Free checklist
Siding and cladding inspection checklist
Cladding is a rain screen, not a seal. What keeps water out is the barrier and the flashing behind it, both of which disappear the moment the first board goes up. Photograph the wall before it is covered and the finish work becomes cosmetic instead of critical.
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.
Behind the cladding
Weather-resistive barrier continuous and lapped shingle-style
Horizontal laps with the upper sheet over the lower; tears repaired before cover.
Drainage plane or rain screen gap as specified
Furring or drainage mat continuous, with the gap open at top and bottom.
Penetrations flashed and sealed to the barrier
Hose bibs, lights, vents and conduit sealed to the barrier, not to the siding.
Flashing
Kick-out flashing at every roof-to-wall intersection
Present, correctly sized, and integrated over the barrier below.
Step flashing lapped with each course
One piece per course, not a continuous strip of sealant.
Head flashing at openings and horizontal transitions
Metal with an end dam, barrier lapped over it.
Cladding installation
Fastener type, length and spacing per the manufacturer
Fasteners hitting framing, not just sheathing; no overdriven heads dimpling the face.
Course exposure consistent and lines straight
Snap lines and consistent reveal; check across openings where drift shows.
Joints and butt seams detailed per the system
Flashing or joint covers behind butt joints where the system requires them.
Clearances and closeout
Ground, roof and hard-surface clearances maintained
Measure it. Landscaping and paving are the usual culprits later.
Sealant only where the system calls for it
Butt joints and terminations sealed; drainage paths left open.
Finish undamaged and touch-up complete
No cut edges left unsealed on products that require it.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Weather barrier lapped upside down at a horizontal joint, hidden the same day.
- Kick-out flashing missing where a roof meets a wall, the most reliable leak in residential construction.
- Ground and roof clearances closed up by later landscaping or roofing work.
Common questions
6 answers
- What does this siding checklist cover?
- 12 items across 4 sections, covering behind the cladding, flashing, cladding installation, clearances and closeout. 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?
- Siding contractor; the builder or GC verifies the barrier and flashing before cladding starts.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Barrier and flashing before cladding; fastening and clearances as the work progresses; sealant at completion.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- All 12 items call for photo evidence, 25 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 siding inspection?
- Weather barrier lapped upside down at a horizontal joint, hidden the same day. Kick-out flashing missing where a roof meets a wall, the most reliable leak in residential construction. Ground and roof clearances closed up by later landscaping or roofing work.
- 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
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 25 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.
See all 508 checklists · 6741 items and 5984 photo requirements in total.