Checklists by trade
4 lists · 25 items · 34 photosDrywall inspection checklists
Drywall inspection checklists for the rough-in, pre-cover, final and punch walks: 4 free lists, 25 items and 34 photo requirements, each item naming what to look for and the photo that proves it. Work is commonly verified against GA-216 / ASTM C840; the edition in force is the AHJ's call on each project.
The drywall walks, in build order
Drywall Rough-in· DrywallDrywall rough-in inspection checklistBoard-hanging walk checking fastener pattern, joints and rated assembly layers before taping starts9 items12 photosDrywall Pre-cover· DrywallDrywall pre-cover inspection checklistBoard inspection before taping and finishing conceal fastener defects and damaged panels5 items7 photosDrywall Final· DrywallDrywall final inspection checklistFinish-level walk checking joints, corners and texture match under critical light before turnover8 items11 photosDrywall Punch· DrywallDrywall punch checklistCloseout walk for dings, joint show-through and finish defects3 items4 photos
Where each walk sits in the schedule
- Drywall rough-in inspection checklistrough-in
- After board is hung on a wall or ceiling and before the taping crew starts finishing that area. Run by: The drywall foreman checking their own hanging crew, or the GC's superintendent before releasing walls for tape.
- Drywall pre-cover inspection checklistpre-cover
- After board is hung and before the first coat of joint compound or tape goes on, since finishing hides board-level defects. Run by: The GC's superintendent or drywall foreman walking the boarded surface just before finishing starts.
- Drywall final inspection checklistfinal
- After the final coat and sanding are complete, before prime paint, using raking light to catch defects paint will highlight. Run by: The finishing crew lead at completion, then the GC or owner's representative at final walk.
- Drywall punch checklistpunch
- During closeout, after paint reveals every joint and corner that read fine under work lights. Run by: The drywall foreman on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing finish punch items room by room.
What most often sends drywall work back
- Fastener spacing widened to speed up hanging, found only when boards flex or pop later.
- Rated assemblies short a layer or missing joint stagger, discovered after the wall is already taped.
- Cutouts at boxes oversized, leaving gaps the finishing crew has to patch instead of tape.
- Overdriven or blown-through fasteners taped over instead of replaced.
- Damaged or water-stained board sections finished over rather than cut out and replaced.
- Gaps at joints wider than the tape can bridge, leading to visible cracking after finishing.
- Joints and fastener dimples that disappear under flat light but flash visibly once primer or paint is applied.
- Corner bead dented or not straight, showing as a wavy line once painted.
Verified against
Families only, never clause numbers. Adoption varies by jurisdiction; confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
Common questions
- Which drywall inspections do these checklists cover?
- Drywall rough-in inspection checklist (rough-in): After board is hung on a wall or ceiling and before the taping crew starts finishing that area. Drywall pre-cover inspection checklist (pre-cover): After board is hung and before the first coat of joint compound or tape goes on, since finishing hides board-level defects. Drywall final inspection checklist (final): After the final coat and sanding are complete, before prime paint, using raking light to catch defects paint will highlight. Drywall punch checklist (punch): During closeout, after paint reveals every joint and corner that read fine under work lights.
- Who runs a drywall inspection?
- The drywall foreman checking their own hanging crew, or the GC's superintendent before releasing walls for tape. The GC's superintendent or drywall foreman walking the boarded surface just before finishing starts. The finishing crew lead at completion, then the GC or owner's representative at final walk. The drywall foreman on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing finish punch items room by room.
- What most often sends drywall work back?
- Fastener spacing widened to speed up hanging, found only when boards flex or pop later. Rated assemblies short a layer or missing joint stagger, discovered after the wall is already taped. Cutouts at boxes oversized, leaving gaps the finishing crew has to patch instead of tape. Overdriven or blown-through fasteners taped over instead of replaced.
- Which standards is drywall work verified against?
- GA-216 / ASTM C840, published by the Gypsum Association / ASTM International. Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Can I run these checklists in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace and load any of the 4 lists (25 items in total). The Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached, and approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.