Electrical Rough-In Documentation Checklist: What to Photograph Before Walls Close

John Dutton

Electrical rough-in documentation has one rule: if it's going to be covered up, photograph it first.

That sounds obvious. In practice, most electricians photograph finished work — panels, cover plates, final trim — and skip the rough-in entirely. That's the phase that actually matters for protection.

What to photograph at electrical rough-in

Panel and service

Main panel location — GPS-tagged photo showing full panel in context
Service entrance — meter, main disconnect, feeder routing
Sub-panel locations if applicable
Grounding electrode system before burial or concealment

Conduit and wire runs

Every conduit run before walls close — photograph from end to end
All wire routing in open framing — especially anything running through joists or studs
Conduit bends and fittings — especially any LBs or pulling points that will be inaccessible
Any wire bundling or derating situations — documented in case of future inspection dispute

Junction boxes and device locations

Every junction box location before drywall — GPS-tagged, measured from floor or corner
All device rough-in heights — confirm ADA compliance where required
Exterior box locations and weatherproofing before cladding

Special systems

Low voltage rough-in — data, comm, AV, fire alarm
EV charger rough-in — conduit size, circuit rating, location
Solar or battery interconnection rough-in

The documentation workflow

Photograph as you install, not after. The conduit gets photographed the day it goes in, not the day before drywall. That timestamp is what makes the photo legally useful — it proves the installation existed in that condition on that date.

Manifold's GPS photo feature timestamps and geolocates every photo automatically. Walk the rough-in with your phone before drywall day. Every photo lands in the project timeline sorted by location. PDF report for the inspector or owner in one tap.

See our electrical contractor field documentation guide and electrical as-built documentation guide.

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