hot afternoon.
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.

Related checklists

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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 9 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.