Prepare for a Roof and Building-Envelope Inspection

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one complete roof and exterior wall envelope readiness package covering every roof plane and wall elevation on the defined project, verified against approved plans and manufacturer instructions, photographed before concealment, and supported by a documented inspection result.

B. Envelope Component Schedule

Component	Quantity	Source	Required Verification	Evidence
Roof deck and underlayment	Per roof plane	Approved plans, product approvals	Type, layer, orientation, laps, fastening, exposure limits	Field measurement, photograph
Roof flashing (drip edge, valley, step, counterflashing, headwall, kickout)	Per transition	Approved flashing details	Correct material, sequence, and compatible metals	Photograph, plan reference
Roof penetrations (vents, flues, chimneys, skylights, curbs, solar supports)	Per penetration	Approved details, manufacturer instructions	Approved flashing detail used, no reliance on exposed sealant	Photograph, product label
Wall sheathing and WRB	Per elevation	Approved wall sections	Orientation, laps, fastening, corners, continuity	Photograph, field measurement
Window and door openings	Per opening	Approved opening details, manufacturer instructions	Sill pan, jamb and head flashing, WRB integration, drainage	Photograph, plan reference
Lath, drainage mat, rainscreen, weeps, screeds	Per elevation as applicable	Approved wall sections	Correct stage and unobstructed drainage path	Photograph
Siding, stucco, masonry veneer clearances	Per elevation	Approved details	Roof, grade, and material-transition clearances met	Field measurement
Product approvals and labels	Per product type installed	Manufacturer, evaluation reports	Available for inspector review before covering	Saved copy, photograph

C. Resource Takeoff

• Document set: approved roof plans, wall sections, opening details, flashing details, product approvals, and manufacturer instructions, current to the latest approved revision.
• Access equipment: ladder, scaffold, or lift matched to the roof pitch, wall height, and site conditions, plus required fall-protection equipment.
• Documentation set: camera or device with dated photo capability, measuring tools, and the envelope deficiency log.
• Product records: saved labels, listings, and evaluation reports for every regulated envelope product installed.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Underlayment verification	Type, layer, orientation, laps, attachment, and exposure limits match approved documents for every roof plane
Flashing verification	Every transition, valley, penetration, and headwall condition uses the approved flashing detail and compatible materials, with no exposed-sealant substitution
WRB verification	Orientation, lap direction, fastening, corners, and transitions provide continuous drainage-plane coverage
Opening verification	Every window and door opening has sill pan, jamb and head flashing, and WRB integration matching the approved detail
Clearance verification	Siding, stucco, masonry veneer, trim, soffit, fascia, and roof clearances match approved details with no blocked weeps or drainage openings
Photographic record	Every condition that will be concealed is photographed by location before roofing or siding installation
Access and safety	Safe roof, scaffold, lift, ladder, and ground access is provided for both the learner's verification work and the inspector
Inspection result	The inspection is scheduled, attended, and its result recorded, with concealment withheld until approval is documented

E. Preparation — Confirm Stage, Documents, and Prior Approvals

1. Identify every required roof and envelope inspection stage from the permit, approved documents, and jurisdictional procedure. Record each stage and its sequence on the envelope deficiency log before beginning verification.
2. Confirm approved roof plans, wall sections, opening details, flashing details, product approvals, manufacturer instructions, and revisions are onsite. Replace any superseded sheet with the current approved revision before proceeding.
3. Confirm structural roof and wall framing approvals required before envelope work. Do not begin envelope verification over framing that has not received its required structural approval.

F. Verify Roof Deck, Underlayment, and Flashing

1. Verify roof deck type, thickness, fastening, edge support, dryness, and repair status. Record any repaired area and the material used against the approved specification.
2. Verify roof underlayment type, layer, orientation, laps, attachment, slope suitability, and exposure limits. Measure lap dimensions against the approved detail rather than visual estimation.
3. Verify eave membrane, valley membrane, roof-wall transitions, penetrations, crickets, and vulnerable locations. Confirm each vulnerable location has the specific membrane or detail called for at that location.
4. Verify drip edge, valley flashing, step flashing, counterflashing, apron flashing, headwall flashing, kickouts, and compatible metals. Confirm metal types are compatible at every point of contact.
5. Verify plumbing vents, flues, chimneys, skylights, roof vents, fans, curbs, solar supports, and other penetrations use approved details. Confirm each penetration flashing matches its approved detail rather than a generic boot or collar substitution.
6. Do not rely on exposed sealant as a substitute for required flashing. Flag any location where sealant appears to be covering a missing or incomplete flashing detail.
7. Verify temporary dry-in protects the building without trapping water or concealing required inspection items. Confirm temporary protection can be removed or is transparent enough to permit inspection of the covered condition.

G. Verify WRB, Openings, and Wall Penetrations

1. Verify wall sheathing, structural panel fastening, repair, cleanliness, and dryness before WRB installation. Confirm no unresolved sheathing defect remains before verifying the WRB layer itself.
2. Verify WRB type, orientation, shingle-lap direction, horizontal and vertical laps, fastening, corners, tears, and transitions. Confirm lap direction sheds water downward and outward at every location.
3. Verify drainage-plane continuity at roof-wall, foundation, deck, balcony, porch, and material transitions. Trace the drainage plane by hand at each transition to confirm no gap exists.
4. Verify window and exterior door openings match approved dimensions and installation details. Compare rough-opening dimensions against the approved opening schedule.
5. Verify sill pan, end dams where required, jamb flashing, head flashing, WRB integration, shims, fasteners, and drainage openings. Confirm each opening component is present in the sequence shown in the approved detail.
6. Verify manufacturer installation instructions and project flashing details do not conflict; obtain clarification if they do. Do not resolve a conflict by selecting the less costly option; route it to the design professional or authority.
7. Verify penetrations for lights, receptacles, pipes, ducts, hose bibbs, meters, utilities, and mounting blocks are integrated with the WRB. Confirm each penetration is flashed into, not merely sealed against, the WRB.

H. Verify Siding, Clearances, and Product Documentation

1. Verify lath, drainage mat, rainscreen, furring, weeps, screeds, flashings, and accessories at the stage required for inspection. Confirm these components are visible and not yet concealed by finish material.
2. Verify siding, stucco, masonry veneer, trim, soffit, fascia, and roof clearances shown in approved details. Measure each clearance directly rather than estimating by eye.
3. Do not block weeps, vents, drainage gaps, or required openings with sealant, mortar, trim, insulation, or finishes. Flag and correct any blocked opening before proceeding.
4. Verify compatible fasteners, connectors, sealants, tapes, primers, and treated-material interfaces. Confirm compatibility against the manufacturer's stated interface requirements.
5. Verify product labels, listings, evaluation reports, and approvals are available for inspector review where required. Save copies before any label is removed or concealed.
6. Verify fire separation, property-line wall, soffit, eave, opening, and wildfire requirements applicable to the envelope. Confirm any special-district requirement identified in the Project 05 zoning checklist is reflected in the envelope detail.
7. Verify insulation and air-sealing items that will become inaccessible after exterior concealment. Confirm these items are complete and photographed before the exterior layer closes access to them.

I. Document, Correct, and Schedule

1. Photograph flashing, opening, penetration, and transition details before siding or roofing concealment. Label each photograph with elevation, location, and date.
2. Provide safe roof, scaffold, lift, ladder, and ground access within the approved safety plan. Confirm access equipment matches the roof pitch and wall height being inspected.
3. Do not request roof access under unsafe weather, surface, slope, electrical, or fall conditions. Reschedule verification and inspection activity until conditions are safe.
4. Remove packaging, debris, loose materials, and obstructions that hide work. Clear the roof and wall surfaces before the preinspection walk.
5. Complete an elevation-by-elevation and roof-plane preinspection. Walk every elevation and roof plane individually rather than sampling a subset.
6. Create and correct an envelope deficiency list. Assign each identified deficiency to a responsible party and a target date.
7. Confirm inspection type, sequencing, and areas that must remain exposed. Verify with the jurisdiction's procedure from the Project 01 reference binder.
8. Schedule and attend the inspection with approved documents and product information. Bring the approved plan set, product approvals, and photographs to the inspection.
9. Record approval, corrections, partial areas, and authorization for concealment. Record the inspector's result exactly as given, including any partial approval or condition.
10. Do not install concealing roof or wall layers until required approval is documented. Hold all covering work until the recorded result authorizes it.
11. File checklist, photographs, product records, inspection result, and corrections. Store the completed package with the project's compliance record.