I recently completed an outdoor freestanding patio with 4 outlets. My framer suggested that I install GFI's in all of them so I would know which one was having a problem at any given time. How do I wire them... line to line to line etc.. Or load to line, load to line etc.

Not an expert here so wait for them to chime in. there are some knockout experts here who WILL have the answer to your question if I'm wrong.

Why not just gfi the first in line and then the rest are protected downstream? Is it really going to be that hard to check these outlets or replace if there is a problem? Seems like more expense than needed.

I'm stepping aside so the real experts chime in. if anything, this threads been bumped by my post up to the top of the subject posting list.

I agree with KP's advice, install one GFI receptacle at the first outlet and use it to protect any and all outlets downstream of the GFI.

Sure, if each outlet has a GFI and one trips it won't affect the others, but this is not practical, almost never done unless the outlets are for critical equipment, and more costly.

With one GFI, the feed would connect to the LINE of the GFI, and the wires leaving to the next outlets will connect to the LOAD.

If you chose to use a GFI in each outlet, then the feed to each outlet will only need to connect to the LINE of each GFI outlet, the LOAD side will not need any wires connected.

The choice is yours.

The choice is yours. And the expense:)

I'm with TK and Kp. Downstream protection is best, and less! :D

Framers are good at Framing. 1 GFI will protect all, however, if you have separate GFI's at each, They will trip only that receptacle, Leaving other items operational, may be desirable. Is there a reason? Like TK says, you would connect to the Line only.