Free checklist
Window treatmentsWindow treatments rough-in inspection checklist
Window treatments 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 manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 5
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The shade installer or carpentry crew with the GC's superintendent, walking each window and pocket before finish closes the surface.
When in the schedule
As backing, pockets and recesses are framed and the power and low-voltage control for motorized units is roughed to the head, before drywall and ceiling finish close over them.
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.
Backing and blocking
- 2 photos
Continuous backing at the mounting line
Solid blocking behind the finish at bracket heights for the run and weight of the treatment, located to the mounting layout so every bracket hits backing.
Pockets and recesses
- 1 photo
Shade pocket sized for the roller, fascia and light gap
Pocket depth and width sized to the roller and fascia with the intended light gap, edges clear of the fabric path, closure detail buildable before finish closes.
Power and control rough
- 2 photos
Power and control roughed to the correct end before cover
Line and low-voltage control stubbed at the drive end per the shade layout, correct length and location, documented before ceiling or wall finish closes over it.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Backing skipped at the head, so bracket screws land in hollow drywall and a wide roller or heavy drape pulls the mount out of the wall on the first cycle.
- Shade pocket built too shallow or without a clear light gap, so the fascia will not close over the roller or the shade rubs the pocket edge and marks the fabric.
- Power or control for motorized shades roughed to the wrong end of the head or left short, so the drive end and the wiring do not meet and the wall is opened back up after finish.
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 5 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 window treatments rough-in checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering backing and blocking, pockets and recesses, power and control rough. 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 shade installer or carpentry crew with the GC's superintendent, walking each window and pocket before finish closes the surface.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- As backing, pockets and recesses are framed and the power and low-voltage control for motorized units is roughed to the head, before drywall and ceiling finish close over them.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 5 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 window treatments rough-in inspection?
- Backing skipped at the head, so bracket screws land in hollow drywall and a wide roller or heavy drape pulls the mount out of the wall on the first cycle. Shade pocket built too shallow or without a clear light gap, so the fascia will not close over the roller or the shade rubs the pocket edge and marks the fabric. Power or control for motorized shades roughed to the wrong end of the head or left short, so the drive end and the wiring do not meet and the wall is opened back up after finish.
- 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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