Free checklist
Wall louvers and ventsWall louvers and vents rough-in inspection checklist
Wall louvers and vents 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, SMACNA guidance, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 6
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The louver installer or sheet-metal crew with the GC's superintendent, walking each opening before cladding and interior finish close the wall.
When in the schedule
As rough openings are framed, flashed and blocked and the duct or plenum is stubbed to the opening, before cladding on the outside and finish on the inside close the transition.
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.
Opening and blocking
- 2 photos
Rough opening sized square with blocking to fasten to
Opening framed to the louver's rough dimension, square and plumb, continuous blocking or sub-frame set so the perimeter fastens to solid material.
Flashing and drainage
- 2 photos
Sill pan, back dam and flashing tied to the barrier
Sloped sill pan with end dams and a back dam, head and jamb flashing lapped to the weather barrier shingle-fashion so any water that enters drains back to the exterior.
Duct connection and concealment
- 2 photos
Duct or plenum stub aligned and documented before cover
Duct or plenum stubbed square to the opening on center for the louver collar, connection accessible, transition documented open before cladding and finish close the wall.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Opening flashed with a flat sill and no back dam or end dams, so wind-driven water that gets past the blades runs down the wall inside the cladding instead of draining back out.
- Blocking or a sub-frame skipped, so the louver ends up fastened to sheathing or shims and the perimeter never gets an even bite for the sealant joint.
- Duct stubbed off-center or short of the opening, so the transition is field-cobbled and leaks air around the louver collar once the wall is closed.
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 6 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 wall louvers and vents rough-in checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering opening and blocking, flashing and drainage, duct connection and concealment. 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 louver installer or sheet-metal crew with the GC's superintendent, walking each opening before cladding and interior finish close the wall.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- As rough openings are framed, flashed and blocked and the duct or plenum is stubbed to the opening, before cladding on the outside and finish on the inside close the transition.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 6 of the 3 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 wall louvers and vents rough-in inspection?
- Opening flashed with a flat sill and no back dam or end dams, so wind-driven water that gets past the blades runs down the wall inside the cladding instead of draining back out. Blocking or a sub-frame skipped, so the louver ends up fastened to sheathing or shims and the perimeter never gets an even bite for the sealant joint. Duct stubbed off-center or short of the opening, so the transition is field-cobbled and leaks air around the louver collar once the wall is closed.
- 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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