Free checklist
SignageSignage rough-in inspection checklist
Signage 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
- 4
- Photos required
- 7
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The sign installer's field lead coordinating with the framer and electrician, or the GC's superintendent releasing walls to close in.
When in the schedule
Before drywall, veneer or the monument base closes over the sign locations, so backing and conduit stubs land where the sign actually mounts.
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
In-wall blocking located to the sign's anchor layout
Backing set to the mounting points on the approved shop drawing, sized and placed for the sign's weight, height and pattern rather than a default center.
- 1 photo
Mounting substrate suitable for the sign and anchors
Wall type at each location matched to the specified anchor, solid backing behind veneer or panel, no hollow or unsupported point where a fastener lands.
Electrical rough
- 2 photos
Power and conduit stubbed for illuminated and monument signs
Circuit and conduit landed at the sign location per the plan, stub at the correct height and depth, junction accessible, disconnect provided where required.
Anchor layout
- 2 photos
Anchor points laid out and marked before close-in
Each mounting point marked on the wall against the shop drawing, dimensions to reference lines confirmed, photographed before drywall or veneer covers the backing.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Blocking set to a generic height instead of the sign's own anchor layout, so the fasteners miss the backing once the sign arrives.
- Power for an illuminated or monument sign roughed to the wrong point, forcing a surface conduit or a wall cut after finishes.
- Wall closed in before the substrate and anchor points were confirmed against the approved sign shop drawings.
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 signage rough-in checklist cover?
- 4 items across 3 sections, covering blocking and backing, electrical rough, anchor layout. 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 sign installer's field lead coordinating with the framer and electrician, or the GC's superintendent releasing walls to close in.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Before drywall, veneer or the monument base closes over the sign locations, so backing and conduit stubs land where the sign actually mounts.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 7 of the 4 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 signage rough-in inspection?
- Blocking set to a generic height instead of the sign's own anchor layout, so the fasteners miss the backing once the sign arrives. Power for an illuminated or monument sign roughed to the wrong point, forcing a surface conduit or a wall cut after finishes. Wall closed in before the substrate and anchor points were confirmed against the approved sign shop drawings.
- 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.