Inspection process
Visual inspection
Visual inspection is exactly what it sounds like: looking at the work (completeness, condition, finish, obvious defects) against the drawings, the submittal and accepted trade practice. It is the workhorse of field quality, the check run at rough-in, at pre-cover and at final, and the one every checklist item starts from. It is fast and covers a lot, but it only reaches what the eye can see, which is why it is paired with dimensional checks and testing where the requirement goes beyond appearance.
Run it with the Photo Gate
Drywall pre-cover inspection checklist
14 items · 15 photos required
Why it matters
Most defects that get caught on a job are caught by eye: a missing backing, a skipped firestop, a finish that reads wrong, damage from another trade. A disciplined visual walk against a checklist is the highest-yield, lowest-cost inspection there is, and it is where the concealed-work photos that closeout depends on get taken.
Its limits are the point to respect. A weld can look sound and hide a flaw, a coating can look continuous and have pinholes, a joint can look tight and leak. Where the requirement is performance or a hidden condition, the visual check gets backed by NDT, a holiday test or a pressure test rather than trusted on its own.
How it shows up on site
A super walking rough-in against a trade checklist, a pre-cover look before drywall closes a wall, and a final walk for finish and completeness, with each item observed, judged against the standard, and photographed where it will be covered.
Checklists that put visual inspection to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- Dimensional inspectionMeasuring built work against the drawings (locations, sizes, elevations and clearances) to confirm it lands within tolerance.
- Non-destructive testing (NDT)Testing that checks the soundness of installed work without cutting, breaking or otherwise damaging it.
- Pre-cover inspectionThe last inspection of an assembly before it is concealed by drywall, insulation, backfill, or a slab pour that hides the work underneath.
- Acceptance criteriaThe stated, measurable conditions installed work has to meet before it can pass: the yardstick an inspection judges against.
- In-process inspectionInspection carried out while the work is being installed, not after: catching problems while they can still be corrected easily.
- Formwork inspectionThe check of the forms, shoring and embeds before a concrete pour, confirming the mold will hold shape and produce the right member.
Knowing the term is step one. Proving it is the job.
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.
30-day trial · No card required