Free checklist
Waterproofing rough-in inspection checklist
Waterproofing 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
- 7
- Photos required
- 16
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The waterproofing foreman walking each lift, or the GC's superintendent before backfill or tile is released.
When in the schedule
Per lift and per area: after substrate prep, after membrane application, and after protection course, before anything covers the work.
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.
Substrate
- 2 photos
Substrate clean, dry and within tolerance
No standing water, mud, fins or voids; surface profile matches what the membrane system requires.
- 2 photos
Cracks, joints and transitions pre-treated
Detail coat, strip or sealant at cracks, cold joints and inside corners before the field membrane.
Membrane application
- 2 photos
Membrane thickness or ply count matches the spec
Wet mil gauge readings or ply count verified at multiple points per area, not just at the starting edge.
- 2 photos
Laps oriented to shed water and rolled tight
Side and end laps shingled in the drainage direction, no fishmouths, no unbonded edges.
- 3 photos
Terminations and penetrations per the system detail
Termination bars, counterflashings and penetration boots match the manufacturer's detail for that condition.
Protection and drainage
- 2 photos
Protection course or drainage board installed undamaged
Full coverage with no torn or displaced sheets, membrane still visible and intact at the edges.
- 3 photos
Flood test or water test documented where specified
Water level photographed at start and end of the test period, drains plugged and tagged, result recorded.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Membrane photographed after the protection course went on, so laps and terminations can never be verified.
- Flood test logged as passed with no photos of the water level at start and end.
- Penetrations sealed with a generic detail instead of the manufacturer's penetration detail.
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 16 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 waterproofing rough-in checklist cover?
- 7 items across 3 sections — substrate, membrane application, protection and drainage. 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 waterproofing foreman walking each lift, or the GC's superintendent before backfill or tile is released.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Per lift and per area: after substrate prep, after membrane application, and after protection course, before anything covers the work.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 16 of the 7 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 waterproofing rough-in inspection?
- Membrane photographed after the protection course went on, so laps and terminations can never be verified. Flood test logged as passed with no photos of the water level at start and end. Penetrations sealed with a generic detail instead of the manufacturer's penetration detail.
- 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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