Had a friend who documented every step of his attic insulation project—ended up giving an inspector ammo to nitpick stuff that wasn’t even required by code. Sometimes less is more, especially if you’re not sure what’ll raise red flags.
That’s exactly why I’m always torn about how much to document. On one hand, if something goes sideways later, you want proof you did it right. But yeah, sometimes it feels like you’re just handing them a checklist of things to ding you for.
Here’s my rough “budget-friendly” approach for green roof stuff:
Step 1: Before spending a dime, I call the city and ask for the *actual* person who does the inspections—not just whoever answers the phone. Sometimes they’ll walk through what they look for (or at least hint at their pet peeves).
Step 2: I try to get any “gray area” answers in writing, or at least jot down names and dates. That way if Inspector A says yes and Inspector B says no, I’ve got something to point to.
Step 3: When in doubt, I do take photos—but only of stuff that’s clearly by the book. Anything that’s a workaround or creative fix... well, maybe that stays between me and my roof.
It’s not foolproof, but it’s saved me from at least a couple expensive re-dos. And yeah, always have a little extra in the budget for those “curveballs.”
I’m right there with you on the “how much do I actually want to share?” dilemma. My first permit inspection, I had a whole folder of receipts and photos ready... and the guy just glanced at the roof and said, “Looks good.” Meanwhile, my neighbor got grilled for having one oddball fastener. Ever since, I only document the stuff I know is by the book, and if I have to get creative, well, that’s between me and my toolbox. City inspectors can be like weather—sometimes predictable, sometimes totally not.
That unpredictability makes me second-guess every time. I’ve watched two different inspectors look at the same type of roof detail and one just nodded, while the other pulled out a flashlight and started poking around. I get why folks hold back on sharing every single workaround—sometimes you follow the code to the letter, sometimes you improvise because nothing’s ever perfectly square or level up there. I try to keep my documentation tight for anything structural or waterproofing-related, but for minor stuff... as long as it’s safe and solid, I figure it’s not worth stressing over.
I get what you mean about the unpredictability. I had a similar thing happen when I was adding a green roof to one of my buildings last year. The first inspector barely glanced at the edge flashing, but the second one wanted every single fastener exposed and checked. Drove me nuts, honestly.
What’s helped me is keeping a running log—nothing fancy, just a notebook with dates, photos, and quick notes on anything structural or waterproofing-related. If something’s not perfectly by-the-book (like when I had to shim a curb because the deck was out of level), I jot down what I did and why. That way, if someone questions it later, I’ve got an explanation ready.
For minor stuff—like plant trays or irrigation lines—I don’t stress as much unless it could impact drainage or safety. But yeah, it’s always a judgment call. Sometimes I wonder if inspectors even agree on what “minor” means...
- Been there with the inspectors—one says it’s fine, next one acts like you’re building the Eiffel Tower in your backyard. Totally get how that wears you down, especially when you’re just trying to do things right without blowing the budget.
- I’m with you on the log idea. I use the notes app on my phone, snap a quick pic, scribble down what changed and why. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just enough so if someone starts poking around months later, I can jog my memory (and theirs). Saved me some headaches when a city guy questioned my vent placement—pulled up a photo with the date and he moved on.
- Not sure about you, but I’ve found “minor” means something different depending on who’s standing in your yard. My last roof project, one inspector cared about every little thing, even the color of my gutter guards. Another just wanted to see if water was draining away from the house. Hard to know which rules actually matter.
- I don’t stress about plant trays or irrigation either unless it could mess with drainage. If water can move where it needs to go and nothing’s a tripping hazard, that’s good enough for me most days.
- If you’re trying to keep costs down, sometimes it’s just easier to over-document than argue later. That notebook or photo log is way cheaper than re-doing work or paying for another inspection.
- Had to laugh at your shim story—I once used an old cedar shingle to level out a curb because lumber was crazy expensive at the time. No one ever noticed.
You seem like you’ve got a good handle on it. Inspections are always a gamble, but at least you’re prepared if they start nitpicking.
